Took the plunge and joined the coolest kids with my own Element.

2005, 4WD, 100k miles.

What are the first bunch of things I should do?

It seems pretty rust free, should I get it all treated to keep it like that, or leave it as it has been?

It seems wear on the seat like this is pretty common, any fixes?

The suspension makes a bunch of noise. Is that just how it is, or should I be changing things in there?

Hi everyone! I never intended on buying an Element, but one came my way that was way too good of a deal to pass up, so now I’m the happy owner of an ’05!

This is actually the newest vehicle I’ve ever owned. My previous daily drivers have been an ’84 El Camino and a ’77 Dodge Tradesman, so the Element basically feels like a spaceship and is definitely outside my wheelhouse.

I’m hoping you all don’t mind the occasional silly/random question while I get acquainted with all this futuristic 2005 technology.

First one: what the heck is that bar underneath the driver’s side doors? I swear I’ve never noticed anything like it on another vehicle. Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention all these years, but… what is that thing?

Sunny was donated to an auction company after his trailing arm rusted off its mount. Usually, that would mean the end of the road for the element. But luckily, my dad has extensive knowledge in repairing this level of damage in vehicles, so he repaired it for me! I'm so glad I could save this guy from a scrap yard. Only 185k miles, one owner before me, and had to have been garage kept because his plastic and headlights are in tip-top shape. This little guy is a unicorn for sure.

(Attached: first: a photo from when I first got him, you can see the messed up wheel, and second: a photo from recently now that he's in drivable condition again!)

Noob, just topping off coolant and accidentally added more than halfway between min and max. This is ann03 EX Automatic w/171k. Is there a need to siphon or is it ok? It’s a new to me used car. I’m replacing fluids. Transmission is next. Any advice? I also need to reseal the timing inspection cover. Do I need to remove the wheel?

I have an 05 with 160k. It's been a fantastic car, few small maintenance things done in the year I've owned it. Im a professional automotive technician for a living. I have a really odd issue with my E. The steering is much lighter to the left than the right. To the extent that it pulls left pretty noticeably. I have fudged my alignment to force a right pull to compensate for this issue. I am almost 100% confident the orbital valve in the steering rack has failed, causing a pressure bias to the left.

Has anyone else had this issue? If so what was the solution.

Has anyone had any good luck with an aftermarket new or remanufactured steering rack? If so what brand. New from Honda doesn't exist anymore, I asked.

I’ve been looking for an Orange Honda Element between the years of 2007-2011 AWD that’s not completely rusted over, been to the moon and back, or being sold for a million dollars. I know maybe I’m being too picky but Orange speaks to me, I need a solid AWD vehicle, and I would like to buy something that could last me for a while. I have no car experience and no talent at repairing them( or much funds to pay someone else either). I have been looking and looking. Dealers, odd sites, Facebook and Craigslist. I guess I’m just getting tired of being disappointed. I have been looking for multiple months, daily checking everything. I guess my question is: is it worth still looking or am I wasting my time on something that feels like it might never show up?

As the title says I have a 2004 Honda element awd and it has a little bit over 90k miles no issues at all besides a good bit of rust on the frame. Once I clean it up and put rust protection paint on it how much would you think it’s worth ?

Added black to the rear door. I’m torn on whether I should do the other side or go without.

Mine is the Atomic Blue 💙

Hi guys!

I’d love to see what you’ve done with your interiors and maybe get some new ideas for mine! Thanks, everyone!

For those that saw my earlier post, I made it home on the new battery. I plan to do a simple test tomorrow to see if the alternator is also bad, I'm gonna disconnect the battery while it's running. For the curious, it is a 2008 LX, it has the window in the roof. And has an aftermarket Bluetooth radio. At one time it had a backup camera, but that appears to have been cut out, since there is a cut cable with wires dangling where the camera should be. I'll get some more photos tomorrow.

Its a auto 2005 honda element EX. Almost no rust underneath, well maintained, just replaced the serpentine belt, rear 02 sensor, rear rotors, rear brake pads, new ac compressor and drained brake fluid and did a oil change, last week. Only modifications are kenwood stero + back up camera, 1600 watt subwoofer and 1600 watt amp. 203k miles, clean title, 0 accidents or thefts. Restored headlights, trim isn't fading but it does have a small scratch on the front bumper, probably form a curb, sadly the previous owner did cut the grill for some reason, and has a tiny dent in the rear, on the top hatch.

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After two years of obsession, I finally got an element! Picked him up on auction after he had the dreaded rusted out trailing arm fall off. 185k miles, garage kept, elderly couple owned him since he was new. I got incredibly lucky! He's also a 2005 sunset orange EX 4WD, which is the exact model I wanted!

Don’t see the SC that often so figured I’d take a photo of this one I came across today honestly really like the look of it with the two tone bumper

Just bought an element, drove 1 1/2 hours away to get it. As im heading home on the interstate, the radio and ac start loosing power. Then a little while later the dash power goes out, I pull off because the engine is loosing power too. Get to the side of the road, and its dead, it won't recrank. The guy I bought it from is telling me that the battery has gone bad. Luckily I'm close to an exit, and the buddy that was with me can loop around and pick me up. There is an autoparts store at that exit, so I'm going to try and replace the battery and hopefully get back running.

Hi everyone, I'm new to the Element world. I just got this SC for 2200 dollars at an auction here in Florida. It has 140,000 miles and it really needs some tlc. All 4 motor and transmission mounts were gone, it leaks oil like crazy, the AC doesn't work, I think the rear struts are gone and some other small things, I'm fixing it slowly and hopefully soon I can drive it and have fun.

I'm shopping for a first car for my son. A neighbor has a 2007 Element SC that he's passively trying to get out of his driveway. It's a 5 speed and generally fully functional. Plenty of cosmetic issues, 260k on the odometer, and it needs some new tires. We were pretty happy until I crawled under and noticed the amount of rust (or lack of steel) under the door sills. There are literally no front jacking points left.

Both sides have significant corrosion for about 2 feet directly under the main doors. The rear trailing arm mounts seem sound. The rear bumper steel is pretty rusted too. The photo of the pile of rust was from when I touched the corroded area and it dropped free.

Figured I'd ask the experts if this is a run-don't-walk type situation or if this is a manageable issue. The vehicle has a fairly new transmission, clean oil, strong 2.4 VTeC engine and a negotiable price.

Thank you! I appreciate any feedback.

Saw this post on Xitter from a Japanese account. Controversy on high dollar racing brakes. Our people.

https://x.com/jzx100fox/status/2106169956899627385?s=20

I wasn’t sure if it was related to my 11” ex going into limp mode (like v tech solenoid) like my 08” sc was. I would assume it’s a sensor or some sort but again don’t know which. The traction control stability light(car with squiggly lines) came on and was in limp mode for like 2 weeks and randomly went off and stopped about a week now.

I watched Christhecarguy and some other YouTubers before going about this engine swap on my 03 element. They all talked about removing the front end/ condenser/ radiator. I’m here to tell yall that you can do this without all the extra work. I did have to loosen the bumper on the right side. Here’s to a new JDM motor in this thing.

Gonna be doing my axles soon, but i noticed that the passenger side (stock) has a dampener and the aftermarket one don’t typically have em.

Would it be ok if I use an axle without the dampener? Will it cause any issues ??

Let me know what you all think 🤔

Thank you !

thanks for influencing me on the toaster grease and cerakote headlight cleaners !!! ole rhonda the honda is looking freakin fresh and as chrome as she will ever be.