Honda Element. Manual — part 787

Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

ABS Features

When the brake pedal is pressed while driving, the wheels can lock before the vehicle comes to a stop. In such
an event, the maneuverability of the vehicle is reduced if the front wheels are locked, and the stability of the
vehicle is reduced if the rear wheels are locked, creating an extremely unstable condition. The ABS precisely
controls the slip rate of the wheels to ensure maximum grip force from the tires, and it thereby ensures
maneuverability and stability of the vehicle.

The ABS calculates the slip rate of the wheels based on the vehicle speed and the wheel speed, then it controls
the brake fluid pressure to reach the target slip rate.

Grip force of tire and road surface

Terminal

number

Wire color

Terminal

sign

Description

Measurement (Disconnect the VSA

modulator-control unit 47P connector)

Terminal

Conditions

Result

16

BLK

GND-V

Ground for the VSA
modulator-control unit

16-GND

At all times

Continuity

25

RED

CAN2-L

CAN2 communication
circuit

-

-

-

28

RED/YEL

STR-A

Detects steering angle
sensor signal

-

-

-

29

WHT

CAN2-H

CAN2 communication
circuit

-

-

-

30

YEL/RED

STR-B

Detects steering angle
sensor signal

-

-

-

31

LT GRN

CLST-

GND

Ground for the sensor
cluster

31-GND

At all times

Continuity

32

WHT/GRN

+B-V

Power source for the
fail-safe relay

32-GND

At all times

Battery voltage

33

BLU

FR-GND Detects right-front

wheel sensor signal

-

-

-

34

GRN/BLK

FR+B

36

YEL/RED

RL+B

Detects left-rear wheel
sensor signal

-

-

-

37

GRY/RED RL-GND

42

BLU/YEL RR-GND Detects right-rear

wheel sensor signal

-

-

-

43

GRN/YEL

RR+B

45

BLU/ORN

FL+B

Detects left-front
wheel sensor signal

-

-

-

46

BRN/WHT FL-GND

47

BLK

GND-P

Ground for the pump
motor

47-GND

At all times

Continuity

2007 Honda Element EX

2007-2008 BRAKES VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) System Components - Element

Fig. 6: Grip Force Graph Of Tire And Road Surface
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

TCS Features

The TCS provides low-speed traction. When a drive wheel loses traction on a slippery road surface and starts to
spin, the VSA modulator-control unit applies brake pressure to slow the spinning wheel. At that time, the VSA
modulator-control unit sends a traction control signal to the ECM/PCM to reduce engine power.

Fig. 7: Identifying TCS Features
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

VSA SYSTEM FEATURES

Oversteer control

Applies the brake to the front outside wheel

2007 Honda Element EX

2007-2008 BRAKES VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) System Components - Element

Fig. 8: VSA System Features - Oversteer Control
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Under steer control



Applies the brake to the rear inside wheel



Controls the engine torque when accelerating

Fig. 9: VSA System Features - Under Steer Control
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

ELECTRONIC BRAKE DISTRIBUTION (EBD)

Electronic brake distribution (EBD) has been added to the VSA system. EBD eliminates the need for an
external, mechanical proportioning valve and improves overall braking performance.

When the vehicle is heavily loaded, most of the increase in weight is born by the rear wheels, increasing
braking capability. Proportioning valves maintain a fixed distribution of brake pressure between the front and
the rear wheels, making it very difficult to fully utilize increased rear wheel braking capability. EBD varies

2007 Honda Element EX

2007-2008 BRAKES VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) System Components - Element

brake pressure distribution according to load, using input from the wheel speed sensors, which improves overall
braking performance.

Fig. 10: Identifying Electronic Brake Distribution
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Normal Braking

Under normal braking conditions, brake pressure is evenly distributed between the front and rear brakes, and
EBD is not used.

Firm Braking

Under hard braking conditions, the VSA modulator-control unit monitors wheel speed in order to allow a
maximum amount of brake distribution individually to the rear wheels. Once the VSA modulator-control unit
detects that one or both rear wheels are nearing their maximum braking potential, the inlet valve closes for one
or both rear wheels, maintaining the current pressure. If the traction is improved, and the wheel(s) is no longer
nearing its limits, the VSA modulator-control unit will open the inlet solenoid allowing additional pressure to be
distributed to the rear wheel. The rear wheels are controlled independently of each other during EBD function.

If during EBD function the VSA modulator-control unit determines that the wheels are beginning to slip more
than a predetermined amount, the control unit abandons EBD control and shifts to select low 3-channel ABS
control.

BRAKE ASSIST

Brake assist has been added to the VSA system. Brake assist helps ensure that any driver can achieve the full
braking potential of the vehicle by increasing brake system pressure in a panic situation, bringing the vehicle
into a full ABS stop.

Each time the ignition switch is turned ON (II), the VSA modulator-control unit learns the current driver's
normal braking characteristics by monitoring the brake pressure sensor and the brake pedal position switch at
each stop. Using these inputs and their values, the VSA modulator-control unit is able to learn the driver's
normal braking habits, and then determine the difference between a normal stop and a panic stop for the
individual driver of the vehicle. If during a panic stop the VSA modulator-control unit determines that the brake
system pressure increases above a learned threshold in less than a learned amount of time, the VSA modulator-

2007 Honda Element EX

2007-2008 BRAKES VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) System Components - Element