Honda Element (2010 year). Manual — part 3

When the passenger airbag gets
turned off by the weight sensors, a
‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in

the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page 32).

If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag is automatically turned off.
However, the passenger airbag off in
this situation indicator will not come
on.

To ensure that the passenger's
advanced front airbag system will
work properly, do not do anything

that would increase or decrease the

weight on the front passenger's seat.
This includes:

●

A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the front
passenger's seat.

●

Moving the front seat forcibly back
against cargo on the seat or floor
behind it.

●

Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.

●

Moving the front seat or seat-back
forcibly back against the folded
rear seat.

●

Back seat passengers should not
wedge objects or intentionally
force their feet under front
passenger seat.

If your vehicle has optional floor
mats, make sure the mat behind the
front passenger's seat is hoocked to
the floor mat anchor (see page 268).
If it is not, the mat may interfere with
the proper operation of the sensors
and operation of the seat.

How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe
side impact, sensors will detect rapid
acceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inflate either the
driver's or the passenger's side
airbag.

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Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

Side Airbag Cutoff System
Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.

Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag's
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.

The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.

Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.

If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page 32), have the passenger
sit upright. Once the passenger is
out of the airbag's deployment path,
the system will turn the airbag back
on, and the indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.

A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or another object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system from working properly.

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How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work

In a Side Impact
In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the driver's or the
passenger's side of the vehicle.

If the impact is on the passenger's
side, the passenger's side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.

In a Rollover
If the rollover sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over, it signals
the control unit, which immediately
deploys both side curtain airbags and
activates both front seat belt
tensioners.

The airbag on the passenger's side
will deploy, and the seat belt
tensioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.

To get the best protection from the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

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How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem

with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on briefly then goes off. This
tells you the system is working
properly.

If the indicator comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:

●

If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.

●

If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.

●

If the indicator comes on or flashes
on and off while you drive.

If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work
properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.

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How the Side Airbag Off Indicator
Works

U.S.

Canada

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger's side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does not
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on briefly and then go
off (see page 59). If it doesn't come
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
front seat, have the system checked.

How the Passenger Airbag Off
Indicator Works

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger's front airbag has been
shut off because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an infant or small
child) on the front passenger's seat.
It does not mean there is a problem
with the airbag.

Be aware that objects placed on the
front seat can cause the indicator to
come on.

If no weight is detected on the front
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut off. However, the indicator will
not come on.

The passenger airbag off indicator
may come on and off repeatedly if the
total weight on the seat is near the
airbag cutoff threshold.

If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in front, move the seat as far to
the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

U.S.

Canada

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If the indicator comes on with no
front seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interfering
with the weight sensors. Look for
and remove:

●

Any items under the front
passenger's seat.

●

Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.

●

Any object(s) touching the rear of
the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible.

Airbag Service
Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:

●

An airbag ever inflates. Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace
any airbag by yourself. This must
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.

●

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.

●

If your vehicle has a moderate to
severe impact. Even if your airbags
do not inflate, your dealer should
inspect the driver's seat position
sensor, the front passenger's
weight sensors, the front seat belt
tensioners, and all seat belts and
their anchors worn during a crash
to make sure they are operating
properly.

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Additional Safety Precautions

●

Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.

●

Do not tamper with airbag

components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.

●

Do not expose the front
passenger's seat-back to liquid. If
water or another liquid soaks into
the seat-back, it can prevent the
side airbag cutoff system from
working properly.

●

Do not remove or modify a front

seat without consulting your
dealer. This could make the
driver's seat position sensor or the
front passenger's weight sensors
ineffective. If it is necessary to
remove or modify a front seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, first contact Honda
Automobile Customer Service at
(800) 999-1009.

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Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to properly protect child
passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special information for
infants, small children, and larger
children.

All Children Must Be Restrained
Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In fact, traffic
accidents are the number one cause
of death of children age 12 and
under.

To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state,
Canadian province and territory
requires that infants and children be
properly restrained when they ride in
a vehicle.

Infants and small children must be

restrained in an approved child seat

that is properly secured to the vehicle
(see pages 40 － 48).

Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.

Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster seat if necessary.

Larger children must be restrained

with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on a

booster seat until the seat belt fits
them properly (see pages 49 － 51).

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All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat
According to statistics, children of all
ages and sizes are safer when they
are restrained in a back seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
Some states have laws restricting
where children may ride.

Children who ride in back are less
likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back.

The Passenger's Front Airbag Can
Pose Serious Risks
Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe frontal collision. To do this,
the passenger's front airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
force to cause very serious injuries.

Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger's
front airbag off under certain
circumstances (see page 32), please
follow these guidelines:

Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in

the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag. If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in

the front seat of a vehicle equipped

with a passenger's front airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough force to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child

seats are also at risk of being injured

or killed by an inflating passenger's
front airbag. Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page 49 for important
information about protecting larger
children).

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To remind you of the passenger's
front airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in a back seat, your vehicle has
warning labels on the dashboard
(U.S. models) and on the front visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.

U.S. Models

DASHBOARD

Canadian Models

SUN VISORS

SUN VISORS

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If You Must Drive with Several
Children
Your vehicle has two back seats
where children can be properly
restrained. If you ever have to carry a
group of children, and a child must
ride in front:

●

Place the largest child in the front
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly (see page 49).

●

Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page 83).

●

Have the child sit upright and well
back in the seat (see page 15).

●

Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page
14).

If a Child Requires Close
Attention
Many parents say they prefer to put
an infant or a small child in the front
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.

Placing a child in the front seat
exposes the child to hazards in a
frontal collision, and paying close
attention to a child distracts the
driver from the important tasks of
driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attention
or frequent visual contact, we
strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.

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Additional Safety Precautions

●

Never hold an infant or child on
your lap. If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a seat
belt, the child can be torn from
your arms and be seriously hurt or
killed.

●

Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child. During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.

●

Never let two children use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

●

Make sure any unused seat belt

that a child can reach is buckled,

the lockable retractor is activated,

and the belt is fully retracted and
locked. If a child wraps a loose
seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or fatally injured.
(See page 46 for how to activate
and deactivate the lockable
retractor.)

●

Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle. Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states, Canadian provinces/
territories, and can be very
hazardous.

For example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot
day can die from heatstroke. A
child left alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.

●

Lock all doors, the tailgate and the

hatch when your vehicle is not in
use. Children who play in vehicles
can accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles.

●

Keep vehicle keys and remote

transmitters out of the reach of
children. Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition,
and open the tailgate or hatch,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death.

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Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type
An infant must be properly restrained
in a rear-facing, reclining child seat
until the child reaches the seat
maker's weight or height limit for the
seat, and the child is at least one year
old.

Only a rear-facing child seat provides
proper support for a baby's head,
neck, and back.

Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively for infants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
facing, reclining mode.

Do not put a rear-facing child seat in
a forward-facing position. If placed
facing forward, an infant could be
very seriously injured during a
frontal collision.

Rear-facing Child Seat Placement
A rear-facing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the front. Never put a

rear-facing child seat in the front seat.

If the passenger's front airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant.

When properly installed, a rear-
facing child seat may prevent the
driver or a front passenger from
moving their seat as far back as
recommended, or from locking their
seat-back in the desired position.

It could also interfere with proper
operation of the passenger's
advanced front airbag system.

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In any of these situations, we
strongly recommend that you install
the child seat directly behind the
front passenger's seat, move the seat
as far forward as needed, and leave it
unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get
a smaller rear-facing child seat.

Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death during a
crash.

Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

Many states, Canadian provinces and
territories allow a child one year of age
or older who also meets the minimum
size and weight requirements to
transition from a rear-facing child seat
to a forward facing seat. Know the
requirements where you are driving
and follow the child seat instructions.
Many experts recommend use of a
rear-facing seat up to age two, if the
child's height and weight are
appropriate for a rear-facing seat.

Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a five-point
harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child
use the child seat until the child
reaches the weight or height limit for
the seat.

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a
forward-facing child seat in a back seat,
not the front.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too far
forward, or the child's head is thrown
forward during a collision, an inflating
airbag can strike the child with enough
force to cause very serious or fatal
injuries.

CONTINUED

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Even with advanced front airbags that
automatically turn the passenger's front
airbag off (see page 32), a back seat is
the safest place for a small child.

If it is necessary to put a forward-facing
child seat in the front, move the vehicle
seat as far to the rear as possible, and
be sure the child seat is firmly secured
to the vehicle and the child is properly
strapped in the seat.

Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the front
airbag inflates.

If you must place a forward-facing
child seat in front, move the
vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.

Selecting a Child Seat
When buying a child seat, you need
to choose either a conventional child
seat, or one designed for use with
the Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH) system.

Conventional child seats must be
secured to a vehicle with a seat belt,
whereas LATCH-compatible seats
are secured by attaching the seat to
hardware built into the rear seats.

Since LATCH-compatible child seats
are easier to install and reduce the
possibility of improper installation,
we recommend selecting this style.

In seating positions and vehicles not
equipped with LATCH, a LATCH-
compatible child seat can be installed
using a seat belt.

Whatever type of seat you choose, to
provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:

1. The child seat should meet Federal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213

or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213. Look for FMVSS
213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.

2. The child seat should be of the

proper type and size to fit the child.
Rear-facing for infants, forward-
facing for small children.

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3. The child seat should fit the vehicle

seating position (or positions)

where it will be used.

Before purchasing a conventional
child seat, or using a previously
purchased one, we recommend that
you test the seat in the specific
vehicle seating position or positions
where the seat will be used.

Installing a Child Seat
After selecting a proper child seat
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:

1. Properly secure the child seat to

the vehicle. All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt or with
the LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tethers for CHildren) system. A
child whose seat is not properly
secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.

2. Make sure the child seat is firmly

secured. After installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.

A child seat secured with a seat belt
should be installed as firmly as
possible. However, it does not need
to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side

movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat's
effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seating
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly secured.

3. Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the child is properly
strapped in the child seat
according to the child seat maker's
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.

The following pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a child seat. A forward-facing child
seat is used in all examples, but the
instructions are the same for rear-
facing child seats.

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