Rep Power: 0

I'm just shy of getting the Haynes manual and tracing wiring back.
But before I do, I wanted to give a shot here for some ideas to troubleshoot my problem.
The only lights that I'm having issues with are the parking lights and lic plate lights that are on the deck lid. All other lights work just fine.

Fuses under the hood and under the column have been checked (at least all the ones that make sense for lighting) and all are fine.

All bulbs are fine.

When I to a continuity check to each terminal of the bulb sockets, each are grounded to chassis....which really seems strange but that's consistent w/ the behavior of the lights that work when turned off.

Does anyone have an idea of where to go with this (other than to just go buy a haynes)

-Norm

 
Rep Power: 811

power wire comes thru the trunk grommets. you may want to check inside the wire looms because they have a habit of breaking when the trunk is open/closed too many times. just start tracing wires back from the bulb socket until you find the break.

 
Rep Power: 307

I found a TSB a while back on this... & I had this happen on my 05 ES1.

You have a broken wire (color is RED/YEL) There is a crimp terminal used that has several red/yellow wires tied together. The single wire going to trunk breaks.

Untape the plastic split loom going to the trunk lid and locate & tug on the red/yellow wire, I think you will find it loose. You will have to untape near the flex point to find the crimp terminal and splice in a new section of wire.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I feel a little silly not checking the thread before I left for the parts store.... but the haynes is a worthwhile investment none-the-less.

For posterity, y'all were spot on.
All I needed to do was just cut the harness from the tie downs, rip out the guts, and there was the loose wire.
(Pictures posted for posterity)

One thing that was deceiving at first, is that if you test the lines right where the harness splits to go to the trunk, you'll see 3 red/yellow wires and all have power. It wasn't until I tore back enough of the tubing that I noticed that those 3 wires crimp together and only 1(red/yellow) goes to the deck lid.

Cut off the existing wire clamp, put on a barrel style, crimp the crap out of it and we're good to go.


Thank you all for responding and contributing to the forum.
Cya
~,~ The Captain was here

 
Rep Power: 307

All the flexing causes it to break loose over time.

Glad you got it fixed.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you guys for your insight to this trunk/license plate light problem. I had just recently purchased a 2005 Civic DX and discovered that my lights were also inop. Nothing sucks more than puchasing a vehicle and discovering somethings wrong with it. Thanks to your help I was able to go right to the broken connection and fix it the right way...apparently someone previously had just wraped it up in electrical tape (like thats going to work). I can't stand it when people do the quick lazy fix on vehicles! Thank you again, it was right where you had indicated. Good info for other Civic owners with the same problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

10 years later and all the previous work from other forum members is still appreciated!
I just corrected this same problem on my car and I wanted to thank you guys for your help!