license plate lights

[luvEX35]

Hey everyone, new to forum, I just purchased some blue LED license plate lights. How the hell do you get access to the lights? I checked manual, it said to have dealer install

[Obsidian EX]

Check out the service manual, which can be found in this thread:

zer...uides

I also think that there have been a couple of threads here about replacing lights with LEDs and access issues and solutions.

[rontek]

Hi it's nice to see another MA owner in the forum! The service manual is a great thing to have as it answers many of those "not in owners manual" questions. And as Obsidian EX said there have been quite a few previous posts on this topic. I think I may have listed the method I used in one of them. The short answer is you need to take the rear hatch inner cover off to get at the bulbs. Just be careful not to break any of the plastic clips that hold it on. You would think they would have made access to those bulbs (there are two) easier but unfortunately thats not the case.




Modified by rontek at 7:32 AM 11/8/2009

[listeve]

I tried removing the inner cover but so afraid of breaking something. It does not feel like it will come off. Do I have to remove the two round plastic plugs before removing the cover?

If someone post a picture on how to remove the cover, that would be great.

[rontek]

I know how you feel, it's not the easiest thing to do without feeling like you are going to break something. Yes you do need to remove those plugs on the bottom edge, and then the way I did it was to get a small flat screwdriver under the top most thin pointed corners and gently lift the cover there. Once I could get my fingers under it. I slowly pulled it away from the hatch door until I got my 1st "pop" of the clips that hold it on. After that I just kept "popping" them out one by one until it was off. I no longer have my EX so I can't post pics but maybe somone else can. There may be other ways to do it as well this was just my method. If you have never taken any type of body panel off and are really concerned about breaking something, then you may want to let the dealer or bodyshop / stereo installer do it.but I don't know what they would charge.

[listeve]

The two plugs feel kind of tight. Do you force them out and will they go back in properly once you finished replacing the bulbs?

[rontek]

They will go back in. That little pin in the center actually pops out and is what spreads the inner part of the clip holding it in. I would not start with those though. Start seperating the cover at the top inner thin points I described earlier. And as I said, if you are really uncomfortable or worried about breaking something, then have somone with experience do it. It's not "too" difficult but I wouldn't want you to break any of the clips either. I am sure they probably don't cost much to replace, but it's a PITA having to go to the dealer to get them