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View Full Version : adding aftermarket tail lights on first gen (1997-2001)


ramis7
04-15-2009, 11:00 AM
DIY Project Title:
First Generation CRV Tail light Modification

Tools/Supplies needed:
Phillips Screwdriver, and a friend/someone to help you.

Completion Time:
20-60 minutes

Total Cost:
- All red JDM Tail lights from eBay: $150
- Phillips Screwdiver: ?
- Renting a friend: priceless

Procedure:

The following will explain, with pictures and detail, how to remove your stock tail lights, and install a set of aftermarket tail lights.

The entire procedure was quite simple, and very straightforward with the exception of disconnecting the tail light unit's power cord from the crv itself (which I'll point out below).

Ok, lets get started.

Here is the before shot.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00015.jpg

Step 1:
-Turn off your crv.
-Fully open your trunk window and door.
-At this point you will be able to see the 3 screws which hold the tail light unit in place. Using your phillips screwdriver, remove all 3 of them.
- Once you have removed the 3 screws, the unit will still be fixed in it's place. Using a little bit of careful force, you'll have to pull it off as it has two pegs on the outside edge (top and bottom) which are still holding it in.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00017.jpg

Step 2:
- BE CAREFUL not to fully pull the tail light unit off. There is a "plug" which connects the unit to the body. (see image below).
- The connector has a tiny latch on it, which you'll have to hold down while pulling up on the top half which will separate from the bottom half. It's fairly easy to do this if you have a friend holding the tail light unit while you sneak your hands in and perform the "operation".
- With my crv, we had about 20 cm of slack to work with without "tugging" at the wires. It's not a lot of space, but if you examine the connector for a bit before going in with your hands, you'll easlily figure out how it works.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00022.jpg

continued below...

ramis7
04-15-2009, 11:01 AM
Step 3:
- In this image the first thing you'll want to look at is the grey connector at the bottom of the unit. This is the part in relation to Step 2.
- Now that you have the unit off, you'll want to carefully unscrew each light bulb, the screw which holds the connector in place, and unfeed the wires from around the frame. If you remember where everything was, the rest is a walk in the park.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00023.jpg

Step 4:
- Put all the lightbulbs, the screw, and feed the wire around the frame of the new unit.
- Clip the connectors back together.
- Pop your unit back in, and put in the 3 screws and you're done :)
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00024.jpg

After
- Make sure to test your lights. If any of them don't work, chances are you haven't plugged the connector in correctly. Listen for the "snap" or "click" when doing so.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/ramis7/2009-04-04%20Tail%20light%20Mod/DSC00026.jpg

If you have any questions, let me know.