Lighting - Inner Tail Lamps/License Plate Lamps Inop.

08-094

December 12, 2008

Applies To:
2004-05 Civic 2-Door VIN starts with 1HGEM or 2HGEM
2004-05 Civic 4-Door VIN starts with 1HGES or 2HGES

Inner Taillights and License Plate Lights Flicker or Don't Work

SYMPTOM
The inner taillights (on the trunk lid) and the license plate lights don't work, or they flicker when the trunk lid is opened or closed.

PROBABLE CAUSE
A splice in the rear wire harness near the right side trunk hinge is damaged or broken.

CORRECTIVE ACTION
Repair and relocate the splice in the rear wire harness.





PARTS INFORMATION

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

In warranty:
The normal warranty applies.

Out of warranty:
Any repair performed after warranty expiration may be eligible for goodwill consideration by the District Parts and Service Manager or your Zone Office. You must request consideration, and get a decision, before starting work.

REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. Remove the right side trunk trim panel:

^ Refer to pages 20-87 and 20-88 of the 20012005 Civic Service Manual, or

^ Online, enter keywords TRUNK TRIM, and select Interior Trim Removal/Installation - Trunk Area from the list.





2. Cut and remove the trunk lid wire harness clips near the splice. One clip is on the underside of the rear shelf near the right side trunk hinge. The other clip is near the sharp bend in the trunk hinge.





3. Use a utility knife to carefully cut the tape wrapped around the harness protective tubing between the clip locations, and 100 mm past each clip location.





4. Open the protective tubing, pull out the RED/YEL wires, and find the splice in the wires.

NOTE:
The RED/YEL wire splice may be wrapped in tape.





5. Cut the three body side RED/YEL wires at the splice as shown.





6. Cut the trunk lid RED/YEL wire 50 mm past the hinge harness clip location as shown.

7. Cut 100 mm from the ends of two of the three body side RED/YEL wires.





8. Strip 7 mm of insulation from the ends of the RED/ YEL wires, and from the 300 mm wire in the splice repair kit.





9. Insert the two shortened body side wires into one side of the blue splice connector, then insert the 300 mm wire and the longer body side wire into the other side of the connector. Crimp both ends of the connector.

10. Insert the other end of the 300 mm wire into one side of the red splice connector, then insert the trunk lid RED/YEL wire into the other side. Crimp both ends of the connector.

11. Use a heat gun to shrink the insulation on the splice connectors until sealant comes out from the ends of the connectors.

NOTE:
Use a non-flammable insulating material to protect the other wires from heat.





12. Make sure that the license plate lights and the inner taillights work properly.

13. Reinstall the wires in the protective tubing, and wrap the tubing with electrical tape.





14. Reattach the harness to the rear shelf and the trunk hinge using the new harness clips in the splice repair kit.

15. Reinstall all removed parts.