kmead
Old enough to know better
I have recently taken on the stewardship of two AWD Honda Elements. One is a 2007 the other a 2008, they are effectively identical (not by intent) with the same options and color. Both cars are from local owners. They are not Xs that is for sure.
I bought the first one for my daughter for a college car up north for 3500 knowing it had some needs and had been in a minor front end accident. I have done the maintenance basics of changing fluids, filters and so on. I am starting on the deferred maintenance items which any car with 157k on it will need. In this case primarily minor suspension bits and pieces.
The other I bought because it was in notably better condition and just 3000. I figured I can sell one and keep whichever one ends up in the best condition. This car is also receiving all the normal maintenance items it needs: fluids, filters and a few minor suspension issues.
The one for 3k has 187k on it, these vehicles are good for 300 plus with reasonable maintenance so it really isn’t a bad choice to pick one up. So here is the thing, the folks who owned it took pretty good care of the car but unloaded it when a very typical Honda VTEC issue cropped up. This causes the car to go into limp mode (2800 rpm max) and the instrument lights lit up like a Christmas tree. A typical cause of this is failure to change the oil in a timely manner and or to let the oil level get low, in this case both were evidently the cause. Typical repairs are to change the oil and change the VTEC oil pressure sensor, clean two filter screens in the head, doing these things seems to have cleared up the problem. Without this issue the car could have sold for over 5k, instead they maybe got 1500 at the dealer, effectively over a oil change.
With both of these cars I was struck by the age and very evident worn condition of the fluids, likely OE from the factory. The air cleaner filters were effectively completely blocked (at least they had one) and so on. I suppose Honda owners get so used to not having to do anything and the cars just trudge on regardless that not doing anything just becomes second nature by the owners.
They both run much better now and I have learned a few engineering foibles about Hondas that are less than magnificent. Now it looks like my son will end up with one and my daughter the other. In the mean time one is doing service as my winter daily. Good car in the winter, just a bit thirsty.
I bought the first one for my daughter for a college car up north for 3500 knowing it had some needs and had been in a minor front end accident. I have done the maintenance basics of changing fluids, filters and so on. I am starting on the deferred maintenance items which any car with 157k on it will need. In this case primarily minor suspension bits and pieces.
The other I bought because it was in notably better condition and just 3000. I figured I can sell one and keep whichever one ends up in the best condition. This car is also receiving all the normal maintenance items it needs: fluids, filters and a few minor suspension issues.
The one for 3k has 187k on it, these vehicles are good for 300 plus with reasonable maintenance so it really isn’t a bad choice to pick one up. So here is the thing, the folks who owned it took pretty good care of the car but unloaded it when a very typical Honda VTEC issue cropped up. This causes the car to go into limp mode (2800 rpm max) and the instrument lights lit up like a Christmas tree. A typical cause of this is failure to change the oil in a timely manner and or to let the oil level get low, in this case both were evidently the cause. Typical repairs are to change the oil and change the VTEC oil pressure sensor, clean two filter screens in the head, doing these things seems to have cleared up the problem. Without this issue the car could have sold for over 5k, instead they maybe got 1500 at the dealer, effectively over a oil change.
With both of these cars I was struck by the age and very evident worn condition of the fluids, likely OE from the factory. The air cleaner filters were effectively completely blocked (at least they had one) and so on. I suppose Honda owners get so used to not having to do anything and the cars just trudge on regardless that not doing anything just becomes second nature by the owners.
They both run much better now and I have learned a few engineering foibles about Hondas that are less than magnificent. Now it looks like my son will end up with one and my daughter the other. In the mean time one is doing service as my winter daily. Good car in the winter, just a bit thirsty.
