Changing a Tail Light Bulb in a 2002 Honda Civic Ex

In 2001 -- the Civic's 7th generation -- Honda redesigned the Civic, giving it a more refined and somewhat aggressive look. The redesign included elongated headlights and taillights. There was a minor difference between the taillights on two- and four-door models. The four-door models had inner and outer taillights, whereas the two-door models only had the outer taillights. Replacing the outer taillight bulbs on both the two- and four-door 2002 Civic is the same process. The four-door 2002 Civic requires an additional procedure to replace the inner taillight bulbs.

Instructions

Open the Civic's trunk. Locate the rear trunk trim panel -- the trim panel on the center, rear of the trunk. Pry up on the center of the four pins holding the rear trunk trim panel in place to unlock the pins, and pry the pins out of the trim panel. Remove the trim panel.

Pry the clips holding the carpeting behind the taillight assembly. Pull the carpeting away from the rear of the taillight assembly, exposing the access holes for the bulbs.

Grab the rear of the taillight socket -- the outermost socket -- and twist it counterclockwise to unlock it. Pull the socket and bulb from the rear of the taillight assembly.

Grab the taillight bulb and pull it from the taillight socket with a slight wiggling motion. Grab a new 7443 taillight bulb with a clean, lint-free cloth and press it into the taillight socket. The cloth prevents the oils on your hands from getting on the bulb and causing premature failure.

Insert the socket and new bulb in the taillight assembly and twist it clockwise to lock it in place.

Set the carpeting back in place over the rear of the taillight assembly and press the clips into place to secure it. Reinstall the rear trunk trim and insert the four pins, press the center of all four pins in to lock the pins in place.

Close the trunk.

Open the Honda's trunk and locate the bulb sockets on the rear of the taillight assembly attached to the trunk lid.

Rotate the upper bulb socket -- the inner taillight socket -- counterclockwise to unlock it, and pull it from the taillight assembly.

Grab the taillight bulb and pull it from the socket with a slight wiggling motion. Press a new 7443 taillight bulb into the socket, using a clean, lint-free cloth. Never touch this bulb with your bare hands, as the oils from your hands may cause premature bulb failure.

Insert the socket and new bulb into the taillight assembly and twist it clockwise to lock it into place.

Close the trunk.