Honda
Accord License Plate Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out license plate light
bulb on an 8th generation 2008 to 2012 Honda Accord with pictures.
 Accord License Plate Light |
 Open Trunk - Locate Housing |
 Disconnect Power Plug |
| This
automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners
of the eighth generation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012) Honda
Accord in changing a burnt out license plate light bulb or upgrading
them both to brighter LED units. Owners of other Honda or Acura vehicles such as the Civic, CR-V, Fit, Insight, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, FCX Clarity, ILX, TSX, TL, RLX, RDX, MDX and ZDX may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A replacement license plate light bulb is part # 168 from manufacturers such as Sylvania, GE, PIAA and ACDelco. You may also use any other compatible miniature wedge base bulbs such as the W5W, 2825, 175, 194 or an LED. No tools are needed to change the license plate light bulbs. Update August 17th 2023 - I received an email from another Accord owner. For the refreshed 2011 and 2012 Honda Accord model years, you'll need to replace the light bulb from the inside of the trunk lid rather than removing the light housing from above the license plate. |
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 Press Together & Push Out |
 Bulb Housing Pushed Out |
 Bulb Housing Removed |
| The
first two steps are to open the trunk lid and move to the side with the
burnt out license plate light. Look under the trunk lid and locate the white power connector on the rear of the license plate light bulb housing. Press the release button on the power plug and pull it straight out of the socket. Grasp the rear of the bulb housing and gently press together the two sides before pushing it out of the trunk lid. |
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 Side Of Housing |
 Press Together Sides |
 Pop Off Lens Cover |
| Press
together the two arms on the sides of the housing and pop off the lens
cover. Set the lens cover aside in a safe place. |
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 Light Bulb Exposed |
 Pull Out Old Bulb |
 Old Bulb Removed |
| Gently pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket. | ||
 Push In New # 168 Bulb |
 Snap Lens Cover In Place |
 Re-Insert Housing In Trunk |
| Push in
a new # 168 miniature wedge base bulb straight in to the socket. If necessary, you can also use any other miniature wedge base bulb such as the W5W, 2825, 175, 194 or an LED. Gently snap the lens cover back in place over the housing. |
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 Pop In To Place |
 Push In Power Connector |
 Testing New License Bulb |
| Slide the license
plate light bulb housing back in to the trunk lid until it clicks in to
place. Push the power plug back in to the socket. Test the new license plate light bulb(s) by turning on the headlights. Note - According to an email I received from another Accord owner, if you'd like to remove the license plate light bulb lens in order to run a wire for a backup camera on a refreshed 2011 and 2012 model year Accord, the procedure is a bit more involved than the earlier years as shown on this page. You'll need to remove the "trunk lower trim" which is the part of the trunk lid below the reflective strips which is attached with 3M automotive trim double sided tape. Removing this piece allows you to remove the license plate light bulb lens. Alternatively, I would suggest considering drilling a small hole through the underside of the trunk lid close to the license plate light bulb lens to route a wire for a rear backup camera. For more, check out my other
2008-2012
Honda Accord Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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