Rep Power: 0

I have a 02 civic (4 door) and it seemed pretty straight forward taking the tail lights out. But apparently it's not as easy as it looks. There seems to be some white plastic piece inside holding the tail light on after all the screws are removed. If anyone has any sites or their own input, feel free. Thanks
eBay Motors: 01 02 03 04 HONDA CIVIC 4DR BLACK ALTEZZA TAIL LIGHTS (item 200065717015 end time Jan-10-07 11:48:42 PST)

I haven't tried the headlights yet, I'll be replacing the stock ones with the JDM Angel eye headlights. If anyone has any installation instructions to that as well, it would be appreciated. eBay Motors: 01 02 03 HONDA CIVIC 2 HALO PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS BLACK (item 160069854134 end time Jan-05-07 21:57:19 PST)

 
Rep Power: 449

take the bumper cover off...it will be so much easier

 
Rep Power: 0

U have to take off the plastic cover and u have to remove the carpet in the trunk. Next take a flat head screwdriver and pop out the back. Now u will have acess to unpluiigin the lights and installing ur new ones. Enjoy. Let me know if u need some more help. thanks and send me pix when done
-Daniel

 
Rep Power: 247

The headlights are a pain in the a** too. For both of them its just easier to dump the bumpers. On the tail lights there is a bolt on each side that is hidden behind the bumper that goes vertical. It has about all the tabs you could ever want to make your life miserable too. Headlights aren't going in with the bumper coming off either. Bad case of 10lbs of sh*t and a 5lb bag.

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah, I know I have to remove the carpeting and remove all those bolts, that's the easy part. Now I thought I saw some plastic clips or something or other holding the lights on. Can those just be cut? I mean is there even a need for them with the bolts holding them on?

Finally, for the tail lights, you're saying you have to go verticle, so I should go under the car and look up into the bumper and try and remove the last bolt? I tried doing that (with very limited light at the time) and couldn't seem to find it... I'll try that again though.

I haven't tried the headlights yet...

 
Rep Power: 247

The plastic tabs actually keep the tail lights from rattling so they do serve a purpose. If you lift from the lower tail light with a screw driver with a cloth covering it gently and pull the top back at the same time it should come out. Its not easy but it'll happen. You need either really long arms or a really long screw driver for the bolts that hold it behind the bumper.

 
Rep Power: 0

OK, lets just make sure we're on the same page...

I have 3 bolts behind the light which can be unscrewed from within the trunk.
I have 1 bolt which you have to go under the bumper and unscrew, I did this by laying on the ground and getting that 1 vertical screw.

That's 4 bolts.


From there, my only other observation is that there are some plastic pieces under the light that might go down towards the bumper enough to hold it in there, is that what you're referring to Pitchblack?

 
Rep Power: 247

You got it chief. All you gotta do is take it out now...those tabs that are holding it there is all that stands between you and no tail lights.

 
Rep Power: 0

and for some reason it is a B!TCH taking them out... I don't know how to get the tabs out without breaking them or the lights, they're REALLY holding them on there.

 
Rep Power: 0

I bought a Haynes repair manual, it shows how to take both bumpers off. Once the weather gets warmer (I live in syracuse ny and its pretty cold at the moment), I will update everyone with some pics too. Trust me, I'm dying to get them on.

 
Rep Power: 247

You don't have to worry about breaking those tabs man, they are made tough for a reason. Lets say you are cruisin' along and soccer mom in the SUV on her cell phone rear ends you, it keeps your tail light from bustin off and bustin her in the grill even though she probably deserved it. And don't you have heated garages in NY? lol j/k.

 
Rep Power: 0

haha no, no heated garages in NY, that would be a super expensive heating bill. But good news is I bought a Haynes repair manual for my car, just going to remove the bumpers and take it from there. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 
Rep Power: 247

Cool man, good luck with that. I live in Indiana and we have heated garages, and we have massive heat bills, but its worth it to work on our rides.

 
Rep Power: 0

how do you take the bumper off? there seems to be 2 tabs there the trunk closes over, im guessing those are screws, anything else needs to be done?

 
Rep Power: 308

This was provided by someone here --->

 
Rep Power: 0

thanks craig thats solves everything!

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I appreciate it craig, but I bought one of the Haynes repair books and it has all that in there, however, that image looks a bit simpler than the one in their book, so I may end up using it. However, the temp has gotten to about 5 degrees here so it will still be a ways till the lights (front and tails) go in.

 
Rep Power: 0

got some pics of my lights, ignore the quality, it was with my camera phone... but it was finally nice out today in Syracuse, NY, so I was able to get my new headlights installed.








thats my first "modify" to my car. I am about to buy the RS lip kit, JDM tails from the jdm password site, and an OEM spoiler with light. I don't know if I'll be getting rims this summer, probably next.

EDIT: AEM cold air intake installed today

Feel free to comment/make recommendations, not interested in flames

 
Rep Power: 243

Better than my first modifies on my sedan lol. Just paid $200 and had it tinted 15%, Alpine head unit, took it apart again yesterday to put the Ipod wire in. I am looking to do the tails too and that whole taking the bumper off thing sucks, necessary I guess though. Not too much is going to happen on the outside of my car though. Im more interested in gutting the inside, laying down sound deadener, and 4 new speakers. That will be about it....ok maybe a drop and some rims...engine will stay stock though, its an auto sedan D17, whats the point lol