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Honda Element Maintenance and Repair

224 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 10:04 AM

You are in the Honda Element Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Element, SUV

Messages Page 20 of 23

#191 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [n4ser] by tespro

Jul 21, 2010 (9:43 pm)

Replying to: n4ser (Nov 18, 2006 11:26 pm)
I have exactly the same problem you describe in my 2004 Element. It randomly fails to start while in park. I have found a get-around that has worked every time. Leave the ignition turned on, press the brake, move the gear selector to neutral, then try starting. For us, it has never failed.
 
But the solution to my problem can't be the solenoid ... or it would still fail to start in neutral.
 
I'd sure like to know the REAL problem and solution!!!!

#192 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [tespro] by bigfur

Jul 24, 2010 (8:32 am)

Replying to: tespro (Jul 21, 2010 9:43 pm)
I have this issue with my 07 E sometimes. Go to start it turn the key nothing happens, turn the key back try again it works. My best guess is this has something to do with the shift interlock system that dosent let the car start while it is in gear. It shows in park but for some reason the computer thinks its in gear. This also would explain why it will start in neutral and not in park.

#193 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [tespro] by briankolby

Jul 27, 2010 (11:40 am)

Replying to: tespro (Jul 21, 2010 9:43 pm)
i was wondering if you have ever found out the reason for it not starting sometimes. my element does the same thing. I have to turn the key on and off many times then finally it will start. sometimes i think its going to leave me sitting in the middle of nowhere. not sure if its going to be a in the switch in the steering wheel or what. what have you tried?

#194 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [briankolby] by tespro

Jul 27, 2010 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: briankolby (Jul 27, 2010 11:40 am)
No, I've been afraid to raise this issue at the dealership since it is intermittent and I'm out of warranty. The potential repair cost is the scary thing .... and that's if they would actually fix it in the first place. The "bad solenoid" fix I read in a different post worries me ... because I don't think that is our problem. If I hadn't discovered the get-around of shifting to neutral, I would be afraid to drive my E! Just today, I had the same failure again and had to start from neutral. (I tried removing and re-inserting the key and attempting a restart first, though ..... unsuccessfully.)
 
One would think that by now Honda would have heard of this failure and would have a known fix. I wonder why they don't have an engineer reading this forum????

#195 of 224 NO START by briankolby

Jul 27, 2010 (2:42 pm)

IF I GET IT FIGURED OUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW

#196 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [tespro] by bigfur

Jul 29, 2010 (9:47 am)

Replying to: tespro (Jul 27, 2010 12:57 pm)
Next time it happens, try to see if you just push up on the gear select a little bit if it will start. It sounds alot like the safety interlock for starting in gear.

#197 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [bigfur] by tespro

Aug 13, 2010 (4:56 pm)

Replying to: bigfur (Jul 29, 2010 9:47 am)
I tried your suggestion to no avail so I stopped by the dealership today. Fortunately, it wouldn't start in park for them, either. They thought it might be the "transmission range sensor." I came home, did a google search and found the following story on another site:
 
=======================================================
 
i have an '05 element and it is currently driving me crazy. here's the long story...
 
in december when it was <20*F outside the element started acting up. i'd hop in to start the car, turn the key, and nothing happened. i'd turn it off, try again. sometimes it would start on the second try, sometimes not. it didn't happen every day, just occasionally. sometimes i would have to put it in neutral, then try, and it worked. sometimes i would think "i'm not getting out of the driveway today" but it always eventually started. i got the battery tested and it was fine. i took it to my mechanic and left it for 3 days and it never happened to him. i got online and researched at the honda element owners club forum and also called around the local honda shops to ask for opinions. the best guess was the transmission range switch, so i ordered it online. immediately, the element stopped having the problem. i mean, immediately from the moment of purchase. i never put the switch on. when it got here i put it in the shed in case it started doing it again. fast forward to june...it's doing it again. on my 2nd day at a new job, on a job site, i thought i was going to be stuck there. it always starts, just takes multiple tries, and it only happens occasionally. i took it to the mechanic, he put on the transmission range switch and checked out everything, didn't see any problems. (of course it started right up for him \:\( it's still doing it. i don't know what to do. i turn the key and get nothing. the dash lights come on, but it doesn't start. i don't hear any clicking or ticking or pumps running or anything. any ideas? ====================================================== So, once again, a dealer "guess" could cost piles of money with no solution. The dealer says they can't call Honda without the car in the shop.

#198 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [tespro] by cwalti

Aug 14, 2010 (6:33 am)

Replying to: tespro (Aug 13, 2010 4:56 pm)
Maybe your E just 'thinks' the battery is no good! I noticed that when my wife's CR-V had a tired old battery, it would sometime act the same way. The car will not try to start if it senses insufficient amp-flow. It also acted like that when one of the battery terminals was loose. All the dash lights came on but NOTHING when she tried to start it. I would recommend you double check ALL terminals relating to starting the E, re-seat them, and clean them, then load them up with the anti-corrosion goop!

#199 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [cwalti] by tespro

Aug 14, 2010 (7:43 am)

Replying to: cwalti (Aug 14, 2010 6:33 am)
Other posters with this same problem of intermittent failure to start in park have done the obvious - which is your recommendation. In my case, I even have a new battery. Also, if it were a battery or connection problem, why would it always start in neutral?

#200 of 224 Re: Honda Element won't start [tespro] by extech2

Sep 29, 2010 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: tespro (Aug 14, 2010 7:43 am)
The most likely causes are: worn ignition switch, the electrical part, or defective starter motor or defective fuel pump relay. If the engine turns over but fails to start then it is probably the fuel pump or the relay. If the engine won't turn then the starter or ign. switch. or the starter interlock. You need to have someone check for lack of spark or fuel presssure while cranking the motor.

Messages Page 20 of 23

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