Scavenger Type EP17: Honda Element Hatch Release Mod

PARTS
1ea: Actuator
1ea: Normally Open momentary push button
5' of wire
What every wire connectors your comfortable and competent using.
ACTUATORS
The actuators I used for this project were from Ebay. Do a search for: "2 Universal Power Door Lock Actuators Compatible w/ Keyless Entry Alarm Pair USA" and the first one that comes up should be the one I used. You don't need two but that's how they came and I thought I might use the other one for a different project.
PUSH BUTTON
The Push Button I used is listed as a "JDM HONDA STEPWGN TRUNK HATCH OPEN SWITCH OEM RF7 RF8 RF9 2001-2005 RF STEPWAGON" and is very rare and hard to find in the USA. Any momentary push button switch will do so just find what looks for to you.
The only other things you need are a coat hanger and some wire.

[@JAYSONGS]

You are my favorite Element ‘mod’ guy. I appreciate your posts so much. 🙏

[@clintsearcy3252]

I hope it helped.

[@TheScoundrel70]

I just purchased a used 2003, and want to do a few things to it and clean up some rust. Your channel is fantastically helpful!! Thank you! Just a little tip, you can use hand sanitizer for cable lube. It's not quite as good, but it won't leave things slimy once it dries, which the lube really never does.

[@clintsearcy3252]

That's a handy tip.... get it?

[@ChristineD8093]

Dude! I am impressed….

[@clintsearcy3252]

Thanks!!

[@texomahondaelement3722]

Hey brother,been awhile , after 3000 miles last week, we are in Hilton Head this week. Love your helpful videos

[@clintsearcy3252]

I'm always trying to help. 3000 miles? Wow! I hope they were smooth sailing.

[@texomahondaelement3722]

@@clintsearcy3252 all good . We deliver EV's, and we did a benefit for an orphanage in Cherokee Tx these were round trips. I Toad my Element for carpooling back. Our group of 4 delivered 12 units, and then retrieved them after event. Cya down the road brother.

[@TCreatorO]

In houses you can use vaseline as wire lub, but in cars thats bad for the rubber, its best to use silicone grease, or brake caliper grease, which is made from silicone

[@clintsearcy3252]

I used to use Joy Dishwashing soap on a pinch for pulling wire.

[@1999av6]

This should have been oem. Nice job!!

[@clintsearcy3252]

Thanks for the support. I have some more mods in mind for the hatch in the future.

[@BBBYpsi]

Very nice, only problem I see if for some reason your battery dies this will not work but the cable hanging out would still work

[@clintsearcy3252]

Yep, If the battery died you would have a problem for sure. It wouldn't be too hard to ad both the button and the shoestring if that were a big worry.

[@se7encureton]

Your channel is killer man..

[@se7encureton]

I’d just recommend tagging your parts in the info part of the KZbin videos. I also do on mine it just helps folks not have to track down parts and tools and gear:)

[@clintsearcy3252]

@@se7encureton be been trying to add part numbers to all the new videos and go back and edit the old ones to have them.

[@virtualmyles]

Will be doing this soon. Thanks for the hot tip!

[@clintsearcy3252]

I’m glad it was helpful. I’ll be doing another one on how to ad a lock and unlock button soon as well as cleaning up those wire connections and a few other things.

[@videomiser]

tidy! looking good!

[@clintsearcy3252]

Glad you liked it.

[@petepete6912]

All you need is some heavy duty nylon string and a button. Tie one end of the nylon string through the loop in the latch above the o. e. cable and run it toward the driver' side.. Punch a tiny hole through the plastic door panel in any convenient spot. Run the other end through that hole, leaving some slack hanging toward the interior. Replace the panel and pull on the string. The latch will open, and spring back. Finally, tie the button to the string, taking up enough slack so the button pulls against the interior panel. The only tools required are a pair of scissors to cut the string and an awl to punch a hole in the plastic. I even found a 1 inch diameter gray plastic button to match the interior!

[@clintsearcy3252]

Yep, I've seen the shoe string method too.

[@gregorsamsa1364]

Damn. Wish i had time to wait for parts to arrive in the mail but i'm about to leave for a road trip in a couple days and a hatch release will be really nice. I think i'm gonna need to go the shoestring route

[@clintsearcy3252]

Do the shoe string. You can always change it to electric later.

[@pnw_element9822]

This is awesome and clean

[@clintsearcy3252]

Would you be interested in a kit for doing this mod?

[@pnw_element9822]

@@clintsearcy3252 if I didn’t have one yet he’ll yeah I be down to get this kit u switch it up from the odyssey set up this new one u have is way better but I already got a kit from element driven

[@1bek]

I like it

[@clintsearcy3252]

Thanks!!

[@maureenquinn791]

Any fool can do it with the right tool..lol Thank you..any soap will work as a lube..maybe a nice oatmeal soap....cause your element is precious

[@clintsearcy3252]

Oh yea, it takes a real thinking to get it done with the wrong tools. Ideal sells wire lube but we always used Joy dish washing soap. It stinks more pretty.

[@sangnguyen-sv2lj]

Epic. Thx so much. 👍 (Btw, love the hole joke🤣🤣🤣 made my day)

[@clintsearcy3252]

Glad you liked it!

[@TCreatorO]

Those also go bad in not too long, its best to get an OEM lock actuator from a junk yard, and it will last longer than those, I converted an old corolla my sister had, to have power locks with those, and I think it was in under a year, most of them had failed

[@clintsearcy3252]

This is working well so far. It's certainly not the highest quality. If it fails I might step up to something more high end from the hot rod world.

[@1bek]

I never have the right tool for the job..I need to do this but little confuse about wiring

[@clintsearcy3252]

What's confusing? Maybe I need to revisit this idea.

[@wsurfn]

Nice video

[@clintsearcy3252]

Thanks!!

[@jeffreybrown9247]

Great upgrade! Was just about to do the factory door pull handle and cable but I like this upgrade WAY better. I found the actuators but I can't find that exact switch which is the one I want. Do you have a link or direct source where I can find one? Thanks for the video! I'll post your video link to some Honda Element sites I'm on.

[@clintsearcy3252]

Sometimes grabbing parts off ebay can be hit and miss. The switch I used is a hatch switch from a 2001-2005 JDM Honda StepWagon van. These vans are not sold in the USA so the parts are harder to find. Believe it or not, when I made the video just a few weeks ago there were 5 or 6 of them on eBay. Now they are all gone. The Honda part number for the switch is M10433. This switch is used in more than one application on the Step Wagon. For example the AFS switch has extra wires for a little light and a different graphic printed on the switch but it would still work and it would mount the same way. Almost any momentary switch could be adapted for this project but I wanted something that looked OEM. There were two other switch I liked for this project. The first was the lift gate switch from the 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey which looks cool and factory but would require a different mounting location since its bezel is larger. The other one I like is the 1997-2001 Honda CRV trunk release switch. I like that it sits recessed in its bezel and would be less likely to be accidently activated. Both of these switches are easier to find.

[@jeffreybrown9247]

@@clintsearcy3252 Thanks for the update. I saw the AFS one but liked the graphic and OEM look as well. I'll keep searching. I have something in mind.

[@edtam268]

Nice mod Do you have a video on how to remove the bottom plastic molding under the passenger door? I can't find one

[@clintsearcy3252]

I have not done one for that panel but I think I will.

[@clintsearcy3252]

I’ll try to do a video of this tomorrow. It.s not to hard

[@KevinWta]

What happens if your battery dies?

[@clintsearcy3252]

If the battery died there will be a lack of electrons to free you from your rolling prison box car.

[@1971hammydemuck]

What’s the name of the book

[@clintsearcy3252]

It’s the official Honda Shop Service Manual

[@jonathancarbonell575]

Do you happen to have the parts you used?

[@clintsearcy3252]

I just added some information to the description that should tell you what you need to know.

[@jamesguralski5156]

Hi. Do you have a link to this part or parts!

[@clintsearcy3252]

I'll add a parts list to this video description.

[@jamesguralski5156]

@@clintsearcy3252 awesome

[@clintsearcy3252]

just added some information to the description that should tell you what you need to know.