sounds like a video game. Grat video. I've removed my back area, roof/headliner and everything else but the front seats and floor liners. It will be next now!
They say you can hose down the floor in a Honda Element, no you cannot because there is no floor drainage. The water would eventually find its way under the rubber flooring and rust would set in. Do not hose out the interior or the rubberized flooring, just wipe it down when it gets dirty.
Hosing down the inside of the Honda Element is a salesman lie. The only thing that can be hose down from the interior is the spare wheel cover if removed from the car.
Car salesmen are notoriously ignorant about cars, their forte is figuring out what the buyer already wants and making him forget everything that doesn't match that. They don't become more knowledgeable when they go home at the end of the day. There would be some benefit to removing the front seats for cleaning if they were heaviliy stained or filthy, because it's easier to do heavy cleaning and drying on a bench than inside a car. In this case, the entire floor covering can be cleaned without removing it in under 20 minutes. Its removal-to-clean is as dumb as removing cabinetry and wall to wall vinyl flooring from a kitchen to "deep clean" it would be.
I would never feel comfortable about doing this, and it's one thing to take something apart it's another thing putting it back the same way and safely!
The mechanics are simple, like the guy who did all this absolutely unnecesary work. You can clean the floor and seats without removing them. How does he clean his kitchen floor - remove the cabinets and covering?
@@psdaengr911 Not true, if water got in the interior it goes underneath that floor covering and sits in there forever and turning in a mildew and smell. You have to take the floor covering off to get it out to get it dried out and deep cleaned
I dont think those peoples understand how bad an auction bought car can be. Dog smell on that one was so overwhelming it really needed an extreme cleansing…. And it work.
Thank you I recently bought an element and the guy I got it from hosed it down n now I have a swish every time I turn have to vacuum it and change out the mat for mildew
Im glad the video is helpful. There is a myth on the internet that the inside of the Element can be hose inside?!?! Total nonsense, hopefully you can fix yours and keep her on the road. Cheers
No, I took the passenger seat out of mine, and drive around that way. That would be a bad way to design an airbag, for safety reasons. You don't want it to go off unless you're actually in an accident, and there's actually a person sitting in the passenger seat. That's why it has a sensor that turns the airbag off, if nobody is sitting there (or a small kid).
I'm interested in removing the front passenger seat permanently as I am making a car camper just for my self. Do you think the connectors need any special treatment for seat belt and air bag lights warnings will be ok? Thanks!
I really dont know, all I know if you unplug the seat, the airbag light will light up...check the Element owner forum, a few members built their E camper and would gladly share their experience and knowledge www.elementownersclub.com/forums/search.php?searchid=9818266
Hey Eric, did you ever take out the passenger seat and turn the Element into a camper? I was thinking about doing the same thing. I saw a great pic on reddit where the person puts a cot from REI in it's place extending back. See link if it lets me post it. Please let me know, I am trying to do this this week :) www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/8e67cc/my_nobuild_honda_element_camper/
Do you have a full video? I'm curious how you did the rear liner removal and reinstall. It feels like you have to remove the paneling that's connected throughout the back of the Element.
They're spring load lock connectors. To disconnect: pull the sping loaded sleeve towards the top (slide the sleeve away and hold it), while holding the opposite half of the connector...pull apart
Disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait 30 minutes, to be sure that the air bag system has lost residual power (just as a precaution, to make sure the airbags don't accidentally go off, somehow). Then slide the middle part of the yellow connector back, and separate each half.
Do you need to take the seats out in order to take the floor garnish out (0:41)? I need to get at some rust forming around the door latch on the floor. Thank you for the video!
If you want to completely removed the floor liner, yes seats has to be unbolt. It's easy, only 4 bolts held the seat in place, be careful with the airbag wiring, I usually unplug the battery on both positive and negative and never had any problem with the air bag.
Did you have any problem with the sensors in the seat when you reconnected them or did it just plug back in and work as before? I read that you would have to calibrate the ODS sensor (That detects weight in the passenger seat). Are there any special steps you had to take when reconnecting the seats?
Any way of mounting that passenger seat facing rear? No passenger, just for camping alone. It could stay that way permanently as I have another Element for driving around town.
hosing down the interior of the element is a car salesman BS, the only part that can be hose off, is the rear cargo/spare tire cover that can be removed from inside the car.
BS is the native language of car salesmen. The only Honda salespeople who know more about Elements than a random buyer who visited the elementownersforum.com are those who own Elements.
What work for me for deep stain, is upholstery cleaner mix with water in a spray bottle. I give the seats a good soak (without exaggeration) then I vacuum it off with a shop vac that can take water. Repeat until clean
I like to use Folex carpet cleaner. Spray it on, let it do it's thing, maybe brush the stains... then hit it with a steamer to heat it up, and suck it all out with a high powered shop vac, with an 'extractor' tip on the end. It's like dry-cleaning. If you can take the covers off, soak them in a bucket of hot water with Oxi-Clean for a few hours, then do the same trick with the shop vac and extractor tip. Then put them in the clothes drier, on a shoe rack so they don't tumble.
I think your best bet is a wrecking yard, I always have luck with them for hard to find parts. If you want new check your Honda dealer or online Honda parts store www.hondapartsnow.com
I've owned 2 Elements, one used. This is work without benefit. So little dry debris gets under the floor covering that the ONLY reasons to remove it is to remediate water damage or install sound dampener. The entire interior can be cleaned with sponges moistened with small amounts of soapy water. Spray liquid into the seat mesh and you are begging for mildrew and mold. Punch a hole in that exposed dual coil subwoofer and it'll cost $60-$100 to replace it. Damage or lose plastic rivets and spend time and money getting ones that match the type and color. Hint: Once scratched, plastic trims never looks the same. A metal prybar should not be used to remove a plastic interior. If you absolutely need to remove the interior or follor covering to fix an issue, Harbor Freight sells a good plastic rivet-clip puller and a trim removal kit that is made of FRP.
Thanks for your input, that was a real dirty dog smelly high mileage (300000++miles) worn out 2004 Element that I pick up initially for parts, but decided to fix it instead (i own 3 Elements). The interior really needed a super deep cleaning and a good air out...after all that, the car interior is normal and can be maintained like you describe. P.s> since the video I bought the trim removal kit
Fer cryin out loud. How to clean the Honda Element. Take the air compressor hose from your garage air compresser and blow it out. If you take your time it might take all of 1 minute. Your done.
This is the only video on CZcams that shows you how to remove the front seats. Thank you.
thanks for the feedback
Skipped the hardest part-disconnecting the yellow clip.
I loved this! I now feel like cleaning my interior just to see what it is like
Right?😳
sounds like a video game. Grat video. I've removed my back area, roof/headliner and everything else but the front seats and floor liners. It will be next now!
Thank you for the feedback...goodluck with your project
My floor is pretty bubbly in the front so I may consider replacing it if I can find a used set that’s in good shape.
dude, sick vid, thank you so much for this
They say you can hose down the floor in a Honda Element, no you cannot because there is no floor drainage. The water would eventually find its way under the rubber flooring and rust would set in. Do not hose out the interior or the rubberized flooring, just wipe it down when it gets dirty.
Hosing down the inside of the Honda Element is a salesman lie. The only thing that can be hose down from the interior is the spare wheel cover if removed from the car.
Car salesmen are notoriously ignorant about cars, their forte is figuring out what the buyer already wants and making him forget everything that doesn't match that. They don't become more knowledgeable when they go home at the end of the day.
There would be some benefit to removing the front seats for cleaning if they were heaviliy stained or filthy, because it's easier to do heavy cleaning and drying on a bench than inside a car. In this case, the entire floor covering can be cleaned without removing it in under 20 minutes. Its removal-to-clean is as dumb as removing cabinetry and wall to wall vinyl flooring from a kitchen to "deep clean" it would be.
Who’s here in 2024
I would never feel comfortable about doing this, and it's one thing to take something apart it's another thing putting it back the same way and safely!
Every used car I buy goes through that cleaning process, fairly simple and not much can go wrong if the battery is unplugged.
The mechanics are simple, like the guy who did all this absolutely unnecesary work. You can clean the floor and seats without removing them. How does he clean his kitchen floor - remove the cabinets and covering?
@@psdaengr911 Not true, if water got in the interior it goes underneath that floor covering and sits in there forever and turning in a mildew and smell. You have to take the floor covering off to get it out to get it dried out and deep cleaned
It's really odd how many people are triggered that you cleaned your car. It's like it was a personal affront to them.
I dont think those peoples understand how bad an auction bought car can be. Dog smell on that one was so overwhelming it really needed an extreme cleansing…. And it work.
Thank you I recently bought an element and the guy I got it from hosed it down n now I have a swish every time I turn have to vacuum it and change out the mat for mildew
Im glad the video is helpful. There is a myth on the internet that the inside of the Element can be hose inside?!?! Total nonsense, hopefully you can fix yours and keep her on the road.
Cheers
interesting video! I probably would have just wiped down the surfaces tho
One more question:
When you unclip the passenger seat and hook the battery back up, will the air bag go off ?
I never tried it and If I remember right, if the battery is plug in while the connectors are apart...that triggers the air bag
@@JoeBakerOutsideTheBox Ok, so unhook the battery before removing the seat. Then once the seat is removed, plug the battery back up.
@@justinwilliams2522 ive taken of the seats with the battery connected didnt happen even drove the car to a body shop with no seat connected
No, I took the passenger seat out of mine, and drive around that way. That would be a bad way to design an airbag, for safety reasons. You don't want it to go off unless you're actually in an accident, and there's actually a person sitting in the passenger seat. That's why it has a sensor that turns the airbag off, if nobody is sitting there (or a small kid).
I'm interested in removing the front passenger seat permanently as I am making a car camper just for my self. Do you think the connectors need any special treatment for seat belt and air bag lights warnings will be ok? Thanks!
I really dont know, all I know if you unplug the seat, the airbag light will light up...check the Element owner forum, a few members built their E camper and would gladly share their experience and knowledge
www.elementownersclub.com/forums/search.php?searchid=9818266
Hey Eric, did you ever take out the passenger seat and turn the Element into a camper? I was thinking about doing the same thing. I saw a great pic on reddit where the person puts a cot from REI in it's place extending back. See link if it lets me post it. Please let me know, I am trying to do this this week :) www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/8e67cc/my_nobuild_honda_element_camper/
In process of doing the same, how did you all do?
Do you have a full video? I'm curious how you did the rear liner removal and reinstall. It feels like you have to remove the paneling that's connected throughout the back of the Element.
Hi, It’s the only video that I have but yes you have to remove some of the trims and the center console
Nice work! How long did the teardown take you (roughly)?
Between one and two hours for the teardown, that's the easy part. The build up takes a little longer.
How did you remove the yellow tab underneath the passenger seat ? It’s next to the blue one
They're spring load lock connectors. To disconnect: pull the sping loaded sleeve towards the top (slide the sleeve away and hold it), while holding the opposite half of the connector...pull apart
@@JoeBakerOutsideTheBox Thank You
Disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait 30 minutes, to be sure that the air bag system has lost residual power (just as a precaution, to make sure the airbags don't accidentally go off, somehow). Then slide the middle part of the yellow connector back, and separate each half.
Do you need to take the seats out in order to take the floor garnish out (0:41)? I need to get at some rust forming around the door latch on the floor. Thank you for the video!
If you want to completely removed the floor liner, yes seats has to be unbolt. It's easy, only 4 bolts held the seat in place, be careful with the airbag wiring, I usually unplug the battery on both positive and negative and never had any problem with the air bag.
If you only take the floor garnish out, no need to remove the seats
Did you have any problem with the sensors in the seat when you reconnected them or did it just plug back in and work as before? I read that you would have to calibrate the ODS sensor (That detects weight in the passenger seat). Are there any special steps you had to take when reconnecting the seats?
I disconnect and reconnect the seat sensor with the battery disconnected, never had any issue or airbag light warning
Joe Baker. Thanks 👍
There is no calibration.
Any way of mounting that passenger seat facing rear? No passenger, just for camping alone. It could stay that way permanently as I have another Element for driving around town.
should be easy with some minor modifications. Swapping the smaller rear seat in the front passenger facing rear may fit better
I was told that you could "hose off the interior of the honda element." is this the catch - you need to remove everything first?
hosing down the interior of the element is a car salesman BS, the only part that can be hose off, is the rear cargo/spare tire cover that can be removed from inside the car.
BS is the native language of car salesmen. The only Honda salespeople who know more about Elements than a random buyer who visited the elementownersforum.com are those who own Elements.
what happens if you leave the battery plugged in
You can deploy the airbag when connecting /disconnecting the airbag sensors under the seats
The hot circuits under the floor covering are likely to blow the front seat side airbags, if installed.
I need to clean my back seats, I just bought a 2008 model, and the seats are stained terribly, what do I use?
What work for me for deep stain, is upholstery cleaner mix with water in a spray bottle. I give the seats a good soak (without exaggeration) then I vacuum it off with a shop vac that can take water. Repeat until clean
@@JoeBakerOutsideTheBox Thanks man
I like to use Folex carpet cleaner. Spray it on, let it do it's thing, maybe brush the stains... then hit it with a steamer to heat it up, and suck it all out with a high powered shop vac, with an 'extractor' tip on the end. It's like dry-cleaning.
If you can take the covers off, soak them in a bucket of hot water with Oxi-Clean for a few hours, then do the same trick with the shop vac and extractor tip. Then put them in the clothes drier, on a shoe rack so they don't tumble.
Someone please tell me where I can buy the replacement rubber floor!!! Mine is all bubbled up....
I think your best bet is a wrecking yard, I always have luck with them for hard to find parts. If you want new check your Honda dealer or online Honda parts store www.hondapartsnow.com
I've owned 2 Elements, one used. This is work without benefit. So little dry debris gets under the floor covering that the ONLY reasons to remove it is to remediate water damage or install sound dampener. The entire interior can be cleaned with sponges moistened with small amounts of soapy water. Spray liquid into the seat mesh and you are begging for mildrew and mold. Punch a hole in that exposed dual coil subwoofer and it'll cost $60-$100 to replace it. Damage or lose plastic rivets and spend time and money getting ones that match the type and color.
Hint: Once scratched, plastic trims never looks the same. A metal prybar should not be used to remove a plastic interior. If you absolutely need to remove the interior or follor covering to fix an issue, Harbor Freight sells a good plastic rivet-clip puller and a trim removal kit that is made of FRP.
Thanks for your input, that was a real dirty dog smelly high mileage (300000++miles) worn out 2004 Element that I pick up initially for parts, but decided to fix it instead (i own 3 Elements). The interior really needed a super deep cleaning and a good air out...after all that, the car interior is normal and can be maintained like you describe.
P.s> since the video I bought the trim removal kit
You sound like a real joy, Paul. I bet you starch your diaper.
What size socket for the 4 main bolts on the front seat?
I dont remember, a good guess would be 15mm or 17mm
14mm, if I recall correctly.
what did you use for the seats?
www.turtlewax.com/shop/products/turtle-wax-oxy-power-out-upholstery-cleaner-18-fl-oz-
I only got one question: WHY???
Auction dog stinker, needed a really good deep clean
Sorry no. If I can't see the dirt it doesn't exist. I'd only do that if rotting milk or something nasty got spilled 😆
It was bought at an Auction and the doggy smell was really overwhelming, that clean up did miracle
Fer cryin out loud. How to clean the Honda Element. Take the air compressor hose from your garage air compresser and blow it out. If you take your time it might take all of 1 minute. Your done.
Thanks for your feedback, that old beater was really crusty
That's great and all, but sometimes the previous owner had dogs and you might want not want to smell dogs every time you drive. Detail time!