How difficult/important is it to replace the ELD if I haven’t noticed any issues with the car otherwise?
Ever hear penny wise pound foolish? Change it.
I certainly have and will do. Is it a part that a novice can replace or should I have it taken care of by a professional mechanic?
If you’re not having problems with the battery or the charging system, there’s no reason to replace the Electronic Load Detector.
Tester
I have known two similar vintage CRV owners who have had issues related to this. It lead to bad battery’s and a ruined alternator. I think it is a weak spot in this model.