Why is this car beloved? It's so terribly ugly, and it doesn't have any redeeming features you'd expect from a 4x4 (space, cargo room, clearance)
Never hose out a Honda Element
81–90 of 275 posts
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#82that's sad...it would be the perfect vehicle from a form factor standpoint to do this. Would that they could just spend the extra production bux to put extra rustproofing and drain holes in it for this...
That's not that simple, actually. Drain holes by themselves are going to allow moisture in to the car as well, and being holes the edges will need to be protected, usually drain holes will have some rubber insert for that. But then they are no longer flush, so some water will pool. I've welded plenty of car bottoms where moisture had done a very thorough job of rusting things out, drain holes are typically a fantasti…
aren't there drain/weep holes in most/all door assemblies with roll down windows? seems like it could be a solved problem for auto makers
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#83I don't get it - would you would think you can hose out a consumer car like this, with the fabric seats and all that plastic trim? I've hosed out Land Rovers, but they're clearly an off-road vehicle designed for wading.
Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…
How do you see the metal under the drivers seat? Every car I have owned has had wall to wall carpet, including under the seats.
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#84I don't get it - would you would think you can hose out a consumer car like this, with the fabric seats and all that plastic trim? I've hosed out Land Rovers, but they're clearly an off-road vehicle designed for wading.
Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…
My dads Toyota Hilux was a rustbucket when he bought it 20 years ago. Still runs "fine", despite lots of use in the intervening years carrying highly corrosive NPK fertilizer on the farm.
A bit of rust isn't anything to be scared of so long as you know it's there.
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#85I don't get it - would you would think you can hose out a consumer car like this, with the fabric seats and all that plastic trim? I've hosed out Land Rovers, but they're clearly an off-road vehicle designed for wading.
Apparently lots of people? 2009:
https://www.elementownersclub.com/threads/forbes-article-per...
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
The second photo shows two large holes in the driver footwell and one in the passenger side. The last 4 photos show where it was cut out and patched. It's not difficult to patch with some sheet metal and a welder, but it's labor intensive.
It can get difficult in a hurry if the rusted out spots are near where wiring is sandwiched between the various metal parts. I've done my share of repairs like these and if you only end up doing what you think you'll be doing when you start the job then consider yourself lucky.
I've done one myself. In my experience, the worst part is removing sound deadening and factory undercoat.
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…
My dads Toyota Hilux was a rustbucket when he bought it 20 years ago. Still runs "fine", despite lots of use in the intervening years carrying highly corrosive NPK fertilizer on the farm. A bit of rust isn't anything to be scared of so long as you know it's there.
[deleted]
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…
My dads Toyota Hilux was a rustbucket when he bought it 20 years ago. Still runs "fine", despite lots of use in the intervening years carrying highly corrosive NPK fertilizer on the farm. A bit of rust isn't anything to be scared of so long as you know it's there.
The old TopGear trio put a hilux threw hell, ocean, on top of an imploded building, and more. It "ran" still at the end of it.
https://topgear.fandom.com/wiki/Toyota_Hilux#Indestructible_...
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…
How do you see the metal under the drivers seat? Every car I have owned has had wall to wall carpet, including under the seats.
you remove the seats?
Re: Never hose out a Honda Element
#90If you want a hoseable vehicle, buy an FJ Cruiser. I take my dogs to the car wash (it has heated water), and hose them off without taking them out of the back.