Element

You can recline the seat backs on the front seats to a fully flat position so they are level with the rear seat cushions, making a large cushioned area. To do this:

Remove the head restraints from the front seats. Store the head restraints in the side pockets of the cargo area. Adjust the front seats forward as far as they will go. Pull up the seat back angle adjustment lever and pivot the seat back backward. Release the lever when the seat back is level with the rear seat cushion. Move the front seat backward until it touches the rear seat. Adjust the rear seat back to the desired position.

Although your vehicle has rear doors, the rear seat passengers can get in and out of the vehicle from the open front passenger's door. Push down on the release lever at the base of the front passenger's seat back, and push the seat back forward. The seat back will tilt forward and the entire seat will slide forward to allow easier exit through the front door. After you return the seat cushion to the desired position, pull the seatback upright until it latches. Make sure the seat is fully latched before driving.

The seat back angle of each rear seat can be adjusted separately. To change the seat back angle, pull the strap at the inside edge of the seat cushion, move the seat back to the desired position, then release the strap. Make sure the seat back latches in the new position.

To create more cargo space, you can fold up each rear seat to each side wall separately.

1. Lower the head restraint to its lowest position.
2. Pull the seat back adjustment strap at the inside edge of the seat cushion and push the seat back backward as far as it will go.
3. Pull the release strap on the seat support, and pivot the seat toward the vehicle's side wall.
4. A fastening strap is attached to the inside of the seat cushion. While pushing the seat up and toward the side wall, hook the fastening strap to the grab rail.
5. Fold down the seat support.

Both seats can be removed to give more cargo capacity.

To remove a seat:

1. Pull the seat back adjustment strap at the inside edge of the seat cushion and push the seat back backward until seat cushion and seat back are level.
2. Pull the release strap on the seat support to unlock the seat support.
3. Remove the cover between the seat cushion and the side wall by pulling the tab and pulling the cover straight up.
4. Push the lock lever forward to unlock the seat.
5. Hold the steel handle next to the lock lever and the holding strap at the outside edge of the seat cushion, and remove the entire seat by pulling it up and backward.

The Element's keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by the Immobilizer System. They will not work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged.

• Protect the keys from constant exposure to direct sunlight, high temperature, and high humidity.
• Do not drop the keys or set heavy objects on them.
• Keep the keys away from liquids. If they get wet, dry them immediately with a soft cloth.
• The keys do not contain batteries.
• Do not try to take them apart.

For increased window defogging, the A/C comes on whenever the DEFROST or HEAT/DEFROST modes are selected. When another mode is selected, the A/C remains on unless it is turned off manually by pressing the A/C button.

The operational mode of the defroster control can be changed to permit the A/C to be turned off manually when the mode control is set to HEAT/DEFROST or DEFROST.

To change the operational mode to enable manual A/C selection with DEFROST and HEAT/DEFROST:

1. Turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I).
2. Select the VENT mode.
3. Push and hold the A/C and REC buttons simultaneously then turn the ignition switch ON (II).
4. While holding the A/C and REC buttons, wait for the A/C lamp to flash 5 times, after which the REC lamp will come on. This sequence of lamps indicates you have successfully changed the operational mode to manual A/C.

To change the operational mode back to enable auto A/C with DEFROST and HEAT/DEFROST:

1. Turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I).
2. Select the DEF mode.
3. Push and hold the A/C and REC buttons simultaneously then turn the ignition switch ON (II).
4. While holding the A/C and REC buttons, wait for the REC lamp to flash 5 times, after which the A/C lamp will come on. This sequence of lamps indicates you have successfully changed the operational mode back to auto A/C.

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air that is found at high altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) adds to the problem. Use the following procedure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery.
2. Push the accelerator pedal halfway to the floor and hold it there while starting the engine. Do not hold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds. When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as the engine speeds up and smoothes out.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2, push the accelerator pedal to the floor and hold it there while you try to start the engine for no more than 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, return to step 2.

You cannot start a Honda with an automatic transmission by pushing or pulling it.

To jump-start your vehicle, follow these directions closely:

1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery. In very cold weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushy or frozen, do not try jump starting until it thaws.
   If a battery sits in extreme cold, the electrolyte inside can freeze. Attempting to jump start with a frozen battery can cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electrical accessories: heater, A/C, stereo system, lights, wipers, etc. Put the transmission in Neutral or Park, and set the parking brake.
3. Connect one jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal on your Honda's battery. Connect the other end to the positive (+) terminal on the booster battery.
4. Connect the second jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal on the booster battery. Connect the other end to the grounding strap as shown. Do not connect this end of the jumper cable to the battery or any other part of the engine.
5. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, have an assistant start that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
6. Start your vehicle. If the starter motor still operates slowly, check the jumper cable connections to make sure they have good metal-to-metal contact.
7. Once your vehicle is running, disconnect the negative cable from your vehicle, then from the booster battery. Disconnect the positive cable from your vehicle, then the booster battery. Keep the ends of the jumper cables away from each other and any metal on the vehicle until all are disconnected. Otherwise, you may cause an electrical short and damage the electrical system of the vehicle.

All the electrical circuits in your vehicle have fuses to protect them from a short circuit or overload.

These fuses are located in two fuse boxes.

The under-hood fuse box is located in the engine compartment on the driver's side. To open it, push the tabs.

The interior fuse box is underneath the steering column. To remove the fuse box lid, turn the knobs counterclockwise and pull the lid out of its hinges.

If something electrical in your vehicle stops working, the first thing you should check for is a blown fuse. Determine from the diagram on the fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses control that component.

Check those fuses first, but check all the fuses before deciding that a blown fuse is not the cause.
Replace any blown fuses and check the component's operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box.
3. Check each of the large fuses in the under-hood fuse box by looking through the top at the wire inside. Removing these fuses requires a Phillips-head screwdriver.
4. Check the smaller fuses in the under-hood fuse box and all the fuses in the interior fuse box by pulling out each fuse with the fuse puller provided in the under-hood fuse box.
5. Look for a burned wire inside the fuse. If it is burned, replace it with one of the spare fuses of the same rating or lower.
6. If you cannot drive the vehicle without fixing the problem, and you do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the same rating or a lower rating from one of the other circuits. Make sure you can do without that circuit temporarily (such as the accessory power socket or radio).
7. If you replace the blown fuse with a spare fuse that has a lower rating, it might blow out again. This does not indicate anything wrong. Replace the fuse with one of the correct rating as soon as you can.
   Replacing a fuse with one that has a higher rating greatly increases the chances of damaging the electrical system. If you do not have a replacement fuse with the proper rating for the circuit, install one with a lower rating.
8. If the replacement fuse of the same rating blows in a short time, there is probably a serious electrical problem in your vehicle. Leave the blown fuse in that circuit and have your vehicle checked by a qualified mechanic.

If your vehicle's battery is disconnected or goes dead, or the driver's window fuse is removed, the driver's window AUTO function will be disabled. The AUTO function needs to be reset after reconnecting the battery or installing the fuse. You should do the following:

1. Start the engine. Push down on the driver's window switch until the window is fully open.
2. Pull back on the driver's window switch to close the window completely, then hold the switch for an additional 2 seconds.

The rear window defogger will clear fog, frost, and thin ice from the window.

The defogger wires on the inside of the rear window can be accidentally damaged. When cleaning the glass, always wipe side to side only.

The maximum weight capacity of the tailgate is 200 kg (440 lbs.). The total weight of people and objects sitting on the tailgate must not exceed this amount or damage will result to the tailgate and its hinge.

An auxiliary input jack is located on the dashboard next to the accessory power socket.

Your audio system will accept auxiliary inputs from a portable cassette player, CD changer, MP3 player, etc. To use the jack, turn down the volume of the audio unit and the portable unit. Then pivot the cover up, plug in a mini-jack cable between the portable unit and the jack, and press the AUX button on the audio unit.

All four disk brakes have audible brake wear indicators ("squealers").

When the brake pads become worn and are close to needing replacing, you will begin to hear a distinctive metallic ''squealing" sound when you apply the brakes. If you do not have the brake pads replaced, the "squealing" will eventually be heard all the time, without having to apply the brakes.

Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak momentarily when you apply them lightly. Do not confuse this with the sound of the audible brake wear indicators. The indicators make a very different "squealing" sound.

This indicator reminds you that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.

For the first 12,800 km (8,000 miles) after the Maintenance Required Indicator is reset, it will come on for two seconds when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

Between 12,800 km (8,000 miles) and 16,000 km (10,000 miles) this indicator will light for two seconds when you first turn the ignition switch to ON (II), and then flash for ten seconds.

If you exceed 16,000 km (10,000 miles) without having the scheduled maintenance performed, this indicator will remain on as a constant reminder.

If someone does this maintenance other than your Honda dealer, reset the indicator as follows.

1. Turn off the engine.
2. Press and hold the select/reset button in the instrument panel, then turn the ignition switch ON (II).
3. Hold the button until the indicator resets (approximately ten seconds).

If you take your vehicle for a provincial emissions test shortly after the battery has been disconnected or gone dead, it may not pass the test. This is because of certain ''readiness codes'' that must be set in the onboard diagnostics for the emissions systems. These codes are erased when the battery is disconnected, and set again only after several days of driving under a variety of conditions.

If the testing facility determines that the readiness codes are not set, you will be requested to return at a later date to complete the test. If you must get the vehicle re-tested within the next two or three days, you can condition the vehicle for re-testing by doing the following.

• Make sure the gas tank is nearly, but not completely, full (around 3/4).
• Make sure the vehicle has been parked with the engine off for 8 hours or more.
• Make sure the ambient temperature is between 20° and 95°F (-7° and 35°C).
• Without touching the accelerator pedal, start the engine and let it idle for 20 seconds.
• Keep the vehicle in Park (automatic transmission) or Neutral (manual transmission). Increase the engine speed to 2,000 rpm and hold it there until the temperature gauge rises to at least 1/4 of the scale (approximately 3 minutes).
• Select a nearby lightly traveled major highway where you can maintain a speed of 80 to 97 km/h (50 to 60 mph) for at least 20 minutes. Drive on the highway in D (A/T) or 5th (M/T). Do not use the cruise control. When traffic allows, drive for 90 seconds without moving the accelerator pedal (vehicle speed may vary slightly; this is okay). If you cannot do this for a continuous 90 seconds because of traffic conditions, drive for at least 30 seconds, then repeat it twice more (for a total of 90 seconds).
• Then drive in city/suburban traffic for at least 10 minutes. When traffic conditions allow, let the vehicle coast for several seconds without using the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal.