Finboy buys another Honda: 2004 Honda Element 4wd 5 speed

After a suspension revamp on the forester this year, I realized I needed a winter car to save the poor thing from a rust death. Finding something that could do all the things a forester could do was not easy, so it’s been a few months finding the right car for the right price.

Enter this:
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A 2004 Honda Element 4wd 5 speed with 280k on the clock, 3 dash lights and some roof rust from a poorly installed windshield.

So what is the up side? The previous owner decided to throw all aerogenic accessories at the thing while redoing all the suspension and brakes. That means full 2” lift, subframe spacers, catalytic cage to prevent theft, spacers, winters and some 235 75 16 tires that have never been mounted. I will be moving to a lower spacer on the back end, the rake is not my taste, time to level it out.

2 Inch Aerogenics lift
Aerogenics Cat Cover
Aerogenics wheel spacer
New KYB Struts
New Control front and rear control arms
New front wheel bearings
4 x All new CV axles
4 New brake rotors and pads
4 NGK spark plugs
Valve adjustment done
4 x new Cooper AT3 tires
new oil pan seal
All new tire rod ends and bushings Moog Brand
New light bar and fog lights
All new fluids installed - Diff , Brake , Transmission and oil
Set winter tires
2 inch trailer hitch

Right now it is scheduled to get all recalls done, work on turning off the airbag light (99% sure it’s the seatbelt switch), check engine light (o2 sensor), and abs light (abs sensors in the rear). After that, hunting down some ep3 seats, rust repair the roof, and maybe learn to wrap for a colour that isn’t black. I was toying with white from the window line up, and a tan like the newer Tacoma below that, but open to options.

In other news, quality 16x8 5x114 wheels are much harder to find now a days.

More to come.

Matte gray to match the plastic?

I was worried about too much grey, I kind of like the 2 tone thing in a “feels like 2003 and marketed to gen x but boomers will buy them all” kind of way

I know a guy, if you need any Element work done.

What did you pay for that if you don't mind sharing? Something in the realm of $5-6k?
I feel like they've been appreciating in value for the last 3-4y rather than depreciate.

Sweet! I almost bought one of these will looking for a temp car. I opted out due to insane prices and so many of them had engine replacements due to lack of valve adjustments from what I understand.

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Originally Posted by mr2mike

I know a guy, if you need any Element work done.

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Noted for later

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Originally Posted by jwslam

What did you pay for that if you don't mind sharing? Something in the realm of $5-6k?
I feel like they've been appreciating in value for the last 3-4y rather than depreciate.

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$6k, which given the issues sounds like a lot, but considering some of the worse jobs (Honda bushing and suspension replacement) are done, this thing *should* be a solid winter car for a few years

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Originally Posted by Chantastic

Sweet! I almost bought one of these will looking for a temp car. I opted out due to insane prices and so many of them had engine replacements due to lack of valve adjustments from what I understand.

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I was actually looking for a fit, but your thread made me realize how much fun they would be with a k series. Now I have the supersized version and all I can think is “this would be really fun with a better k series and 6 speed” :rofl:

Congrats on the buy. Great vehicle. That is basically a Honda CRV underneath. It has the same K series engine. Solid motor. Im not joking. I actually looked at the Honda Element in case my old Zonda died a few years back. They have been shooting up in value big time. The space in the back is insane. You can fit a motorcycle, some businesses use them for deliveries. For camping and recreation they are good too.

What is the P code for the O2 sensor..? I drove mine for over five years with that code.. ran fine. LOL. Just a FYI. It my not be the O2 sensor. It could also be the cable that connects the sensor. If there is a problem in the cable (due to age) the Engine just throws a code as default.

I have a set of OEM CRV RIMs mounted on Winters if you ever need a set. They will fit the Element. The tires have only seen 1.3 Winters. They are basically new, I bought them just pre pandemic. The rubber was bought from Tirebob.

$6k is a good price. As long as the motor is good, everything else should be ok to replace. Keep a eye on the rear right brake. I had issues on mine. On the CRV forum I noticed this issue came up a lot with others. I got around it by having the rear brakes serviced every year.
Do you know if the Valve Adjustment was done?

Don't let the oil go low on these engines. It will stretch the timing chain. The engines will burn oil, this is normal. More so in the summer. Just top up. As long as it does not go low, the engine will be fine and outlast the body. I am not joking.
When you fill up with gas. Rest your trip odometer. At the halfway mark and end take a mental note of the milage (Summer and Winter). You will start to see a average. Keep note of this. When I spoke to my mechanic about the engine. He said nothing really goes wrong generally. Its only when they start to drink more gas then its a issue. So keep a eye on the milage.

It’s the code for the upstream o2, valve adjustment was done, a lot of the maintenance was just done but the owner had too many things on the go. I appreciate the offer on winters but it is currently on a pretty good set, and I have some brand new summers that just need a 7.5-8” wide rim. At this point I might just wait it out for next year as I will be in Nelson most of august and Hawaii most of October.

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Originally Posted by finboy

It’s the code for the upstream o2, valve adjustment was done, a lot of the maintenance was just done but the owner had too many things on the go. I appreciate the offer on winters but it is currently on a pretty good set, and I have some brand new summers that just need a 7.5-8” wide rim. At this point I might just wait it out for next year as I will be in Nelson most of august and Hawaii most of October.

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No worries. Good to hear the maintenance was done.
If the car is going to sit. Just a FYI. My car sat for two months in 2018 (March-May). Over the summer the clutch master cylinder blew. Condensation/air might have got in.
I was in London for two months this year and a few weeks after I got back. The same thing happened. It could be age, seals etc. I have no idea how this would be prevented. But I thought Id pass that on as its the same components.
Keep the thread posted. Really interested to see what you do the vehicle.

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Originally Posted by finboy

I was actually looking for a fit, but your thread made me realize how much fun they would be with a k series. Now I have the supersized version and all I can think is “this would be really fun with a better k series and 6 speed” :rofl:

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:rofl: the ultimate reason why I didn't buy an Element was that if I did, when I got the Fit back out of the shop I'd have too much trouble letting go of the Element. It really is a giant Fit/Ep3!

Nice buy!

Sweet! I really enjoyed mine.

+1 on the beige colour/wrap!

I also really enjoyed mine until i got a deal on a ridgeline i couldn't pass up. Power window switches are a known common failure as well as watch the rear frame stiffeners.

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Originally Posted by finboy

hunting down some ep3 seats

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unless it's the Type-R Recaros, I wouldn't bother - such uncomfortable, very back pain

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Originally Posted by haggis88

unless it's the Type-R Recaros, I wouldn't bother - such uncomfortable, very back pain

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Good to know

do these have the same mounting points as the EP3s for seat subframes?

Great buy @finboy . Very rare find as it's AWD AND 5 speed. That's awesome.

Love my Element. 362K and still going. My only gripe is the gas mileage on KO2s.

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Originally Posted by tonytiger55

When you fill up with gas. Rest your trip odometer. At the halfway mark and end take a mental note of the milage (Summer and Winter). You will start to see a average. Keep note of this. When I spoke to my mechanic about the engine. He said nothing really goes wrong generally. Its only when they start to drink more gas then its a issue. So keep a eye on the milage.

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I know in my case, the tires make the car a bit more thirsty for gas, but regardless of the tires, it could be drinking more than usual the last couple years. What issue should arise if the car becomes less fuel efficient?

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Originally Posted by haggis88

do these have the same mounting points as the EP3s for seat subframes?

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Kind of, disassemble/reassemble:

https://www.elementownersclub.com/th...n-the-e.54609/

Can confirm... I put slightly oversized tires on mine and the mileage shit the bed.