[Big_Blue]

MOD: Bug Deflector
Date: August 14, 2021
Cost: 113.96 CAD
Time: 20 mins
Tools: Plastic Pin Ply Tool, Cloth
Pros: Potential debris reflection/piece of mind
Cons: Slight interface with the hood latch

The first mod I wanted to complete was to add some protection to the windshield. I figured if I save even one rock cracking the windshield I save a few bucks. It was between a hood visor and a hood bra, but after doing a bit more digging on how the two compare, the deflector was the clear choice. The install was as easy as popping a few plastic pins off and securing the visor between the hood and the pins. The visor also came with some rubber half spheres to place at the ends of the visors on the hood (to prevent any potential debris from hitting the hood, I guess), for which I wiped down the hood and eyeballed it.

Upon completion, I noticed that it was a little harder to actually completely latch the hood shut. Slightly annoying, but not annoying enough for me to remove the deflector entirely. I really like the look of it and with such a square front end, it didn't surprise me to see as many chips in the paint as I did.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Custom Roof Rack, Cargo Basket, 2x Bike Racks, Light Bar
Date: August 14, 2021
Cost: Roof Rack: N/A (came with vehicle, made by previous owner), Cargo Box: N/A (retrieved from previous vehicle), 2x Bike mounts: 75.00 CAD (second hand), Light bar: $60.00 (second hand)
Time: 40 mins
Tools: 10 mm socket, 10 mm wrench
Pros: Additional storage for camping, ability to bring bikes
Cons: Sitting rain water on the frame, additional wind resistance, storage/bikes prone to the elements of nature/highway driving

I completed this mod because I had the hardware on hand and it was free, as I had gotten all the equipment off of my previous wagon. I was also heading on a camping trip the next week and really needed the space. When I bought my E the previous owner had a custom roof rack done up using steel piping, a few L brackets with holes drilled through welded together (to form more of a z shape), painted it all black, connected them with a few U brackets and nuts, and had a few black foam pool noodles on it. Install was about 5-10 minutes. The only tool I had to use was a 10 mm socket. One thing I notices right away that I didn't like was that the covers where the cross bars attached to had the body exposed. Not entirely dangerous, but from what I've heard and experienced, the drainage isn't exactly great on Honda's, so I was leery about it. Next I installed the cargo box. As it was already put together from the previous vehicle, it took a solid 20 minutes and required no tools. Because the cross bars were pretty long, I had the ability to install the two Yakima bike racks I had from my previous vehicle. they took about 5 minutes and required no tools. Finally, I had my light bar from my previous vehicle. I threw that on since I had already pre-drilled the holes in the cargo box from it's last mounting. It took about 5 mins to put on, but I didn't have the hardware to wire it (what a poser! Not even wired!). Mounting took a 10 mm socket and a 10 mm wrench.

After taking it on the camping trip, I experienced pretty awful results. There was a few times we were driving down the highway at 110+ km/h, when we noticed the bikes were DANGLING OFF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. Basically what happened was the mounts bike rack mounts on either side appeared to be affixed properly, but under driving conditions and winds, the bikes turned into sales, dislodging one of the 3 mounting points from the cross bars, and toppling the bikes to the side. While no bikes were lost in the process and the toppling was retroacted with a bungee system, it was very stressful to go through. Taking the bikes off of the roof was also a huge pain in the butt because they were so awkward to handle, and the racks were taken off after returning home. I also noticed that a bit of the cargo the stuck the bottom of the basket caused a bit of scratching to the roof paint. Shame, but not a big deal long term with proper treatment and better packing techniques.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Camping Setup, Tailgate Opener, Privacy Curtains, Cargo Net, LED Lights
Date: August 14, 2021
Cost: 1000.00 CAD
Time: 20 mins
Tools: N/A
Pros: Place to sleep, privacy, storage
Cons: Scratching of the tailgate, pain to setup when you want to sleep/takedown when you want to drive

This was another mod that came with the vehicle. The entire build consists of two plywood sheet that are form fitted to the interior, a sliding drawer and a basket that go underneath, a foam memory foam pad (double) that goes overtop, a set of window covers and a privacy curtain that strings across the driver/passenger "oh ****" handles, and a cargo net that stretches between all the "oh ****" handles. When buying the car, the seller asked if I wanted to agree to buy the camping setup for $1000 and the car for $5000 to avoid the tax associated with buying a car for $5000+. It sounded reasonable so I was excited to agree. The bed setup consists of having the rear passenger seats removed, the drawer/basket in the rear, and a cross bar board installed between the passenger seat mounting points. The front driver seat and passenger seat then must be moved all the way forward and reclined all the way back with the headrests removed (iirc). The two plywood sheets then go overtop of the baskets and the front seats, extending from the rear tailgate all the way up to the end of the passenger doors. There is then a set of bolts and wing nuts that can secure the plywood sheet to the cross board, but I don't put them in, as things generally stay put. The foam pad then folds out overtop. The window shades have a reflective side (painted black, i'm assuming for heat absorption?) go in their respective windows and the curtain strings up between the front "oh ****" handles. The cargo net (which I keep in 100% of the time) consists of bungees and paracord which holds pretty nicely to the roof. I also taped some battery powered LEDs to the ceiling for night lights. When I bought the vehicle, the previous owner also installed a paracord latch that pulls the tailgate open, which is extremely handy when sleeping in the back with no other way out.

Takedown consists of folding the foam pad in half towards the back, removing the window shades, flipping the curtain up into the cargo net, sliding the 2nd portion of the plywood bed frame towards the back, and moving the seats back into place. This generally takes a lot more time as anything that was stored between the bed and the front seats has to move to the front when the seats are reclined, and vice versa. This has made the setup and takedown kind of a pain in the but, but is unavoidable for the current setup and can be lived with.

After taking this setup on a few trips, the LED's just wouldn't stick to the roof, so they were taken out. The bed is pretty comfy for the most part, but it get VERY HOT inside. I set up a battery powered fan to help with this. The bed setup/takedown has been a little frustrating when you want to get up and go, so i've been considering re-vamping the whole thing (especially after seen what other people have created!). Otherwise the setup works great and I have no concerns. I would be willing to sacrifice some more vertical space for storage tradeoff, but I can't say how things will play out with the new design (stay tuned I guess )

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Aftermarket Stereo Upgrade
Date: August 14, 2021
Cost: N/A
Time: 20 mins
Tools: 10 mm socket/Philips
Pros: Double Din
Cons: N/A

This was another mod that I had all the parts for. While the vehicle came with an older single din stereo, I had just recently bought a double din for my previous vehicle, which I still had and was fond of. Since I own a manual, I had to unscrew the shifter to take off the dash bezel. To remove the bezel, I put both palms on either side of the bezel and pulled outward. It popped right off. I unattached the hazard light connector, AC control connector, and the passenger seatbelt connector, and was good to go. I disconnected the old stereo and then had to unscrew the mounts which were held in place with 10mm/philips screws. I swapped the mounts from the old stereo to the new one and popped it in after connecting the the cables again. Threw the bezel back on and re-screwed in the shifter and it was good to go. IT's important to note that because the previous owner has an aftermarket stereo installed, it already came with the appropriate honda adapter to the aftermarket. I don't think they're inherently expensive, but still money in my pocket

While I don't have any "complaints" with this mod, I've definitely seen a lot of touch screen stereos and I'm wondering how they compare. Even so, I'm not entirely hurting to get a new stereo, so I'm happy with what I've got One thing I actually like about my stereo is its RGB programability, allowing me to match the blue and white of the dash.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Stabilizer Bar End Link/Bushing, Full Car Cleanse
Date: October 4, 2021
Cost: 27.22 CAD
Time: Install 30 mins, cleanse 4 hours (approx)
Tools: Plastic Pin Pry Bar, Full Socket Set
Pros: Safety associated with replacement of busted stabilizer bar end links, super clean interior, familiarity with car interior
Cons: N/A, Time consuming

When crawling under the car one day (as one does) I noticed that the stabilizer bar was disconnected. I reconnected it and went on my way. After looking again, it didn't seem to want to stay put, so I ordered some new ones for pretty cheap. Instead of replacing just the busted one I replaced both for best practice. To replace them I had to lift the front end and remove the tires. From here it was a matter of getting the links off (using this video), which was not as easy as it sounds. Unfortunately, they were in pretty bad shape and took some fan-dangling to get off (in pieces, mind you). from here I threw on the new ones and put the lot back together, EZPZ.

I was then urged to clean. Not sure what sparked this, but it was well worth it. I ripped everything out of my E. All of it. There was a certain smell emitting from it that I needed to find. I ripped out all of the panels, seats, floor mats, and dash pieces. Eventually I found it; a stowaway lizard that had dried up under one of the dash pieces that mummified and was stinking so bad. I thought it was just because the previous owners owned huskies, but was glad when I found something else. This took a number of different sockets and screws, but was well worth it. I would definitely urge anyone with the time to do it. Afterwards I gave her a good clean and she was just like new.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Vinyl Application
Date: February 22, 2022
Cost: 38.15 CAD
Time: Install 30 mins
Tools: Heat gun, applicator, tape, utility knife
Pros: Completely aesthetic
Cons: Can look bad if rushed/done under bad conditions

I'm not entirely sure what prompt me to do this mod. I guess I saw other campers with vinyl on them and wanted to do something similar. At any rate, it was relatively cheap and easy to apply. I lined it up and taped it in place, and then used a combination of heat and an applicator tool to put it on. I then cut off the excess around the doors using a utility knife.

Because I was installing it in the winter and had never tried installing vinyl of that size before, it had its errors. overall I wasn't completely unhappy with it and will have the opportunity to apply a new one if need be. The biggest problem I encountered was the way I tried putting it on; top down. According to other applications, it's better to go center out, or left to right. Next time I'll likely go center out making careful cuts as needed.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: OEM Roof Rack Re-finish/Install
Date: March 28, 2022
Cost: 150 CAD
Time: Install 30 mins
Tools: Socket Set, Hex Set, Wire brush/Paint remover + drill, paint
Pros: Tighter fit to the frame, lower chance of water entering the plastic panels
Cons: Shorter cross bars, rubber pieces are a tough fit into the frame

When given the opportunity to get my hands on an OEM roof rack locally for 150, I jumped on it. Unfortunately, the metal bracket pieces required some refinishing, as the black paint was pretty rusted off. I bust out the wire brush and paint remover attachment for the drill and got it down to a shiny metal surface. afterwards i gave it a quick clean and a dry, and painted it on a cardboard sheet. After drying, the brackets were ready to install and went in with a few 10 mm bolts. Install of the rest of the unit was easy and straight forward. It took a few more 10 mm bolts and hex nuts to secure the rest and the whole install only took about 30 mins.

One thing I noticed was that the robber pieces that go in place of the plastic covers were the roof rack are don't fit in the greatest. It may just be a problem with the ones I have, but I doubt it. there are holes that the rubber cover should fit into with rubber standoffs (with knobs on the end), but they won't fit through the holes easily.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Mud Flaps
Date: March 28, 2022
Cost: 80.00 CAD
Time: Install 10mins
Tools: Philips screwdriver
Pros: Aesthetics, Kick snow off in the winter
Cons: N/A

I only realized I didn't have the mud-flaps when I saw them go up for sale. They were another mod I was interested in so I pulled the trigger. Install was super easy, as the flaps just fit over the well piece and went in with only a few additional screws that were included in the purchase. Nothing to it!

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Center Console Arm Rest, Passenger Arm Rest
Date: March 30, 2022
Cost: ~500 CAD
Time: Install 10mins
Tools: Socket set, hex wrench, utility knife
Pros: Place to rest arm while driving, additional storage
Cons: Price

After driving around for a few months without any sort of armrest, and after seeing how pricey they can get because of their rarity, I knew I had to get my hands on one. When a local seller had one off of their parts car, I snagged it as soon as I could. Because I didn't have any sort of arm-rest before, I had to cut into the side of the seat, and cut through the foam of the seat with a utility knife to access the mounting hardware instal point. After unzipping the seat, there was a clear square in the foam to demonstrate where the mounting point was, which made it incredible easy. From here I slit an X into the exterior and was able to install the armrest pretty quickly. The passenger arm rest was essentially the same install procedure.

Although it was a heavy cost upfront, I use it everyday and love it. I don't regret the purchase at all. I was curious and decided to check online to see if I could locate any armrests now, but I can't seem to find any online.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Spoiler/Rear Wind Deflector
Date: March 30, 2022
Cost: ~500.00 CAD
Time: Install 20 mins
Tools: Drill, socket set
Pros: Aesthetics, probably like 5 added hp
Cons: N/A

When I was able to get my hands on an OEM spoiler, I said why not. I thought the silver would look good with the bumper and I was willing to do the install. I followed this video and the instructions in the description for the majority of the install, although it wasn't the exact same for the rear wind deflector install. Overall the process wasn't too stressful, and determining the drill points in the tailgate latch was fairly easy, as there was "bumps" where the holes had to go. I didn't end up taping anything off and didn't have any problems. the spoiler went in with a couple screws and was good to go! I was initially worried about the metal becoming rusty, but the seal from the spoiler to the metal is fairly tight, as the screws and spoiler have a protective foam washer.

 

[Big_Blue]

Great write-up(s)! You've got a good lookin' Element, there.

Thanks! She's coming along slowly but surely

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Rocker Panel Switch Board
Date: May 18, 2022
Cost: 388.49 CAD
Time: Install 40 mins
Tools: Socket set, wire puller, drill
Pros: 8 available switches in a handy location, double fuse protected system, compact and easily organized wire system
Cons: N/A

While I'm not an AUXBEAM spokesperson, I can't talk fondly enough about this switch panel. I love it so much, and It's made wiring switches up a walk in the park. If you've ever considered installing switches for multiple applications, get a switch pane;. There are tons available from different makers with different amount of switches, and they are an absolute joy to use. The install was straight forward, as the package came with a detailed wiring diagram for setup. This involved feeding the switch panel wiring through the firewall with the help of a homemade wire puller, screwing the panel onto the dash (not exactly ideal, but far better than cutting out holes for switches), connecting the fuse box to the battery, and connecting the panel wiring to the fuse box. Simple as that. The hardest part about the whole process was figuring out where to position the fuse box, which actually fit perfectly right in front of the hood latch. The panel also came with a few different brackets for mounting in different places depending on where you wanted to mount it, but I found that the L bracket worked the best for secureness.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Headlight Restoration + Vinyl Protection
Date: May 20, 2022
Cost: 43.29 CAD
Time: Install 1 hr 30 mins
Tools: Socket set, sander/sand paper, water spray bottle, vinyl wrap applicator, heat gun, socket set
Pros: Clean headlights!
Cons: N/A

After seeing the results of so many headlight restorations, I had to give a crack at it. I had snagged a set of headlights from the parts yard, so I was ready to prepare and replace at a drops notice. I ordered a headlight restoration kit and some clear vinyl headlight tint and got to work. Unfortunately, I didn't have a radial sander, so I had to do all the sanding by hand (which I don't recommend going forward). the restoration kit came with all the necessary sandpaper, liquid compounds/coatings, and easy instructions to follow, and came with plenty of fluid to complete both headlights. The sanding took the most time. Afterwards, it was just a matter of applying the clear coats and allowing for the solutions to cure. I saw online that after restoring your headlights it's a good call to protect them with a vinyl layer. This was easy enough to do, and I was able to do it without the use of a heat gun (although I would definitely use a heat gun the next time, I was just ill prepared). From here it was just a matter of reinstalling the headlights, which took all of 20 minutes.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Fog Light Install + Wiring
Date: May 20, 2022
Cost: 180.00 CAD
Time: Install 40 mins
Tools: Wire cutters, utility knife, plastic pin ply tool
Pros: Working fog lights
Cons: N/A

When I bought my E I looked online instantly for fog lights because I knew I wanted to add them. having wired up sets before, I was looking forward to getting them installed. I got a set of factory fog lights along with the wiring harness for them (and a few other odds and ends) for about 180.00 CAD. A little overkill, but I was hoping for an easy, OEM install experience. I held onto them for a while before actually installing, and when it came to install time, I soon realized that It would be far from an OEM install (due to the wiring harness coming from on 03, which uses a switch near the hood latch. Both of my switches were already in use for cruise and VSA). Luckily I had completed the switchboard mod, so I could easily connect them there. The install required taking off the whole front bumper and cutting out the plastic circles where the fog lights go. This was a bit of a pain, as it was kind of difficult to get round cuts. I ended up just making about 40 incisions in a circular shape to do the job. From here, the fog lights popped in and mounted super easy. Because I had the complete wiring harness, I connected it to both the fog lights, and spliced it where they met to attach it to the switch panel fuse box. After that it was just a matter of putting the front bumper back on.

Edit: To clarify, I got the OEM fog lights used from a local part out. The splicing of the harness was also fairly easy as there was just the positive and negative wire (as I recall,) which I could attach directly to the rocker panel fuse box.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: 2003 OEM Side Step Restoration + 2008 Install
Date: June 15, 2022
Cost: 200.00 CAD
Time: Install 1 hr 30 mins
Tools: Socket set, drill, paint remover drill attachment, wire brush, paint remover
Pros: Cat theft deterrent, aesthetic
Cons: Not entirely practical to step on due to their closeness to the body

I had a few OEM side steps from on 03 available to me for $200. I always like the look of them so I said why not. They were in pretty rough shape, as the finish on them had mostly chipped away/bubbled up off of the metal, so I decided before putting them on I'd strip them off all the paint and paint them with black bed liner. Getting the paint off was a battle and I learned the lesson of having the right tools for the job. I had set up the side steps on two saw horses and rubbed them down in paint remover every so often between removing the finish. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the plastic stepping surface detached, as the bolt on the inside of the side steps just spun when turning the screws. For the first portion of the finish removal, I used a combination of a wire brush and a wire brush drill attachment, which worked "meh". When popping by the hardware store to get the paint liner, I spotted a paint remover bit and thought that if it saved me any amount of time, it would be worth it. Long story short, it saved a MASSIVE amount of time. After the paint was removed, I hung the steps horizontally using bungee cords and painted them and the end caps. I was careful not to overdue it because I didn't want the paint pooling on the bottom of the step, which I did an alright job of managing. After the paint had dried it was a matter of screwing the end caps back in and installing them and the brackets they came with. I imagined this going way smoother than it did. To my understanding, there are meant to be rubber plugs in place of where the side steps go to prevent the threads from rusting. Unfortunately, I did not have these plugs, and the threads were not looking so hot. I gave them a good cleaning and greased up the mounting bolts well. Fortunately I was able to install most of the bolts, but there where a few mounting points that I just couldn't get to feed. At any rate, they are still held in place quite well and can support the weight of being stepped on. I was aware that the running boards were going to be tighter to the body than actual 08 ones, and boy are they.

I wouldn't say I'm exactly disappointed with the turn out, as I think they look really nice and will deter unwanted visitors from rummaging underneath the body (at least from the sides)

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Light Bar Wiring
Date: June 15, 2022
Cost: $20
Time: Install: 30 mins
Tools: Wire cutters
Pros: Functional light bar
Cons: Increase drag

I delayed wiring up my light bar for a while as I was planning on getting the wiring from my previous vehicle, but eventually concluded that the cost associated with using new wires was pretty negligible. Because each individual light has its own waterproof connecter feeding from it, I had to get a little funky with the splicing. I connected each of the waterproof connectors to a single line of the same gauge (both black and red), and covered in in a conduit. I then used velcro audio cable ties to attach them along the cargo basket, down the roof rack, and into the driver pillar. The plastic pops off by hand and is easy to put back on, and there was plenty of room to run cables to/from. From here, I went along the perimeter of the engine bay all the way to the fuse box near the hood latch and fed it to the fuse. Thats it! No fire wall! from there it was just a matter of putting a new sticker on the switchboard panel and I was good to light up the night.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Dash Cam Install + Hardwire
Date: June 15, 2022
Cost: 209.18 CAD
Time: Install: 20 mins
Tools: N/A
Pros: Driving security, peace of mind
Cons: N/A

I decided an upgraded dash cam was in order, and I went with the Rove R2 with the mini usb hardwire kit. I wanted something with a screen, 4K video, and something that would activate when away. The ability to have it hardwired was also a must as I've had lighter jack powered ones and they are annoying more than anything. Judging by the features and reviews, I deemed it as a good choice for me. It attached to the windshield with a suction cup (although it also came with a 3m mount) and connected the hardwire mini usb cable. I fed the cable through the roof liner over the driver side head, and down through the interior pillar. from here it was a matter of connecting to the interior fuse box and grounding. I ended up attaching it to the accessory fuse 8 (if I remember correctly) and jostled my car a bit to test if it would come on (and it did!)

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Hydraulic Hood Lifts
Date: June 16, 2022
Cost: 110.99
Time: Install: 20 mins
Tools: 10 mm socket
Pros: Eliminates need for the hood support bar
Cons: N/A

The plastic clip for my hood support bar was busted but still sort of functional. One thing I never liked about the support rod was with the two available rod positions, one didn't keep the hood open enough, and the other kept it too open, to the point it interfered with the wipersWhen I saw there was a mod for hydraulic struts to hold up the hood automatically, I wanted it. They were relatively cheap and available on amazon. They installed easily using existing mounting points and I had no problem getting them to fit. While it's not a mod I use often, I appreciate it when I have to access the engine bay.

 

[Big_Blue]

MOD: Catalytic Converter Cover (Cat Cover)
Date: June 16, 2022
Cost: 338.93 CAD
Time: Install: 40 mins
Tools: Drill, rivet gun, socket set
Pros: Additional catalytic converter security, peace of mind
Cons: N/A

Obviously nothing is fool proof, but a cat cover can provide additional security to your juicy cat. While the price is a little steep for something that is just a deterrent, I reasoned it that if a cover is enough to stop the precent of thieves that wont bother going through the cover, then i'll be saving my money long term. While I'm not exactly living in a city centre where cat theft is a prominent problem, I'm aware of the situation and that it can happen pretty much anywhere at any time. After looking at a few of the cat cover options, I decided to go with the one that was the most cost friendly while providing the most coverage. Because a lot of the other cat covers available are mostly from US markets, I went wit the amazon special. On arrival I was a bit disappointed as I was looking to install it right away, but the rivets that were suppose to be in the order were not. Not a big deal, as i needed to get a rivet gun anyway. My cat heat cover mounting points had rusted off recently so I removed it. This had no affect on the actual install. The entire install took about 40 minutes (no lifting the car required), and the side steps definitely made the install a pain in the ass. Overall I'm happy with the quality of the install and would recommend the mod to anyone in even a fairly populated area. While I feel like there is still more that can be done to protect the cat, this is a good start!