ARGH. Having a tough time with this, even though it's supposed to be easy.

I removed the two circular rubber stops, the two rectangular rubber stops, and 5 screws and the trunk handle screw (which we subsequently lost, down in the darkness of my trunk hinges, FML)...

Peeled back the trunk liner to access the bulb housings.

I can't get that part apart. It says rotate 1/4 turn counter clockwise and it's not moving. The dark grey section is for the power cord and the light grey is supposed to come out somehow, correct??? How did you guys do it??

 

try turning the other way, takes a bit of force

 

It does take a little force to remove the wire connector from the assembly.
The other issue is then disconnecting the lens from the bulb housing which I found even harder for some reason. I was afraid of breaking the assembly. I don't understand why Honda designs their light housings like they do- they are a pain to do the first time!

I still haven't figured out the trick for disconnecting the vanity lights in the sun visors even following the factory manual.

 

Vanities are a real PITA lol, a friend on the boards helped me with mine the first time. Apparently I was just not using enough force, although to me it felt like I was going to rip the headliner out.

 

^ Yep- I know what you mean since I had the same concerns about ripping the liner. I had originally bought LEDs with the vanities in mind but then altered course and did the license plate bulbs instead. At least the same size bulb works for either!

 

yep a little force is all you need! im not a diy guy, but i got it done.

 

I just cracked the passenger side vanity... It just snapped... I guess I used to much force Anybody have an extra one laying around?

As for the Lic. plate bulbs... It only took me a few minutes and I love the way it looks. GL

 

you dont need to remove the circular stops. 5 screws? you should only remove one, and thats for the handle. you need to remove all the push pin things, but thats it.

you dont need to twist anything, you need to grab it and squeeze together and it should slide out. the backup lights you twist, but the license plate bulbs are in a plastic holder. you need to grab the right and left side and pull it out, it is a pressure type of a fit and each side has a little bump that fits inside a hole. you just need to squeeze it together so the bumps are no longer in the hole and it should just slide out. if you can get your head in there, between the liner and the trunk, you will be able to see it better. i just did mine this monday and had little issues. the first time is just a learning experience.

 

these may help

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/rr-journals-replacing-license-plate-bulbs-3g-garage-g-052-a-566023/

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/licence-plate-light-back-up-light-3g-garage-g-052-a-584870/

 

Basically blkaspec explained it really well but what i did a little differently was when i disconnected the great wire from each bulb you were able to slide the cover of the bulb along with the housing slightly outward so that you could access it from the outside. So after that you see the two gray tabs on each side that you need to push in. I used a flat head screw driver to push the tabs inward gently. Then the plastic housing falls in too the outside black plastic/rubber piece stays on the outside and the gray housing can slide out from the inside. After that just change the bulb and snap the grey housing back into the black plastic/rubber piece. Just check if the bulbs working first.

 

Im like 30 min upstate, if you can't get it by sat. Pm me, i'd b happy 2 help.

 

i just used a flat head screw driver to take the grey light housing out. it was simple, just stick the screw driver in one side and it should slide out easily. but make sure you doing this carefully because it can break.

 

From the outside right?

My sister's accord has the same aggravating license bulb holders. From the outside, (by the plate) I pressed the release tab a bit and pulled outward. I then used a small flat head to get in and press the resisting tab inward (toward the center of the housing thing). Then used another flat head to do the same. Then pulled and it slid out.

I broke a vanity light holder a few hours ago. I'm not happy with all these tricky plastic housings.

 

I had my mechanic do it while the B Service was getting done. I didn't re-screw the trunk handle screw back, though. Have to do that this weekend. The lights look great.