Your Honda Element wobbling while driving is scary and uncomfortable. It may feel like you’re almost losing control, particularly at highway speeds. On the upside, your Element wobbling indicates an underlying problem that needs your attention.
What might cause this SUV to vibrate or shake while driving? The possible culprits are worn engine mounts, loose lug nuts, poor wheel alignment, faulty CV axles, or a bad crankshaft pulley.
Understanding the cause of your Honda Element wobble will help you find an effective solution. Read on to know the cause and how to resolve the problem.
Worn Engine Mounts
The Honda Element is a sturdy and reliable SUV that offers years of outstanding performance. However, your Element’s parts will wear out or break over time like any other vehicle. If your Element is vibrating excessively or has become noisy while driving, the engine mounts might be to blame.
These parts secure your vehicle’s engine to the chassis to retain it within the engine bay. They also absorb shocks and vibrations while driving. Engine mounts experience constant stress and begin to wear after a few years.
The vehicle may vibrate and make strange noises when idling, starting, or accelerating. Since there are several engine mounts on your Honda Element, you can use your manual to locate and inspect them. You’ll need tools like a hydraulic jack, torque wrench, jack stands, engine support, and ratchets to replace the worn mounts.
Faulty CV Axles
The CV axles in your Honda Element rotate the wheels to keep the vehicle moving. They also retain the wheels’ position and support the vehicle’s weight. These components receive power from the engine to rotate the wheels. They must be in good shape to ensure the car runs smoothly.
Although axles are tough, they will wear out or break due to an overloaded vehicle. The carrier bearings may also wear out or get damaged over time. If you have worn or damaged Element’s CV axles, your SUV will wobble or make sputtering/clunking sounds.
Faulty CV axles can be daunting to repair or replace. The project requires several power tools and technical skills. An experienced mechanic will examine the axles and repair or replace them.
Bad Crankshaft Pulley
The crankshaft pulley rotates the drive belt to transmit power to accessories like the air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, and alternator. Additionally, it dampens vibrations generated during the combustion process.
A bad crankshaft pulley may cause your Honda Element wobble while idling or driving. While this component is designed to last your engine’s lifetime, it can get damaged over time. The crankshaft pulley’s rubber ring can wear out or get damaged due to exposure to high temperatures or engine oil.
Before replacing the entire pulley, inspect the rubber ring and replace it if it looks worn or damaged. If you have a cracked or worn crankshaft pulley, replace it and install new bolts.
Loose Lug Nuts
Lug nuts secure your Honda Element’s wheels in place. When properly installed and tightened, they fasten the wheels to the hub assembly and connect them to the CV axles.
Lug nuts can wear out due to frequent tire changes or wheel removal. When they wear out, they get loose while driving and cause the wheel to vibrate. They may also become loose if you fail to tighten them after changing tires.
The shaking and vibration can become intense depending on the speed or how loose the nuts are. You can use a torque or lug wrench to check and tighten the loose lug nuts. If you find worn lug nuts, consider replacing them.
Unbalanced Wheels
Imbalanced wheels can cause your Honda Element to wobble, especially when accelerating. Wheels may go out of balance due to contact with potholes or other obstacles. Moreover, uneven tire wear can cause wheels to get out of balance.
If you’re experiencing a wobbly steering wheel, the front wheels might be to blame. Unbalanced front wheels will also cause the dashboard to vibrate. You might have unbalanced front and rear wheels if the entire vehicle vibrates.
Drive your Honda Element to a repair shop to balance the wheels on a wheel balancer. The specialist may also inspect your tires for uneven wear to see if they need replacing.
Bad wheel alignment is another possible cause of Honda Element wobble. The wheels might be misaligned if your vehicle vibrates while driving and pulls to one side. Bad wheel alignment can also trigger uneven tire wear and a crooked steering wheel.
You can request the specialist to perform a wheel alignment and check for defective parts.
Fouled Spark Plugs
Honda Element spark plugs will last between 30,000 to 40,000 miles. However, the plugs can fail earlier than that and fail to provide sufficient spark for igniting the fuel.
The air/fuel mixture requires an initial spark to burn and power your vehicle. However, if one or more plugs are loose, worn, or clogged, they may create a weak or no spark to ignite the mixture. This will leave some air/fuel mixture unburned.
The unburned mixture will escape to the exhaust and cause misfires. As a result, your Element engine may run improperly and shake, particularly when idling or accelerating.
You can check and fix the problematic plugs without professional help. Start by checking for loose plugs and securing them correctly.
If you find corroded plugs, clean the accumulated oil or carbon. Replace the spark plug that looks damaged beyond repair.
Worn or Damaged Struts
Struts play a critical role in your Honda Element’s suspension system. They consist of a shock absorber and coil spring that help keep your SUV stable while driving. Struts cushion the impact from potholes, bumps, or obstacles.
Exposure to regular stress or age causes struts to wear out or become damaged. If your Honda Element has worn or damaged struts, you’ll experience excessive vibrations while driving. Other signs of bad struts include bouncy rides, lack of stability, and clunking noises underneath the SUV.
Examine and replace any damaged coil spring or shock absorber. Alternatively, install a new strut assembly if both parts appear worn. You can also take your Honda to a mechanic to repair the struts.
Stuck Brake Calipers
If the brake calipers become stuck, you’ll likely experience a Honda Element death wobble. Brake calipers hold your vehicle’s brake pads and pistons into place. They also squeeze the brake pads to slow or stop your Honda Element.
Over time, the caliper slides may freeze due to debris build-up, corrosion, or lack of lubrication. When this happens, the brake calipers get stuck and fail to release even when you’ve not applied the brakes.
This issue may cause your Element to shake and the steering wheel to vibrate. Also, your SUV may pull to one side and make grinding or scraping noises.
To fix this issue, uninstall the brake assembly and clean the calipers to remove stuck debris. Then, use a wire brush to remove rust and lubricate the calipers with a silicone lube.
Wrapping Up
There are several reasons your Honda Element wobbles while idling or driving. Excessive shaking and vibration can also trigger many other problems in your Element. So when you notice a death wobble in your SUV, diagnose the cause and resolve it immediately.