2003 HONDA Element Owners Manual

2003 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com. Contents Owner's Identification Form Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety ................................................................................................................. ii Important Handling Information..................................................................................................... iii Your Vehicle at a Glance ..................................................................................................................... 2 Driver and Passenger Safety .............................................................................................................. 5 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ................................................................................................................. 63 Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls. Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. 117 How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features. Before Driving.................................................................................................................................. 157 What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo. Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 171 The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer. Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 207 The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. Appearance Care.............................................................................................................................. 267 Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs. Taking Care of the Unexpected ...................................................................................................... 275 This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them. Technical Information..................................................................................................................... 303 ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................ 319 A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us. Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...................................................................................................... 323 How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index...................................................................................................................................................... I Service Information Summary A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

This Owner’s Manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle, and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold. The information and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatsoever. This Owner’s Manual covers all models of the Element. You may find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your particular model. Owner’s Identification OWNER ADDRESS V. I. N. DELIVERY DATE DEALER NAME DEALER NO. ADDRESS OWNER’S SIGNATURE DEALER’S SIGNATURE STREET CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/ POSTAL CODE (Date sold to original retail purchaser) STREET CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/ POSTAL CODE

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so you can refer to it at any time. Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities. Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment. California Proposition 65 Warning This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Congratulations! Your selection of a 2003 Honda Element was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure. Introduction WARNING: i

－－－－－－ Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility. You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms, including: on the vehicle. To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others. Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement. These signal words mean: preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of three signal words: , , or . such as Driver and Passenger Safety. how to use this vehicle correctly and safely. such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions. This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully. A Few Words About Safety Safety Labels Safety Messages Safety Section Instructions Safety Headings DANGER WARNING CAUTION ii You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions. You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions. You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts. For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the section on page . Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an accident. Your Element has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. 172 200 Off-Highway Guidelines Important Handling Information iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance 2 POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH MIRROR CONTROLS GAUGES INDICATORS (P.65) (P.72) AUDIO SYSTEM HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS PARKING BRAKE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES A/T model is shown. HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.87) (P.103) (P.160) (P.106) (P.126, 137) (P.118) (P.111)

＊＊ To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel. : Your Vehicle at a Glance 3 SHIFT LEVER HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS (P.76, 77) WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P.81) TILT ADJUSTMENT A/T model is shown. CRUISE CONTROL HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P.153) (P.82) (P.81) (P.78, 79) (P.176, 179) HORN

This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts properly. It explains your Supple- mental Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle. ......... Important Safety Precautions . 6 ....... Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7 ....................................... Seat Belts . 8 ......................................... Airbags . 10 ..................... Seats & Seat-Backs . 11 .......................... Head Restraints . 11 .................................. Door Locks . 11 ........ Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 12 ............................ Protecting Adults . 13 ..... 1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13 ........... 2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13 ............ 3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 15 ... 4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 16 5. Fasten and Position the Seat ..................................... Belts . 17 .... 6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 20 7. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................ Position . 20 ..... Advice for Pregnant Women . 21 ... Additional Safety Precautions . 22 ........................ Protecting Children . 24 All Children Must Be ............................... Restrained . 24 Children Should Sit in the Back ........................................... Seat . 25 The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks to .............................. Children . 25 If You Must Drive with Several ................................... Children . 28 If a Child Requires Close .................................. Attention . 28 ... Additional Safety Precautions . 29 General Guidelines for Using ............................... Child Seats . 29 ....................... Protecting Infants . 34 ......... Protecting Small Children . 38 ....... Protecting Larger Children . 42 Using Child Seats with ..................................... Tethers . 46 ............................. Using LATCH . 47 Additional Information About Your ................................. Seat Belts . 50 .. Seat Belt System Components . 50 ...................... Lap/Shoulder Belt . 50 Automatic Seat Belt ............................... Tensioners . 52 ............... Seat Belt Maintenance . 53 Additional Information About Your ..................................... Airbags . 54 ........................ SRS Components . 54 How Your Front Airbags ......................................... Work . 54 ... How Your Side Airbags Work . 56 How the SRS Indicator Light ....................................... Works . 57 How the Side Airbag Cutoff ........... Indicator Light Works . 58 ............................. Airbag Service . 59 ... Additional Safety Precautions . 59 ............. Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 60 ................................... Safety Labels . 61 Driver and Passenger Safety Driver and Passenger Safety 5

You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. The recommendations on this page are the ones we consider to be the most important. Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted. While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual. (See page .) Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance. (See page .) A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe frontal collision. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page .) Children are safest when they are properly restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly restrained in a child safety seat. (See page .) Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either. 17 24 10 210 Driver and Passenger Safety Important Safety Precautions Always Wear Your Seat Belt Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition Restrain All Children Don’t Drink and Drive 6

2003 HONDA Element Owners Manual

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