My question is do you guys think it's a spacer needed or a broken clip? I'm guessing broken clip because I've removed the two 10mm bolts and attempted to adjust the bumper, but it feels like something on the rear left side under the tail light just isn't catching/securing and the bumper pops right back out once I take the pressure off it as I tighten down the 10mm bolt on that side.

I'm going to take off the entire bumper tomorrow when I have time.

 

Just take bumper off and see if there is an issue, bumper just pushes in right under taillight

 

Good job Zach at assisting!

 

zach, that's my plan tomorrow when I'm off work. Is there a clip, etc. in that area I should be looking for? The left side pops right back out. The right side is perfectly aligned.

 

There's a metal bracket directly under the taillamp,but all it really does is clamp down on the bumper and some guys have even removed it completely so they don't have to take out the bumper to R+I taillamps. I don't know if you posted a picture or not, but if it is not sticking out directly under the taillamp,and more so down the side of the bumper, Those spacers are plastic and snap easily. Also, if the car had any work done before, the bumper could be Aftermarket,and just not fit as well as OE.

 

Project clean!!!

 

Thanks, Project. It's sticking out right under the tail light and down the side of the bumper.

 

I'm going to post 2 pics in a minute for you guys

 

Damnit, I can't see them from work. Did you try just love tapping the bumper back into place. Was the car like this when you bought it?

 

 

Yeah, car was like this when I bought it months ago. I'm just now getting around to this issue and a few other minor things.

 

"love tap" those motherfuckers in!!!!!!!!!

 

looks like its just not lined up properly. take it off and reinstall and make sure you line it up properly and all the brackets are intact/lined up. it should push right in no problem.

 

Thanks, Shark. I'm not too far from you (Martinsburg, WV).

 

^very cool. if you ever have any questions or need any custom work done let me know.

congrats on your TL!

 

Awesome, thank you.

 

I might be wrong but to me it might be the bottom corner of the tail light is in too far v/s the bumper being out. Maybe the tail light has been hit and pushed in. Look at the taper at the trunk lid edge.

 

Push harder?

 

Isnt that what she said??

 

It's definitely the bumper.

 

Aftermarket probably. Those fit like s*** on these cars especially.

 

^that's a thought.

OP pull off the bumper and see if you can find a honda stamp AND/OR drill hole marks for the aspec kit install. should be a circle with a cross through it.

 

^yes.

Although if you don't have the money for an OE cover might as well just live with it until that becomes an option.

 

Looks like you sir are correct! It's an aftermarket replacement tail light and that's what's causing the issue. My buddy and I just had the bumper off and we spent an hour or so trying to adjust/align the tail light just right, unfortunately to no avail. Short of replacing it with an OEM tail light I don't see the left side of the bumper ever sitting perfectly flush.

 

odd.

what exactly is preventing the bumper from being pressed on all the way?

 

The top of the tail light doesn't align/sit flush, so the bottom part of the tail light is putting pressure on the bumper and causing it to push out enough to cause the gap. The gap is now only on the side of the bumper, the picture I posted that showed the bumper gap/misalignment under the tail light is now flush and fine. I'm about to go outside and mess with the tail light alignment some more.

 

yeah you should be able to fix that somehow.

i've just never known an aftermarket tail light to cause this issue.

 

i have that same issue. i thought it was just a broken clip. about to order the clips for that side and see if that solves my issue. i'm thinking that the bracket isnt catching the bumper

 

Yeah, I'm about to order the black clip piece and see if that helps. It seems to have a little more wiggle room than the clip piece on the right side. As I mentioned before, I have the bumper flush under the tail light now, so it almost has to be something with the clip.