r/HondaElement

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?

Passenger bottom of control arm is also covered in oil. Not a drip or leak but it's just been like that since I got the car.

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?

This might be the dirtiest fluid I have seen. New stuff was red.

my honda element 2006 driver side window doesn’t roll down or up, it looks as though the previous owner caulked the window shut and i’m wondering why they would’ve done that, the motor seems to work or make sounds like it’s working i don’t know. don’t want to mess with it because i’m sure the previous owner had a reason to shut the window 😂

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?