DIY: sedan spoiler removal & third brake light swap

sm2s · 04-07-2009, 02:47 AM

There are a few DIY for the spoiler removal of the coupe, but not for the sedan. This is a pretty simple mod. This is not to go wingless but rather to swap an 09 clear third brake light to an 08 red one (which also has been covered extensively for the coupe, but not the sedan).

Here is how the car looks before w/ the clear third brake light:

First step is to take out these two bolts. 10 mm socket wrench works best.

Next is two nuts and the third brake light. Also used a 10mm for this.

Close up:

The line for the brake light hides:

The second nut is behind it:

The next step is a little scary. The spoiler is now connected to a few clips; you have to forcefully remove it form the trunk. What I did was I grabbed both ends of the wing and basically just yanked up. You'll hear a loud popping noise and you might

For anyone who is wondering, here is now many holes you'll have for the sedan, in case you decide to go wingless:

That big ******* hole is for the third brake light.

Wingless 09 Si!

Continuing..

Remove the third brake light, use a phillips screw driver.

As you can see the ends are different, so you need to splice the wires for the brake light to fit.

Cut out the rubber housing (red arrow), twist the wires together and solder. I looked up how to solder online (YouTube). Not too bad for my first time IMO. Pretty easy to do.

After this I electrical taped each wire separately and then taped them together (it is bad to have the wires touching!).

Plug in the brake light (without the wing) to ensure that it is working fine. You do not wanna put the wing on to discover you messed up and have to take it off again.

Screw the light back on. THE COUPE LIGHT WILL FIT THE SEDAN, THE SEDAN LIGHT WILL FIT THE COUPE.

Replace the wing and enjoy.

Good luck!

***07mugencivic*** · 04-07-2009, 02:49 AM

nice....job

sm2s · 04-07-2009, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07mugencivic

nice....job

thanks. if you sold me your brake light it would've been so much easier!

***07mugencivic*** · 04-07-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sm2s

thanks. if you sold me your brake light it would've been so much easier!

yeah...but i want to sell the whole thing

sm2s · 04-07-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07mugencivic

yeah...but i want to sell the whole thing

no problem at all, i was jk. good luck with your sale.

***07mugencivic*** · 04-07-2009, 02:54 AM

thank you ...

Nick22 · 04-07-2009, 08:04 PM

$

***obert*** · 04-07-2009, 08:11 PM

Nice DIY......

michinsi · 04-07-2009, 08:17 PM

Soldering FAIL
Nice diy tho

dukpoki · 04-09-2009, 04:47 AM

man i freakin hate those white tabs. did you end up breaking any of 'em? it seems like there were only 2?

sm2s · 04-09-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michinsi

Soldering FAIL
Nice diy tho

yeah, first time. works though so

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukpoki

man i freakin hate those white tabs. did you end up breaking any of 'em? it seems like there were only 2?

nah i didnt break any. they just fit over when i put the wing on. picture shows 3.

***midnitesi*** · 07-01-2009, 04:21 PM

still got the clear one?

dj_chubz · 07-15-2009, 01:41 AM

u know! u dont have to take a spoiler off... u can just take the 2 bolts that hold the 3rd break light....Use a hanger for the wire to guide u down all the way to the trunk. Save u alot of time.

ryyiann · 07-20-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_chubz

u know! u dont have to take a spoiler off... u can just take the 2 bolts that hold the 3rd break light....Use a hanger for the wire to guide u down all the way to the trunk. Save u alot of time.

ghetto

Sparkland · 07-22-2009, 06:55 PM

Just wondering if the chrome piece, just above the licence plate, on the back of the deck lid, will fit a 2008 Civic? I know the above picture is a 2009 Civic.

Thanks for your help. I tried to make a new thread, but I do not have enough posts yet. That is why I added my question to the end of this thread.

Brad

Sle · 07-26-2009, 06:19 PM

subscribed for later use.
pm me if you still have your clear. i'm a willing
buyer.

ABout how long did this take you. im guessing like 10-20 min.
what are the silver things at the ends

sm2s · 07-27-2009, 01:40 PM

chrome piece should fit the 08s, seeing as how a lot of people replace their chrome strip with 08 pieces.

yeah it was pretty short. soldering was the hardest part for me; if you're an experiences solderer should be even quicker. probably took me about 20-25 minutes.

***PSU Pinoy PSU*** · 07-27-2009, 05:35 PM

nice! good write up! subbed for future reference.....would rep u if we still had it...

bsbabcock · 08-15-2009, 06:01 PM

Excellent!!!

I searched for the DIY for my FA5 because that little strip of gasket on the wing for some unknown reason decided to poke out from under the front of the wing.

I think the reason it came unlodged is because the numbnut that installed it didn't pull the adhesive facing strip from it so it was never really stuck down to the trunk/wing on both sides.

You think there's a decent off-shelf replacement gasket tape that would serve as a quick easy replacement for that stuff?

Did you find that you needed to replace or mess with it?

Good DIY!

sm2s · 08-15-2009, 06:31 PM

nah i haven't had a problem like that with my wing.

04-07-2009, 02:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
sm2s Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: socal 714 Posts: 674 teddy iTrader: 11 / 100%	DIY: sedan spoiler removal & third brake light swap There are a few DIY for the spoiler removal of the coupe, but not for the sedan. This is a pretty simple mod. This is not to go wingless but rather to swap an 09 clear third brake light to an 08 red one (which also has been covered extensively for the coupe, but not the sedan). Here is how the car looks before w/ the clear third brake light: First step is to take out these two bolts. 10 mm socket wrench works best. Next is two nuts and the third brake light. Also used a 10mm for this. Close up: The line for the brake light hides: The second nut is behind it: The next step is a little scary. The spoiler is now connected to a few clips; you have to forcefully remove it form the trunk. What I did was I grabbed both ends of the wing and basically just yanked up. You'll hear a loud popping noise and you might For anyone who is wondering, here is now many holes you'll have for the sedan, in case you decide to go wingless: That big ***** hole is for the third brake light. Wingless 09 Si! Continuing.. Remove the third brake light, use a phillips screw driver. As you can see the ends are different, so you need to splice the wires for the brake light to fit. Cut out the rubber housing (red arrow), twist the wires together and solder. I looked up how to solder online (YouTube). Not too bad for my first time IMO. Pretty easy to do. After this I electrical taped each wire separately and then taped them together (it is bad to have the wires touching!). Plug in the brake light (without the wing) to ensure that it is working fine. You do not wanna put the wing on to discover you messed up and have to take it off again. Screw the light back on. THE COUPE LIGHT WILL FIT THE SEDAN, THE SEDAN LIGHT WILL FIT THE COUPE.** Replace the wing and enjoy. Good luck!

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04-07-2009, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nick22 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Halifax Age: 29 Posts: 46 Nick iTrader: 0 / 0%	$

04-07-2009, 08:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
*obert* # 1 Friend Whore Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Wa Posts: 40,273 Robert iTrader: 100 / 100%	Nice DIY......

04-07-2009, 08:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
michinsi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: AFK Age: 24 Posts: 3,544 McTomalds iTrader: 17 / 100%	Soldering FAIL Nice diy tho

04-09-2009, 04:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
dukpoki Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GA Posts: 468 Taylor iTrader: 0 / 0%	man i freakin hate those white tabs. did you end up breaking any of 'em? it seems like there were only 2?

07-15-2009, 01:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
dj_chubz Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 27 Chubz iTrader: 0 / 0%	u know! u dont have to take a spoiler off... u can just take the 2 bolts that hold the 3rd break light....Use a hanger for the wire to guide u down all the way to the trunk. Save u alot of time.

07-22-2009, 06:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
Sparkland Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Just wondering if the chrome piece, just above the licence plate, on the back of the deck lid, will fit a 2008 Civic? I know the above picture is a 2009 Civic. Thanks for your help. I tried to make a new thread, but I do not have enough posts yet. That is why I added my question to the end of this thread. Brad

07-26-2009, 06:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charleston, SC Age: 17 Posts: 1,991 Sam iTrader: 6 / 100%	subscribed for later use. pm me if you still have your clear. i'm a willing buyer. ABout how long did this take you. im guessing like 10-20 min. what are the silver things at the ends

07-27-2009, 01:40 PM	#17 (permalink)
sm2s Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: socal 714 Posts: 674 teddy iTrader: 11 / 100%	chrome piece should fit the 08s, seeing as how a lot of people replace their chrome strip with 08 pieces. yeah it was pretty short. soldering was the hardest part for me; if you're an experiences solderer should be even quicker. probably took me about 20-25 minutes.

07-27-2009, 05:35 PM	#18 (permalink)
*PSU Pinoy PSU* Broke Joker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Limerick, PA Age: 27 Posts: 1,540 Eric iTrader: 7 / 100%	nice! good write up! subbed for future reference.....would rep u if we still had it...

08-15-2009, 06:01 PM	#19 (permalink)
bsbabcock Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 598 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Excellent!!! I searched for the DIY for my FA5 because that little strip of gasket on the wing for some unknown reason decided to poke out from under the front of the wing. I think the reason it came unlodged is because the numbnut that installed it didn't pull the adhesive facing strip from it so it was never really stuck down to the trunk/wing on both sides. You think there's a decent off-shelf replacement gasket tape that would serve as a quick easy replacement for that stuff? Did you find that you needed to replace or mess with it? Good DIY!

08-15-2009, 06:31 PM	#20 (permalink)
sm2s Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: socal 714 Posts: 674 teddy iTrader: 11 / 100%	nah i haven't had a problem like that with my wing.