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Honda Civic Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, turn signal, reverse or parking light bulb in a 9th generation 2012-2015 Honda Civic.

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2013 Civic Tail Lights
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Trunk Carpet Fasteners
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Pry Out Center of Fastener
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the ninth generation (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and perhaps also the 2016 model year) Honda Civic in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, reverse or parking bulb in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Honda or Acura vehicles such as the Accord, Crosstour, CR-V, CR-Z, Fit, Insight, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, ILX, TSX, TLX, TL, RLX, RDX and MDX may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Replacement tail light bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 7443, Turn Signal # 7440A (or 7440NA and WY21W), Reverse # 921 (or W16W) and Parking Light # 168 (or W5W).

The only tool needed to replace the bulbs is a small flathead screwdriver used to pry out the plastic pop rivet fasteners.



 
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Remove Pop Rivet Fastener
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Remove Lower Fastener
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3rd Fastener Removed
The first two steps are to open the trunk and then move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Pry out the center part of each black plastic pop rivet fastener holding the trunk carpet liner in place.

Once the center part has been released, you can pull out the entire fastener.

You'll need to remove at least three fasteners to access each of the outer tail light housings that contain the Brake and Turn signal bulbs.

Two of the fasteners are near the inner edge of the tail light and the third is near the metal trunk hinge.

Set the 3 fasteners aside in a safe place.

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Pull Back Carpet Liner
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Brake & Turn Signal Light
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Gently pull back the carpet liner from the rear corner of the trunk.

Rotate the larger brake light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

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Remove Brake Bulb Socket
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Pull Out Old Brake Bulb
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Push In New # 7443 Bulb
Pull the old brake light bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 7443 bulb.
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Turn Signal 1/4 Turn CC
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Remove Turn Signal Socket
Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

The smaller turn signal bulb socket is located below the brake light.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.



 

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Pull Out Old # 7440A Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Replace Carpet Liner
Pull the old turn signal bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new amber colored number 7440A, 7440NA or "WY21W" bulb.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Replace the carpet liner over the rear of the trunk.

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Re-Insert Pop Rivet Fasteners
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Trunk Lid - Parking & Reverse
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Pry Out Center of Fastener
Re-insert the pop rivet fasteners and push in the center part of each one to secure them in place.

The Parking and Reverse light bulbs are located in a separate housing attached to the trunk lid.

Raise the trunk lid and locate the two pop rivet fasteners that are closest to the tail light housing.

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Remove Entire Fastener
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Two Pop Rivets Removed
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Pull Back Trunk Lid Carpet
Pry out the center part of each fastener to release them before removing the entire pop rivet.

Set the two fasteners aside in a safe place.

Pull back the trunk lid carpet liner to access the bulb sockets.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Remove Reverse Socket
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Pull Out Old # 921 Bulb
Rotate the larger grey reverse bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 921 (or W16W) bulb.

If you would like to have brighter reverse lights, install some compatible replacement 921 LED bulbs.

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Re-Insert Reverse Socket
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Parking - 1/4 Turn CC
Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Rotate the smaller parking light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it out of the housing.

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Pull Out  # 168 Parking Light
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Replace Trunk Lid Carpet
Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 168 (or W5W) bulb.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Push the trunk lid carpet liner back in to place.

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Push In Outer Piece of Fastener
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Pop In Center Part To Secure
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Test New Tail Light Bulbs
Re-insert the fasteners and pop in the center piece of each one to secure them.

Test the new tail light bulbs by having someone turn on the headlights, step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse.

For more, check out my other 2012-2015 Honda Civic DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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