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"D" for drive is flashing

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blinking drive light flashing d gear instrument cluster shifting shudder transmission
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#43 ·
so far just about every older Element that has had this happen it has been the 3rd gear solenoid or something like that. I had mine replaced a few months back. That is the first thing that has actually broken on my Element, not counting worn out parts.



 
#44 ·
Good Ole Flashing Green Drive Light

Hooray! Two weeks after fixing the V-Tec Oil Pressure Switch (which i found the solution and instructions on this site, thank-you very much!!!) the Green Drive indicator has started flashing. Based on what I have read here, and the fact that I am broke, I began to play around. My E is driving perfect, no lurching, no weird shifting, no overheating, and no computer codes on my code reader. I checked the tranny fluid, which is scheduled to be replaced soon as I am almost at 200k, and it is full and red with no weird smell! I think it might be a malfunctioning sensor. I did some test driving on the way home yesterday. Typically, the light comes on within 500m of driving every time the ignition is turned off. I drove it about 2k at low speed in first, no light. Switched to second gear for about 2k, no light. Went into 3rd gear (OD off) on the highway for 10k, no light. Hit the OD button, within 5 seconds, the light started flashing. The car accelerates on the highway with no problem, nice and smooth, and runs great in OD as well. Could this just be because I am close to 200k and the tranny fluid change, or could it be a sensor. Any advice? Again, I have to keep the service bill extremely low, as I just came off of EI benefits. This forum saved me a fortune last time (600 for vtec and code reading from the dealer, 106 dollars when I borrowed a code reader and changed it myself) and I am hoping to do it again!

Thank-you!
 
#45 ·
I had the flashing light issue. Took it to Honda and it was a pressure switch. Easy fix. The part was like $30 but the labor tore me up. Oh well, could have been worse.
 
#46 ·
flashing D...

This just happened to me, too...I was driving around a couple days ago and the D started flashing...having just seen this thread on here, I guessed it was the 3rd gear pressure sensor, and I took it to the dealer the following morning to have it looked at. Sure enough, that's what it was. $50 part, $150 labor, and out the door. I'm glad it was something minor...trans troubles can quickly run into big money. I have no idea what that sensor does, but it sure seems to be a trouble area for these. My element has 70k miles on it, by the way.

Brian
 
#47 ·
reno_bk said:
I have no idea what that sensor does...
Click to expand...
It's actually a pressure 'switch'.

It does basically the same thing as your engine oil pressure switch - provides an 'ON/OFF' signal relative to oil pressure, in this case, transmission fluid pressure in the third gear clutch hydraulic circuit.

If the hydraulic circuit has fluid pressure present, the switch signal is 'ON' (5V drop across switch), when the hydraulic circuit is not pressurized, the switch signal is 'OFF' (0V drop across switch).

If the switch "sticks" or there is an electrical fault in the switch circuit, the signal the PCM is receiving from the pressure switch doesn't match the commanded state of the third clutch hydraulic circuit and a DTC will be set.
 
#48 ·
the green "D" light on the dash,blinking

on the way home to nite the "D" light on the dash started blinking stoped at a red light and ran the shift lever up and down all positions the "D" still would blink, even in park the green "D" was still blinking. got home got on eoc went and checked the trans fluid level no more blinking light even went around the block still no blinking "D". The fluid level was good and the color and smell were both good. Going out for a cup of coffee at the Royal Farm store to see if it comes back on:?
 
#49 ·
drbbqking said:
on the way home to nite the "D" light on the dash started blinking stoped at a red light and ran the shift lever up and down all positions the "D" still would blink, even in park the green "D" was still blinking. got home got on eoc went and checked the trans fluid level no more blinking light even went around the block still no blinking "D". The fluid level was good and the color and smell were both good. Going out for a cup of coffee at the Royal Farm store to see if it comes back on:?
Click to expand...
went for a ride of about 10 miles and still no blinkin light
 
#50 ·
Another code

My '04 E has the occasional flashing D light as well. There's no other symptoms, just this one coming on, then going away for a few days.
I went down to the local Schucks/Oreilly store and they loaned me an Innova 3120 scanner.
It threw a enhanced code of P0700 (Honda 70-03) indicating transmission control. I have a '03-06 factory manual, but could find no listing for this particular code.
Anyone have thoughts?
Is there a better comprehensive list of codes than what's in the manual?
 
#54 · (Edited)
Another flashing D dilemma

Flashing D came on 2 days ago while driving my Element and stayed on even in park. I noticed car felt kind of sluggish and like it was lagging, Honda dealer said it may be a transmission sensor; advised to bring in Monday when shop is open. Made one stop and re-started car. D light no longer flashing at this point. Home to read this thread which seems to support the sensor hypothesis. Start car yesterday, no flashing D, driving fine. Take the car to Auto Zone to have the code read. From reading this thread, I'm hoping there will be a stored code, but nothing comes up. Was hoping to grab a cheap part and have it installed by my boyfriend (?) So now my quandary: do I take it to the Honda shop and pay thru nose in case something is wrong? Or, do I go on my way (la, la, la) and just assume everything is okay until the light flashes again? Anytime someone says tranny, I get a little freaked out. Don't want to incur damage by ignoring a problem that may just be a minor now...
 
#55 ·
How many miles are on your E? How long since the last time the transmission was serviced?

Since you asked for opinions, I'd go the "la, la, la" route until it happens again or happens more frequently. It's very easy to spend big $$$ by just throwing parts at an intermittent problem. If it doesn't actually latch a code then it's not currently broke.
 
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#56 ·
la, la, la

My E has approximately 90,000 miles, but is not under warranty. La, la, la is kind of my default preference from a financial point of view!
 
#57 · (Edited)
Flashing or Blinking D aka The Disco Drive Light

I have a 2003 Element with 96k
Last Friday on my way home from work the light around the D started flashing.
I pulled into the nearest parking lot turned off the car & turned it back on. No more flash. I finished my drive home. (5 miles in total) Then the next morning no flash. Whew! Out of the woods I thought. Must have been a fluke... NOPE! Half way there it starts flashing again. Oh No! What can this mean... Looking it up on line was even more frighting. So many forums suggested a new transmission might be in store. It just about paid off... (got it preloved) why oh why - there is a shortage of E's in Maine its not like I can (or want to take on another 3yrs $) run out and get another one!
I take it to my garage the very next morning. 3 days later... he can't duplicate the problem. I remind him that for the last 7 months or so its been having trouble intermittently switching into 4th gear but give it some gas & the shudder goes away. This is a problem that never manages to duplicate when he's around. He keeps it one more day & decides that it doesn't need a tranny replacement but that the 3rd gear pressure sensor switch is the culprit and he orders the part. I go pick it up tomorrow, adding some transmission conditioner too & we shall see how it goes...

BTW - I love this site. Just read this article on here about the very same issue.
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53409
Gives me some confidence in the potential results.

I hope this resolves it because its caused me to consider shopping for a new (to me) ride and I've come across this this totally decked out 2006 VW Touareg w/ 36k miles & let me tell U, its super sweet looking - Ok I know I just blasphemed in the forum but come on if you gotta go back to payments you might as well go ultra luxury!
 
#60 ·
LOL, if that's the case, I could be down. I have 2 cars (miata as well) and if I get a new tranny out of it, then cool Can't really take the miata to the desert though with the dirt bike I just bought (2004 Honda CRF150F). How come when you spend alot of money in a short time, your car always has issues right after lol...

All be it, I certainly don't want to wait 8 months for it, so hopefully it's easier than that. Whats funny, is I've had this small shimmy since I bought the car in lower gears while driving slow. Changed tranny fluid & tranny filter & no change. Other dealership said it was axel joints, which they replaced, but it still shimmied, so I chalked it up to old car (2003), lots of miles (129,000) and the guy put on 225's which is a firmer ride.

Now, maybe it's something else. Thank god for the warranty...

Thanx
David
 
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