Honda Element - Gauges Sticking, Relays Clicking, Engine Limping, P2646
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- čas přidán 15. 10. 2022
- This 2003 Honda Element seems to be possessed. The gauges stick or don't work at all, lights flash, relays click, it cranks but won't start. It also has a P2646 code for VTEC sensor circuit low causing the engine to go into a limp mode.
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Gearwrench oil pressure test kit: amzn.to/3eBKj2s
The question that we all want to know:
Did you charge your aunt, or did you fix it for her for free?
So just a heads up Wes, this may come back. There is a gasket with a screen built in behind the power steering pump. It’s just a 2 fastener cover. That gasket likely needs replacing if there is a come back. Also, the gasket between that screen and the spool valve should be replaced with OEM Honda. The element community has MANY conversations and there isn’t a non OEM solution to these problems that lasts more than a few months.
The old part is likely a duralast or other junk part.
I would immediately return that Gearwrench oil pressure test kit and get your money back
I assume it also doesn't work with cartridge filers?
this is why i buy old pre disaster tech cars.. why wont the car run,,the antenii is dirty.. bs problems. 10 parts run by 1 sensor.told a guy new cars are sht, he said the old ones wont do 200,000 miles..i said bs..i said, i dont have limp mode or a dumb ass computer..that controls your life..
Here’s what I freaking love about Wes… like, one day (or sometimes the same day) he’s scoping out modern car electronics and re-soldering clusers and than rebuilds some 80+ year old tractor transmission, fabbing up missing parts on a lathe and everything in between the two.
Absolute legend!!
You are correct, he’s a wizard, which comes in very handy for ghost chasing!
You Hit the Nail on the Head
Will you start a fan club?
very gifted man. He has what is known as thinking logic. He sees it in his head and finds the problem and fixes it.
Welcome to the world of Field Service and a one man band.....
I didn’t feel let down. I actually felt uplifted. You did great for your Aunt. You took your time to find out a few issues, and executed your professionalism to fix the problems. Well done Wes! Kudos to you. You took care of a family member, and you should be proud of that. I was very impressed.
I second the sentiment!!
Gotta take care of your aunt or your name would be mud at the Thanksgiving table.😊
Always wondered if Wes' patience is inherent or the grace of editing. He never has a 4 letter toddler meltdown like I do on a regular basis.
You are excellent with electrical weirdness. Every mechanic I know hates electrical stuff.
Pine hollow auto diagnostics and South Main Auto... Those two and Wes are my 3 favorites on here.
I’d love to have a channel on which to showcase some of the electrical oddities I come across in my small shop. It’s an idea I’ve kicked around many times. Unfortunately I don’t think I’d be a good enough narrator or camera operator and would drive people nuts!
@@97marqedman i feel like good info and good personality make up for a whole lot of evil when it comes to the ole videos
I remember the awesome Car Talk episode where Tom & Ray were discussing a Honda Element,
and Tom said; “what element is it made from? Uglyminium?”
Hee hee. Good times. 😀
WTF Wes? No, I am *not* feeling let down. I was however again bloody amazed at your persistence and your ability to find and follow the clues to eventually resolve the issues with your aunt's car. You sir are a *_steely eyed auto electric and mechanic man._*
*Thank You* for another _diamond in the rough_ video which id greatly appreciated. 👍👍
I like to call them Honda Elephants due to their shape. The gray accent coloring on this model is perfect!
2:42 I think that’s the sound of the hamster wheel needing new bearings.
My thought exactly.
My grey 05 Honda Elephant resents your remark...as does the hamster that resides therein.
Operative word here: Cluster. You're so good at diagnosing the undiagnosable. As someone who can't diagnose anything more than what a 12 volt test light can tell me, your detective skills are nothing short of amazing. Great job on this one. Your Ant or Aunt should be very happy with the repair!
Pin soldering is a very useful skill to have. I've been teaching myself a bit here and there. I troubleshoot and repair CNC machines. Learning this skill has helped me greatly when trying to pinpoint weird issues. Is something doesn't make sense electronically or it's impossible to trace, start taking a look at all your mechanical connections. even the ones done by a machine. I hope your aunt got back on the road reliably. Respect Wes.
A good way to learn it is to buy kits online and make them. Clocks, sound bars, buttons, gizmoes. You find them online, easily.
@@aserta And they are very inexpensive! I love those Chinese electronics DIY kits. And 99 times out of 100 they are complete and work, as long as you assemble them correctly. Cool stuff!
How cab you tell there are broken solder joints? It looked good to me on the video.
@@mikespain8655 The solder is still stuck to the pin but there is a gap between the solder blob and the PCB if you look very closely - the pins have been pushed slightly through the PCB taking the solder with them.
Wes used to do CNC machine repair on this channel
I remember the times I was working on my family's cars. All at no charge and they were never really quite satisfied with the work performed. Then, I started asking to be paid for my time and the requests faded away. They were just taking advantage of my good nature. The "bastards" Hahahahahaha. Love your channel and the work you do Wes.
I know that's right!
It’s that time of the season. Just repaired an 08 F350 with a burned trace on the cluster circuit board. The board had a corroded spot at the top that appeared to be moisture intrusion. Jumped the burn with a copper strand and reflowed the connector pins. Everything else looked good under the scope. Also noticed a new rust spot on the cab roof directly above the windshield.
It’s a solder and Bondo day here.
I used to see them burned up on Ford clusters back in the aftermarket stereo days, when someone would add a stereo, and then connect the stereo's ground to the gauge light lead. Ford and GM run the gauge light feed wire with the main switched power wire, so the unknowing would often assume it was a ground - even though that wire is often blue...
Then the first time you turn on the headlights while the new radio is on, it pops the fuse, and no more gauge lights or taillights... Add a little jumper-foil to that popped fuse, and you will learn that those traces on the floppy printed circuit board are the weak link in that circuit...
Wait till the VTEC kicks in yo'
Vtec is awesome.
👀🤣
That VTEC solenoid and switch assy usually needs replacing every 50K or so.
Harbor freight sells a cool “universal funnel kit” comes with a bunch of adapters to thread into the oil cap. Found the green one for Hondas also works on the big diesels. Definitely worth the investment in my opinion.
I see she left you the family rate payment in the glovebox! 😂😂😂
Half now the other half when done.
Just love Wes videos. He has such a easy and layed back manner. Forgive me if this sounds insulting, it is not meant to be ( I'm an Englishman you see) but I find has has an almost hillblilly approach to diagnostics that is belied by extreme logic, intelligence and experience. What a smart fellow. Max is no slouch either - where rodents are concerened!
That is the secret two pronged approach to car repair. Mr. Wes the Wizard and his faithful pest control pup.
So you describe this fine engineer as "hillbilly"? Look brit, you know dick about hillbillies-go sit down!
Worked at Honda for years - that VTEC code pops up a lot, and here are some of the things that have ultimately caused it:
1) Poor quality oil filter/no check valve on it. Replaced with OEM filter to fix.
2) Low oil in the engine (yours was a quart low and sometimes that’s enough, since the code occurs under higher load/higher rpm)
3) The VTEC solenoid assembly itself
4) Elements have their passenger windshield wiper fluid nozzle positioned directly over the switch. Water will leak past the nozzle, fall onto the switch connectors and cause poor connection/cause corrosion.
I have seen all of these things cause the code. 9 times out of 10 it’s the solenoid but these things are the unusual ones. Hopefully this helps.
Going through this problem right now. Thinking of sending this reply to him. I’m wondering if that will piss him off he’s been in the business a long time.
@@d2d601 doesn't mean he knows everything, we never stop learning.
That was a head scratcher. Yet, you found the main issues and fixed both of them. Well done!
Had this same issue with my Ford Connect with broken joints on the cluster and the can us was going crazy as it couldn't work out what was happening. Loads of lights on and a no start situation were all there. Used old skool fully leaded solder to repair it and it's been perfect ever since 👍🏻
The best way to check the VTEC system is to floor the accelerator pedal when driving, if it doesn't bug or cut fuel, you're golden. Honda tech here....
Wix filters are owned and manufactured by Mann+Hummel to the best of my knowledge. I service some of the equipment in their NC facility from time to time, and even though it is a German owned company, they’re one of the few remaining manufacturers I work for that has real blue collar craftsmen making products from raw materials here in the US. I always enjoy going there and getting to work with their mechanics. I definitely feel good about buying their products.
Looks like they own Purolator too. Good info to know.
Wes always has the weirdest issues. I love it
Nice to see a car mechanic have a proper soldering iron, flux and a good tip cleaner. Still use as much 60/40 solder as I can get my hands on. Nothing beats the lead
Eutectic...
As usual I'm impressed with your diagnostic skills. Needless to say I'm enjoying your videos 🙂
We all live in a world with sounds. We dont mind the grain trucks, the spray planes, the combines. We watch those channels too. Love the noises. Most of us live in places with honking horns and traffic.
Another great vid. Those of us with Elements (mine has 265k, my buddy's has 405) appreciate how simple and reliable these cars are.
I don't own one, but I work at a Honda dealership where at least one of the other techs has one (customer's car that got traded in due to mechanical issues that he ended up buying off the used car department. He Fixed it and has dailyed it since). Hondas are pretty much the gold standard of simplicity and ease of maintenance in post-OBD2 cars, or they were until recently. Only one that still came closeish was the Fit.
@@SkylineFTW97 uh, I’m gonna go ahead and disagree with you there. Had a ‘10 Accord that developed excessive oil consumption (1qt every ~1000 miles, less than 75k on the odo) and I went through the whole recall/warranty testing process just to find out the car was already on it’s second engine. I bought the car with about 30k on it. Honda basically told me to go stick it where the sun don’t shine, and I was stuck with a car that would run itself dry between oil changes if left to it’s own devices
Then there’s the whole Honda auto transmission debacle
Meanwhile, I have a ‘12 4Runner that has 180k on it and doesn’t burn/leak a drop of oil, and hasn’t needed a single repair that wasn’t a wear item since it was new
I also have a ‘95 4Runner with 215k on it that leaks oil from every gasket possible and still loses it at a slower rate than that pile of garbage Honda did lol
Toyota has been the gold standard for reliable vehicles, before and after OBDII, at least in my experience
Mine is a baby with only 163k, but these videos are solid gold for the home mechanic.
@@masonboard Honda Element?
I'm pretty sure 80s cars are more reliable than these pieces of junk
You are amazing. I repaired TV’s until they became unrepairable. Bad solder connections were a common cause for many failures.
Electronic tech here. Old, grumpy, opinionated, retired. Lead / Tin solder my favorite. 63/37 mix. Had to 'upgrade' to lead-free crap but mastered it. 1 suggestion. FLUX THE BEJEEZUS out of it especially if you're repairing using lead free junk. Solder wik or solder suck the old crap out first, re-flux, solder. Clean with flux remover, can't remember what I bought for myself last time, but I got it from Mouser or DigiKey.
Happy Motoring! 😉
I have to say, Bravo Wes, Bravo. The second I looked at the gauge circuit board, I noticed the cold solder connections. But than I did circuit repair for Depot aircraft for years. And I also like that you used a very good quality soldering station. That Weller solder station is what we used in the Depot Repair. And the reason why is that it is an ESD safe and government approved soldering station because there is no voltage on the tip, so you can't static discharge to any sensitive component while using it. That was a huge issue in such repairs. I had a similar issue with my dad's old 96 S10 truck. It had major issues with the Anti-lock brakes. I opened up that module and totally obvious there was a cold solder joint. Soldered all those connects and everything works great again... Thumbs Up!
Last time I was this early, the nurses put me in an incubator!
Hey Wes, when you get the chance please check the forward mounts for the rear lower control arms, the body/frame rots away on these cars and can be a big problem! For your Aunt's safety i'd give it a check, and if it's not bad i'd saturate the area with fluid film to help it stay alive longer. As usual, love watching you work.
All I have to say is that your aunt is one lucky lady, nice diagnosis on the problem. I don’t blame you for NOT working on the panel for others, a price our sue happy society must pay. Great job, thanks for the ride along sir.
How to say... WES is simply amazing ! 😳
To be able to solve such complex mechanical problems...
Congratulations again and again.
I wish I had a mechanic like Wes near my home ! 🤗
JC (France)
I really enjoy watching you work these problems out. Some of it isn't anything I would ever do, but that doesn't mean I don't learn anything from it. (Like using a ratchet strap to hold something out of the way)
Sometimes you just do all you know to do and then take a shot in the dark.When all tests and information point in the same direction, an educated guess IS in order. I would have replaced that sensor/solenoid as well. GOOD JOB Wes.
2:42 fun fact these early honda elements came with a built-in Geiger counter for those extreme adventurous types.
Hey Wes,
Something that can cause problems with the VVT solenoids is the fine mesh filters on the feed ports. They plug up with gunk and starve the VVT solenoid/actuators. Rest of the engine will have perfect oil pressure. It's kinda common on higher mileage examples with less than excellent maintenance. The back one is VVT solenoid housing seal, the front one is beside the intake manifold and behind the accessory bracket, and kind of sucks to get at. Think they are only a few dollars each at Honda.
yeah.. I hate it when they put small screens on things like this. Either let the trash flow through it, or put a little filter on the side of it that can easily be changed, one or the other, but the screen is a terrible idea.
That reminds me of the time Eric from EtCG used a no name engine flush that a vendor wanted promotion from and smoked a VCM because it closed all the screens. Changed new ones and clogged them again. It was awful. Oil starvation.
One of the best days of my life was the day I sold my 2003 Honda element. I was always working on that thing, and it wasn't just minor issues. The word junk comes to mind. I feel for your Aunt and hope she chooses to sell hers too.
Our "cheddar eating friends" appear to have repurposed half a $20 bill in the glove box. Send in Pup!
Great start to my day. Completely amazed at the level of skill Wes has.😃
My OCD has a problem with that terminology - I mean if the mice are chewing up our stuff and peeing all over it, then they're not really our friends. They can try their luck befriending my cat...
Blood is thicker than water, thanx for helping the Lady. It probably would have been very expensive for her to have paid a dealer for that repair. Great job Wes.😃
I was on a 'non-standard' ship in the Navy and we had a lot of non-milspec electronics. Common problem with connectors, due to poor design and constant vibration. We engineered strain reliefs for all connector-to-circuit board sites to stop the problem. Many mechanical engineers think that solder is a structural material; it is not. It is purely for electrical connectivity. Must add a structural element (bending, screwing, twisting, etc) to hold the connector in place, or it will always break the solder connection.
Thanks, Wes for another great example of the fault determination process and resolution.
I was thinking about that too, and...
They've figured out how to add a flex agent to paint, for things like bumper covers, why can't they do so for solder??
What looks like money in the glove box, take it and throw at the problem, that usually makes it work. Thanks for some great videos.
Good job, as always. I have fixed so many things that had bad solder joints. Seems to be a real problem, and not just for cars. It is so much fun when you are dealing with two problems that kind of look related but aren't. Intermittent failures are not fun, at all.
It's more of a detective video rather than a mechanic video but the best mec around cheers
Another fine mess figured out by our intrepid multi talented mechanic Wes.
It sounds like the cricket invasion season is in full swing and Wes's shop is cricket central.
Wes, you simply have amazing skills.
Wes, love it when you get the simple line prints come out, nice set up on the electronic repair bench. Thanks for the update on the harvest.
Down Under in Sunny Oz, we say “Aunt”, never pronounced as “Ant”. Love watching your Work Wes.
Brought me back to watching you repair crusty old CNC control boards.
I resoldered the cluster connector on a neighbors Ford Focus a few days back. I'd recommend removing the existing solder (solder sucker or wick) if you are going to be resoldering with lead based solder.
Did it have the crazy, over-engineered, locking lever, securing the connector to the cluster, like it was a main processor on a computer motherboard? When I replaced stepper motors on my 2005 Mustang GT, I found it to be that way, and it took a few moments for me to figure out how to unlock it - but I don't think I had to run back in the house and consult the internet, to figure it out...
Dont ever feel we are let down. love your videos and talent. Seeing those dry joints gave me many memories of my electronic career. must have done tens of thousands of those on ecus and televisions etc. Great stuff Wes.
I spent a few days trying to diagnose a bad charging issue in a DeLorean a while back; it was the bulb in the dash that burned out and would no longer allow the alternator to charge the battery. That was a real head-scratcher.
I love how careful you were being putting it back together. I bet if you were to watch a production video you would see them being slammed together.😂
Nice find on the bad solder joints. I remember fixing a few late 90s Caravans this way when I was out in the indi world.
Great video. Impressive diagnostic.
Mann Hummel has owned Wix for a long time. I would say that is a plus not a minus. Napa, Wix, Mann are all excellent.
It turns out some of my friends....and my wife's friends...send me cars and trucks with odd fail symptoms. And why this video was great...is that my wife's friend with a bad knee has one of these Honda units. So she should not be hiking as from a failed car.....and if these symptoms appear, I am going to look good getting right to the repair with not much bother.
So, I quite thank you for the time and effort to post. And that solder reflow was very nice precision, by the way.
Nice job, Wes. Good sleuthing.
Could have entitled this Honda Element - What a cluster....
Well done Wes, as always. Mann filters are german brand and are one of the top brands in Europe. Greetings from Poland
As a Honda Element owner, it's known amongst the community that the aftermarkert VTEC solenoid packs are all crap. My advice if you get the p2646 code is to do a fresh oil change with 20% MMO in it and run that for about 500-1000 miles, then change your oil again. In 3 out of 3 Elements/1 CRV (effectively same parts) I've worked on with this issue (including my own), this solved the problem - 2 years on with my car. I also replaced the gasket/filter on all of them, since it gets to get flattened.
Great work as always Wes
First off wes i would watch damn near anything you post i like what you do secondly that was a hell if a diag and find with that cluster and broken solder joints as someone that has been soldering since the age of 6 i have to say that was some good work too
As an Element owner great video..as always great video.
it's fun to see real mechanics dabbling with microelectronic repair. Out of necessity, we all need to continue learning, no matter who we are. It's not a coincidence that those who have risen to the top of their fields are willing to try something new, to expand their circle of competence.
I do not know how you keep on working on such stuff and still remain sane--I used to swing a spanner a bit years and years ago and things were simple.....Not now
Always educational to the nth degree 😊 much respect ✊
The filter cover on the front of the head opposite the solenoid block is a place they leak plus the screen filter gasket catches debris. I only use Honda parts also. Thanks Wes!!!
Great job, that instrument cluster was insane!
Love watching you work Wes when your in your element.
Needs more crickets, great video as always.
There's just one, last, cicada in my back yard I feel sorry for him.
You are a good mechanic and diagnostician. Good troubleshooting. Good work.
Try 'great'
Thanks Wes! I always dig the wizardry you pull outa your head to fix stuff🐾🍺
You are so talented! Can’t say how much I learn and how much entertainment you provide.
I had the same problem on my 05 Element (P2646). It was giving me a harsh kick @ 3k rpms. Wouldn't rev any higher in gear, just harsh bouncing. At idle it's more of a soft bump @ 3k rpms. The easiest solution was to go OEM replacement. No issues. This happened at 181k miles.
Hi Wes you are a genius at fixing these problems I know it’s a head scratcher most of the times but you defo have a great gift right there mate said it before awesome mechanic who always gives 100% thanks for sharing mate and all the best to the family 🔧🔧🔧👍👌
Yep..watch Wes and be serenaded by crickets.. soothing to the ears.. As always great video with subtle humor in the mix.
No let down Wes.
It was another great video.
Thank - you, for posting.
Look forward to it.
Excellent diagnostics and repairs.
Need more snarky humor.
Thanks for taking time to make good videos.
Thanks Wes, all good info for possible future use.
I had a problem with the cluster on my Freelander - traced to a corroded connector behind one of the headlights.
As for repairing instruments, I can recall successfully replacing the hairspring on a speedometer - you could do that on vehicles made in the 1950s.
Great work as always Wes!
Your a wonder to watch Wes never a disappointment.
You know, Wes, I never realised how lucky we are in South Africa to have a majority of 4 cylinder engined cars. Thankfully I don't throw spanners (that's wrenches to you guys!) anymore. I just can't imagine trying to work on a transverse mounted V6 or V8...what a bloody nightmare, and this Honda, although a 4 banger, (it seems) is enough to make me head for the hills! I remember old school cars where I could almost climb into the engine bay and get comfortable to do some serious repairs...and I only stopped working on cars about 20 years ago. And as for the electric systems.... As for that repair on the cluster, that's the kind of thing I would do, just to prove a point to myself and the manufacturer.
Great work making multiple repairs. Helping the family out of a bind should be worth a holiday meal or two!
Pretty sharp diagnosis!
Although the vtec switch may be changed out, the oil can be about a half of a quart low and trigger the issue. Keep the oil topped off! Thanks for being a heck of dude and sharing with us!
That relay reminds me of when my grand daughter asked me why my Honda goes tikka tikka when driving. Turns out her mother stole the car for a trip to the shops, and used the key to unlock, instead of the remote. The alarm was non op at the time, so the flashers were going for the whole trip....
Wes another great educational video. Thank you very much. I watch your videos so much that i feel like we know each other for a long time. But i have a question: What's up with the Gold wing over there? Is that yours ? or for repair?
What I personally have love about Watch Wes work , makes say I if live in your neighborhood , I would Not hesitate to say do your magic on any thing I had! That something I Not do where I live! A True impression of a !
This video was definitely interesting enough! Keep em coming!
My ford focus 1.6l 2004 had exactly the same issue, the K&L line pins on the board of the dash were broken. Since the dash acted as some kind of gateway/router for the other modules in the car, everything went haywire when that thing tripped. Especially funny when you went 180Km/h on the Autobahn and the whole dash went x-Mas berzerk on you... Ford wanted 1800€ to fix it, I fixed it my self...
Mann + Hummel makes Wix filters. I think if you look at the packaging or on a Wix filter itself it'll have their logo somewhere on it. Even on the banner of Wix's website actually.
You’re the man Wes!!
Hey Wes 👋, good video on Honda. It's always good to see you have fun with the electrical in the vehicles . Means I'm not alone . Have a great day and enjoy your afternoon 👋
Eric the car guy should know what’s haunting this.
nice work, there were some weird things going on and it could have gone much worse.
Excellent diagnosis and repair Wes, always impressed.
I'm always riveted by whatever issue you're trying to resolve and I've learnt so much from watching how you go about diagnosing and resolving each of them. Keep up the good work Wes!
Great vido, is there any chance that due to being so low on oil that the pump could have been sucking air causing some of the issues? Very nice soldering job on the cluster.Thanks for the video.
Great video! I was also glad to hear the cricket choir is performing at the shop again!
Master class Wes, master class.