Honda Civic
Trunk Light Bulb Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out cargo area
light bulb in the trunk of a 10th generation 2016 to 2019 Honda Civic.
 2016 Civic Trunk Light |
 Notch - Right Side |
 Insert Screwdriver |
| This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the tenth
generation 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Honda Civic sedan in changing a burnt
cargo area light bulb located in the trunk. The procedure might be similar
for the coupe or hatchback models. Owners of other Honda or Acura vehicles such as the Accord, Insight, Clarity, Fit, HR-V, CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Odyssey, Ridgeline, ILX, MDX, RDX, NSX, RLX and TLX may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement miniature wedge base light bulb part number is 168 from manufacturers such as Sylvania, GE, Eiko and PIAA. If you would like to have a brighter cargo area light that will also last a lot longer, install a 168 LED bulb. The only tool needed to remove the light housing and replace the bulb is a small plastic pry bar tool or a flathead screwdriver. The first two steps are to open the trunk lid and then locate the light housing in the "ceiling" of the cargo area situated in between the two rear deck speakers. There is a small notch on the right (passenger) side of the light housing. |
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 Pry Out Light Housing |
 Pushing Out Housing |
 Light Housing Removed |
| Insert the blade of
your screwdriver or plastic pry bar tool into the small notch. Gently pry out the right side of the light housing to release the retaining clip. I also found it helpful to insert my finger into the opening just to the right of the light housing and push it down out of its mounting location. Gently pull the light housing out of the ceiling of the trunk. |
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 Push In Release Tab |
 Power Plug Detached |
 Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
| Push in the release
tab on the white plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight out
of its socket. If the old light bulb was recently turned on, allow it to cool off for a few minutes. The old bulb might still be hot enough to burn your fingers. Gently pull the old bulb straight out of the socket. If you have trouble removing the old bulb, try gently pushing it out of the socket at the base of the bulb with the screwdriver or pry bar tool. |
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 Old Light Bulb Removed |
 12V5W Bulb |
 Empty Bulb Socket |
| Try to avoid
bending or damaging the metal electrical contacts. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) bulb was marked as a "12V5W" which is the same voltage and wattage as the common 168 automotive bulb. |
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 Push In New Light Bulb |
 Push In Electrical Connector |
 Re-Insert Wires First |
| Push a new number
168 light bulb straight into
the socket. If you would like to have a brighter cargo area light, install a compatible replacement 168 LED bulb. Push the power plug straight into the socket on the light housing. You should feel or hear the connector "click" securely into place. The new bulb should have lit up as soon as you pushed into the electrical connector. Tip - If you installed an LED bulb and it doesn't work, try removing it from the socket, rotate it 180 degrees and push it back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation. Re-insert the wires on the left side of the housing back into the opening in the ceiling of the trunk first. |
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 Replace Light Housing |
 Pop In Retaining Clip |
 Test New Trunk Light Bulb |
| Then gently snap in
the plastic retaining clip on the right side of the light housing. Be sure to record the bulb change in your car's service records. Please
check out all of my
2016-2019 Honda Civic DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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