Someone at the EOC Meet in Dublin, OH mentioned some interest in the JDM Element gas door. In Japan, the Element had a remote gas door release. The US version has a little fingerhold for opening the door. The JDM version has cleaner lines, but will be a little more challenging to open. It might even make people think there is a remote release and discourage them from stealing your gas (if that's even possible in the Element) or encourage them to use a crowbar to open the door. At any rate, I'm guessing the part will be a direct screw-on replacement for our current doors.

I've spoken with Yosi of J's Garage fame (the PDL switch plate people) and he's looking into it for us. I have no idea of the price. I've asked him to find out what colors are available. I'm hopeful it'll be in colors to match the plastic cladding on 2003-5 Elements and the LX of later years. I'm not sure there will be painted ones (I'm not sure painted panels ever made it to Japan ... the Element died there in 2005 or 2006, I think). I guess it could be painted to match. I'll be placing another PDL switch plate order on June 30th and I plan to order a gas door for myself. It may not fit. It may not be easy enough to open. I just thought I'd throw this out to judge interest. You can be bold & order one and hope it works, or play it safe and let me be the guinea pig.

If you're interested, let me know. I'll be putting the order together on June 29th for a June 30th placement. Below is a photo of a NBP JDM Element with the sleek gas door and a photo of my US gas door.

depends on price...

depends on price...

Absolutely!

I'm guessing/hoping it will be $40 or less. The PDL switch plate is $28. I thought I saw someone say the front fender cladding was around $200. So, I'm guessing $40 or less + S&H. Hopefully, I'll have a price tomorrow.

Here's an old thread regarding the front cladding panels off JDM Elements. I'm not sure if any of the information is still germane.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30466

Get a real price including shipping to my door and i'll consider it. :)

And is there another car that shares those sidemarkers? Or are they element-specific?

Here's an old thread regarding the front cladding panels off JDM Elements. I'm not sure if any of the information is still germane.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30466

Thanks, Rocket Dog san! I thought it was your post, but I wasn't sure. Actually, it looks like that price quote was for two fenders, correct? If so, that part was only about $100 + S&H, so I can't imagine the gas door would be over $40 ... but, hey, who knew the Pentagon would pay $700 for a toilet seat?

Be patient on the price, folks. Yosi is a good man, but he typically answers one question at a time. Today, he wanted to make sure we were talking about the same part (thus the NBP photo), so I didn't get any of my questions answered. Hopefully tomorrow we'll get pricing info.

Just to be clear, I'm not interested in ordering the JDM cladding. I have no idea what shipping would be or how to package it for reshipping. I'm dealing with small, easy-to-ship stuff first.

and color. black for me.

Apple, You were suppose to keep it a secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well... I figure it would be more of a cosmetic mod and only the show guys like me would jump on it...

Apple, You were suppose to keep it a secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well... I figure it would be more of a cosmetic mod and only the show guys like me would jump on it...

Believe me, I wanted to keep it a BIG secret and be the only one with the JDM gas door.

and color. black for me.

I'm not sure black will be available. I specifically asked about gray, black, and blue, plus pre-painted ones, but I believe Rocket Dog San indicated the front plastic panels were gray-only. Forever Black paint anyone?

Believe me, I wanted to keep it a BIG secret and be the only one with the JDM gas door.

Ahh but I lead you to the info young grasshopper... Ha ha J/K

OK, I heard from Yosi. I think it may be a good news/bad news type of thing.

The good news: the price is ¥2772 (about $25.60)

The bad news: he described it as only in gray and called it a "parasitic part". Does this mean used? I hope not, because this may limit the quantity (and condition) we can purchase. I asked him to clarify. Stay tuned.

Just curious... Did anyone ask any Honda Techs in Ohio about the possibility of Obtaining the JDM parts here ( In the good ol' US of A) ???

By "parastic," he may have meant "plastic." His accent may have gotten in the way of the pronunciation. That would be my guess.

Peace.

By "parastic," he may have meant "plastic." His accent may have gotten in the way of the pronunciation. That would be my guess.

Peace.

That's a good thought and you may be correct, but earlier in the email he used the word plastic, so he's at least aware of the word. At work, we often "cannibalize" equipment, taking good parts off bad devices. Maybe "parasitizing" is similar ... like at a salvage yard?

Maybe "parasitizing" is similar ... like at a salvage yard?

Yes, quite possibly.... I wish that had it painted ASM. It really has a clean, sleek look... Good price too!

Just curious... Did anyone ask any Honda Techs in Ohio about the possibility of Obtaining the JDM parts here ( In the good ol' US of A) ???

Yes, I did. The simple answer is basically their supply chain is primarily set up to support the manufacturing plants and it would take significant effort to supply us with parts that, in Honda's opinion, shouldn't be on the (US) Element in the first place. Also, they would have to revise all the software the distribution centers and dealerships use to order the parts. Bummer.

Just curious, how would the door be opened if not a remote release and it doesn't have the thumb slot. Is this done by just pressing your finger behind the door and forcing it open?

Just curious, how would the door be opened if not a remote release and it doesn't have the thumb slot. Is this done by just pressing your finger behind the door and forcing it open?

If I can't easily open it with my finger, I thought I could attach one part of a Velcro strip do the back if the door very close to where to current fingerhold is and attach the other part of the Velcro strip to my keychain. I'm hoping that sliding that second piece in the gap between the door and the body will cause it to snag the other piece of a Velcro, allowing me to pull it open.

I could also buy the cabling and other parts ($$) and just do it like the JDM model, but do I really want to reach over to the passenger side sill to open the gas door???

I could also buy the cabling and other parts ($$) and just do it like the JDM model, but do I really want to reach over to the passenger side sill to open the gas door???

Why not install the cable and release on the drivers side? the cable should be able to be shortened... Find out the cost for the door and cable and I might be interested in doing this.

Why not install the cable and release on the drivers side? the cable should be able to be shortened... Find out the cost for the door and cable and I might be interested in doing this.

I'm thinking the release may be incorporated into the plastic sill piece on JDM Element. If that's the case, it wouldn't work work on driver's side (US). I'm not sure I could get it to look "stock" if that's the case.

I'm interested in cost on the cable to have a remote entry door. :)

Another idea is make your own cable and make the release below the door somewhere under the bumper.

I got some clarification ... By parasitic, he meant "unpainted plastic" (those of us with older Elements are getting fired up, thinking "HEY! WHAT IN THE HECK DID HE MEAN BY THAT?!?).

I'm interested in cost on the cable to have a remote entry door. :)

Another idea is make your own cable and make the release below the door somewhere under the bumper.

Make your own cable sounds interesting. The stock cable idea I don't like simply because I speak very little Japanese (like that of a one- or two-year old). If I could tell him "send me the entire assembly from the release handle to the fuel door and I don't care if it fits or not" in Japanese, it would be very simple. Every single part seems to take 2-3 emails. I'll look into it, though.

How about something like a cabinet type magnet.... you push it "in" to release it !

Why not install the cable and release on the drivers side? the cable should be able to be shortened... Find out the cost for the door and cable and I might be interested in doing this.

I'm with Larry, if you can get the cost of the complete set-up to operate like the JDM Element version, then I would also be interested.

Chief

Apple,

I'm in either way. I would like to be on the top of the list since you have already been in contact.

I assume for those who want the full functionality, it should be based of a civic latch and release.

Any further developments on this???

Looking for an update. Price plus shipping? Black?

Yoshi email?
Head me the right direction.
Thx.

Raymond

any news on the fuel door?

How sad, this thread got abandoned?

Here is the contact info for J's Garage (Yoshi).

J's Garage Export Co., Ltd.
1602-8 Tomitsuka-cho Naka-ku
Hamamatsu-shi Shizuoka-ken Japan 432-8002
Yo****aka Ikeda yosi@j-garage.com

I don't have time to coordinate a group buy myself, but I'd be interested if somebody else sets one up. You can also obviously buy just for yourself, but that's not nice. I suggest somebody send him an email and ask about quantity pricing, and whether or not he would ship to different addresses, or if somebody HERE would have to distribute.

Alternatively, maybe you could ask if he would be willing to simply give a discount to EOC forum members in exchange for word-of-mouth(forum posts) advertising he will obviously get from happy EOC people.

FYI, if the website request info form is too intimidating, he is responsive to a simple email, preferably with a picture attached of what you want. I already asked him about the fuel door, but I never ordered (I spent the money elsewhere). Here is the info he sent back to me. USE PART NUMBERS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Verify what you want personally before placing an order.

#30 74420-SCV-J10ZA fuel rid : 2610yen
+Domestic/Shipping costs
+5% of commission

88887
(I know the fuel door lid shown in the diagram has the finger-notch, but that is PROBABLY just a diagram mistake.)

There are also other JDM parts available if you are planning on making your own JDM type locking lid/door scenario, although there are issues with lefthand vs. righthand driverside cars, and the resulting changes in parts, as well as basic JDM vs. US design differences. I started researching the changes IN THIS THREAD (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69911), but never got around to doing a full conversion.