Honda Element. Manual - part 181

pressure, and pressurize the clutches to engage them and their corresponding gears. The pressures of the A/T 
clutch pressure control solenoid valves also apply to the shift valves to switch the port. 

Lock-up Mechanism 

The lock-up mechanism operates in the D position (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th), and in D position D3 driving mode 
(2nd and 3rd). The pressurized fluid is drained from the back of the torque converter through a fluid passage, 
causing the torque converter clutch piston to be held against the torque converter cover. As this takes place, the 
mainshaft rotates at the same speed as the engine crankshaft. Together with the hydraulic control, the PCM 
optimizes the timing and volume of the lock-up mechanism. When shift solenoid valve E is turned on by the 
PCM, shift solenoid valve E pressure switches the lock-up shift valve on and off. A/T clutch pressure control 
solenoid valve A and the lock-up control valve control the volume of the lock-up conditions. 

Gear Selection 

The shift lever has six positions; P: PARK, R: REVERSE, N: NEUTRAL, D: DRIVE 1st through 5th gear 
range, and 1st through 3rd gear range with D3 driving mode, 2: 2nd gear, and 1: 1st gear. 

SHIFT LEVER GEAR POSITION 

Starting is possible only in the P and N positions because of a slide-type neutral-safety switch. 

Position

Description

P: PARK

Front wheels locked; park pawl engaged with park 
gear on countershaft. All clutches are released.

R: REVERSE

Reverse; reverse selector engaged with countershaft 
reverse gear and 4th clutch engaged.

N: NEUTRAL

All clutches are released.

D: DRIVE (1st through 5th)

General driving; starts off in 1st, shifts 
automatically to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then 5th, depending 
on vehicle speed and throttle position. Downshifts 
through 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on deceleration to 
stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 2nd, 3rd, 
4th, and 5th gears.

D: DRIVE with D3 driving mode (1st through 3rd) Used the rapid acceleration at highway speeds and 

general driving, up-hill and down-hill driving; starts 
off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, then 3rd, 
depending on vehicle speed and throttle position. 
Downshifts through 2nd to 1st on deceleration to 
stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 2nd and 
3rd gears.

2: SECOND

Used for engine braking or better traction starting 
off on loose or slippery surfaces; stays in 2nd gear, 
does not shift up and down.

1: FIRST

Used for engine braking; stays in 1st gear, does not 
shift up.

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Element

  

Automatic Transmission (A/T) Gear Position Indicator

The A/T gear position indicator in the instrument panel shows which shift lever position has been selected 
without having to look down at the shift lever. 

Transfer Mechanism (4WD) 

The transfer mechanism consists of the transfer drive gear on the differential, the transfer shaft, the transfer 
drive gear (hypoid gear), the transfer output shaft (hypoid gear), and the companion flange. The transfer 
mechanism assembly is on the rear of the transmission, beside the differential. The transfer drive gear on the 
differential drives the transfer shaft and transfer drive gear (hypoid gear), and the transfer drive gear (hypoid 
gear) drives the transfer output shaft (hypoid gear). Power is transmitted from the transfer drive gear on the 
differential to the rear differential via the transfer shaft and the propeller shaft. 

CLUTCHES AND GEARS 

The 5-speed automatic transmission uses hydraulically-actuated clutches to engage or disengage the 
transmission gears. When hydraulic pressure is introduced into the clutch drum, the clutch piston moves. This 
presses the friction discs and steel plates together, locking them so they do not slip. Power is then transmitted 
through the engaged clutch pack to its hub-mounted gear. Likewise, when the hydraulic pressure is bled from 
the clutch pack, the piston releases the friction discs and steel plates, and they are free to slide past each other. 
This allows the gear to spin independently on its shaft, transmitting no power. 

1st Clutch 

The 1st clutch engages/disengages 1st gear, and is located at the middle of the secondary shaft. The 1st clutch is 
joined back-to-back to the 3rd clutch. The 1st clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within 
the secondary shaft. 

2nd Clutch 

The 2nd clutch engages/disengages 2nd gear, and is located at the end of the secondary shaft, opposite the end 
cover. The 2nd clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by a circuit connected to the internal hydraulic circuit. 

3rd Clutch 

The 3rd clutch engages/disengages 3rd gear, and is located at the middle of the secondary shaft. The 3rd clutch 
is joined back-to-back to the 1st clutch. The 3rd clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe 
within the secondary shaft. 

4th Clutch 

The 4th clutch engages/disengages 4th gear, as well as reverse gear, and is located at the middle of the 
mainshaft. The 4th clutch is joined back-to-back to the 5th clutch. The 4th clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure 
by its ATF feed pipe within the mainshaft. 

5th Clutch 

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Element

  

The 5th clutch engages/disengages 5th gear, and is located at the middle of the mainshaft. The 5th clutch is 
joined back-to-back to the 4th clutch. The 5th clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within 
the mainshaft. 

Gear operation 

Gears on the mainshaft: 



4th gear engages/disengages with the mainshaft by the 4th clutch.  



5th gear engages/disengages with the mainshaft by the 5th clutch.  



Reverse gear engages/disengages with the mainshaft by the 4th clutch.  



Idler gear is splined with the mainshaft, and rotates with the mainshaft.  

Gears on the countershaft: 



Final drive gear is integral with the countershaft.  



1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and park gears are splined with the countershaft, and rotate with the countershaft.  



4th gear and reverse gear rotate freely from the countershaft. The reverse selector engages 4th gear and 
reverse gear with the reverse selector hub. The reverse selector hub is splined to the countershaft so that 
the 4th gear and reverse gear engage with the countershaft.  

Gears on the secondary shaft: 



1st gear engages/disengages with the secondary shaft by the 1st clutch.  



2nd gear engages/disengages with the secondary shaft by the 2nd clutch.  



3rd gear engages/disengages with the secondary shaft by the 3rd clutch.  



Idler gear is splined with the secondary shaft, and rotates with the secondary shaft.  

The idler gear on the idler shaft transmits power between the mainshaft and the secondary shaft. 

The reverse idler gear transmits power from the mainshaft reverse gear to the countershaft reverse gear, and 
changes rotational direction of the countershaft to reverse. 

Transmission Cutaway View 

NOTE:

The illustration shows the 4WD transmission; the 2WD transmission does not 
have the transfer mechanism.

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Element

  

Fig. 16: Automatic Transmission Cutaway View 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

POWER FLOW 

P Position 

Hydraulic pressure is not applied to the clutch. Power is not transmitted to the countershaft. The countershaft is 
locked by the park pawl, interlocking the park gear. 

N Position 

Engine power transmitted from the torque converter drives the mainshaft idler gear, the idler shaft idler gear, 
and the secondary shaft idler gear, but hydraulic pressure is not applied to the clutches. Power is not transmitted 

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Element