I have a 2006 Honda Element with 210,000 miles and suddenly after owning the vehicle for 5 years putting 125,000 miles on it I'm having stalling issues. It only happens on cold starts in the morning or after the car sat for more than an hour and within the first 2 to 5 miles. Get it out on the highway or it seems after it warms up and no RPM pulsing issues and no stalling what so ever. What happens on a cold start within 3 to five minutes is the RPM's start revving between 1,000 and 2,000 and then stalls. When I try to accelerate and floor the gas pedal the engine will not respond at all. The 3 Initial engine light codes said it was the Throttle Position Sensor Switch, Idle air control circuit, and Map Sensor. The Following is what I did to try and fix the stalling issue:

1) Cleaned the Throttle body and Idle Air control Valve.
2) Replaced the Idle Air control Valve
3) Took it to Honda Dealer - When I took it to the dealer the engine light was not on. They said all the computer readings were in spec and based on calling Honda Tech support they said based on what I did so far they recommended replacing the Throttle body (Parts & Labor total was $785) and noted on work it said this may or may not fix the issue. My local independent tech said he highly doubts it the Throttle body so I got a Throttle body from the junk Yard for $36
4) Replaced Throttle Body with used one from Junk Yard
5) During this the alternator went and it was time to replace the battery too & I read on one of the Honda Tech forums that replacing the battery fixed stalling issues. Well not this time. New Alternator & battery and still stalling
6) Upstream & Downstream O2 sensors
7) Valves were a little out of spec so made all Valve adjustments to get them in spec
8) Replaced the VTech Solenoid after my independent tech spoke to a local Honda Tech

I know in my title I said I've tried everything but the 3 things I haven't tried is the Map Sensor & TPS sensor & my independent tech said about halfway throughout this process it might be a bad computer but now he's thinking it's not the computer. Another tech I talked to seems to think its a gasket sealing issue possibly because it's stalling only when it's cold and when the car heats up the gasket would expand for a better seal from the added engine heat. Does this make sense? Should I try the Map or TPS sensor? Just an FYI this was my daughters car when this whole process started & my independent tech is so upset that he hasn't figured this out he hasn't charged me any labor costs after putting in the first part which was the Idle Air control valve. I'd like to use this vehicle as my main drive if I can get this fixed and at this point I'm determined to solve this and so is my tech. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

The gasket sealing issue that the "other tech" mentioned is referring to an intake gasket sealing issue. Generally the hallmark of this is an erratic idle, but I guess it could result in stalling if it's severe enough. One good way to check this is while the engine is running (and cold...if that's when you suspect the gasket deficiency is occurring), mist something flammable like brake cleaner or carb cleaner around the intake joints (particularly the intake-to-block intersection and the throttle body-to-intake intersection). If there is a leak there the intake will pull the flammable mist into the engine and raise the idle.

One thing you haven't mentioned is when the vehicle stalls, does it lose spark or fuel? You may not personally know, but one of the individuals who's worked on the car should, and that would be helpful information to share.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check these things out with my tech and let you know about it losing spark or fuel.

 

Well, my element is finally running like new once again!!!! In my original post I mentioned the 98th thing I tried was replacing the Vtec solenoid. This was based on my independent tech talking to a Honda Tech and I want to point out that the check engine light was not on and no fault codes showed the solenoid as bad. But the tech said the solenoid has been known to cause stalling issues. When I called the dealer they wanted $133 for the part. On line on Ebay I saw it for $39.99 which included shipping. The part was coming from China and took 5 to 6 weeks to get to me. We put the new solenoid on and my issues remained the same. We tried changing the ECT sensor based on some advice on got on the Honda Elements Forum too and that didn't work either. Then out of the blue the engine comes on and throws off the code that the Vtec solenoid is bad. I said this time I will spend the money on the Honda dealers part because I need to fix this issue sooner than later and I can't wait for 6 weeks for the part. The dealer couldn't have the part for 2 days until Monday and I wanted my tech to work on it Saturday so I called AutoZone and they could ge the part in one day and I can could pick it up Saturday morning. Part cost was $92. I wish I would have taken a picture because the packing on the inside of the box had a Honda sticker on the outer layer of the plastic and even my tech noticed and said wow it's a Honda part. Even stranger is the Honda dealer warranty said its 12 months total. Even if the part failed on month 10 I'd only have 2 months left on the replacement. From AutoZone it was a lifetime warranty. My tech installed the part this weekend and he test drove it a few times Saturday and I said I couldn't pick it up til today so I told him to test drive a few more times and he said he ran fine on 3 other test drives.

Honda owners can now add the Vtech Solenoid as a part to try to help with revving RPM's followed by stalling issues Remember this even when there are no engine light default codes available and also don't buy cheap parts from China. Lol

 

Does this fix still work? I've been dealing with the morning/afternoon engine restarts for 2 years now and I can't find a fix. Every shop I go to is completely baffled. I'm hoping this might be the fix!