Honda Accord Tail Lights

• Honda Accord tail lights share the same standards of quality as the rest of the vehicle. But they will require repair or even replacement after several years.
• Common reasons to consider changing the tail lights include replacing bad or failing tail lights, upgrading to brighter tail lights, and sprucing up your Honda Accord.
• Aftermarket tail light assemblies offer equal or better performance compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tail lights.
• If you plan to replace or upgrade your Honda Accord tail light, the cost of the part ranges anywhere between $21 and $359 on CarParts.com.

The tail lights of any car contribute to the vehicle’s safety far more than their material cost. They show your position to the drivers behind you. In tail light assemblies where they share the same bulb as the brake lights, they also warn other drivers about your intent to slow down or stop your vehicle.

Honda Accord tail lights share the same standards of quality as the rest of the vehicle. But they will require repair or even replacement after several years’ worth of use, exposure to the elements, and the occasional impact.

While it won’t seize your attention like the engine or suspension, the tail lights perform an important job and deserve as much attention as its front-mounted counterparts. Here are some common reasons to consider changing them out:

Replacement for bad or failing tail lights

Using tail lights frequently or keeping them running for long periods will wear out the Honda Accord tail light bulbs until they burn out. Rear-ending an object or colliding with another vehicle can disconnect the wires or break the assembly outright. Or water can seep inside the assembly, leading to rust and electrical problems.

You want to replace a broken tail light as soon as possible. Driving with a bad tail light isn’t just dangerous, but also violates the law. You don’t want to pay a fine on top of paying for the repair cost of your Accord after someone rear-ended you.

Upgrading to brighter tail lights

Standard Honda Accord tail lights deliver the performance expected from a world-class car maker. And unlike the headlights of 2013-2019 Accords, which often need replacement earlier because of faulty LED daytime running lights, the tail lights themselves rarely feature in any complaint.

However, you may need tail lights that produce more illumination than factory-issue tail lamps on your Accord. The weather in your state can make it harder for other drivers to see your vehicle’s tail lights, much less your Accord itself. You need lamps that can punch through the veil of fog, rain, smog, or snow.

Sprucing up your Honda Accord

Make no mistake. Honda Accords are good-looking vehicles. But why settle for just looking good when you can make your car look even better?

Aftermarket tail light assemblies not only offer equal or better performance compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tail lights, but they can also highlight the contours and style of your Accord.

If you plan to replace or upgrade your 2005 Honda Accord tail light, the cost of the part ranges anywhere between $21 and $359 on CarParts.com. Available in single parts, sets of two, or as part of a kit, the tail lights come with a year-long, unlimited mileage warranty.

Don’t forget to enter your vehicle’s year, make, and model in the filter bar. It will speed up your search for the tail light assembly that best fits your Honda Accord.
 

Honda Accord Tail Light Assembly: Three Common Problems You Have to Know

Your Honda Accord tail light assembly is one of the automotive lights mandated by law for road vehicles. This part is very important in preventing road accidents especially those that can occur at night. Through constant use, your car's tail light assembly will show signs of malfunction. If you notice that the tail lights of your Honda Accord are acting a bit weird, you have to do some troubleshooting before you head for the road. Here are some of the common problems you might encounter:

No brake light from the tail light assembly

When the brake light of your Honda Accord tail light assembly is not working, the first thing you should do is to remember when was the last time you have replaced the brake light bulb. This might be a simple case of a busted light bulb. However, if you have replaced it just recently, then you need to check the fuse of the tail lights located under the hood. You will see the label "instrument lights" when you look for it. You should check the voltage of the fuse if it's still good.

Tail lights that won't turn off

When the tail lights of your car are still on even after you have switched the car off, you must immediately remove the negative terminal of the battery because this will cause the battery to drain. You need to check the tail light switch because it might be the source of the problem. Make sure you have a repair manual ready, so you won't mess the other parts when removing the tail light switch. A test light will be very useful to check the condition of the wires.

Fogging tail lights

Fog inside your Honda Accord tail lights builds up because of condensation from the unpredictable weather. This will limit the brightness of the tail lights and may pose problems to other motorists when you're driving at night. You can purchase a new tail light assembly to end the problem, or you can save some money and fix it instead. One way is by removing the tail lights from your car and drying it using a hair dryer. You can wrap the outer ring of the tail light sockets with a plumber's tape to prevent condensation from building up again.

Your Honda Accord tail light assembly has to be maintained to ensure that its parts are working properly and the light it provides meets the safety regulation. However, dirt, grime, and other harmful elements are just around the corner, and they're always threatening to mess up your car's tail light assembly. To prevent this from happening, here are some simple maintenance tips you can easily perform:

 

Wash the surface of the tail light assembly regularly.

 

 

An effective way of washing your Honda Accord tail light assembly is by using automotive soap and water. This simple technique will remove the stubborn dirt on tail light's surface. You can use a plastic spray bottle to apply the automotive soap, and a soft sponge can spread the soap evenly. If swirl marks and scratches are noticeable on the surface of the tail light assembly, you should use 1500-grit sandpaper to rub them off until the surface becomes smooth. It is important to apply liquid automotive polish afterwards to keep the tail light assembly protected.

 

 

Keep the inside portion of the tail light assembly free from residue.

 

 

Aside from washing the surface of the tail light assembly, the inside portion has to be maintained as well. Dirt and grime can seep inside the tail light's housing because of condensation; and before you know it, there's already a foggy buildup inside. When this happens, you should detach the tail light from your car and place it in a dry area so the residue can evaporate. To prevent moisture from seeping again, you can wrap the corners of the tail light assembly with a plumber's tape. However, you should apply the tape cleanly so the tail light won't look messy from the outside.

 

 

Inspect the wires of the tail light assembly.

 

 

A good preventive maintenance for your Honda Accord tail light assembly is by checking its wiring once a year. This habit can help you detect some problems before they occur. You can do this by using a 12-volt test light to determine the voltage of the wires. However, you have to be familiar with your car's wiring system or at least have the wiring diagram beside you, so you can check the wires correctly.

 

• Tail lights are just as important as the vehicle’s headlights because they illuminate the rear edge of the vehicle.

• These lights also serve as a warning light for other vehicles that your car is ahead, especially in low visibility conditions.

• Halogen and LED are the two most common types of tail lights.

• Most Honda Accord tail lights cost around $70 to $1,200.

• If you notice that your tail lights are dim or cloudy, it is time to have them checked. Remember that having a faulty or busted tail light is considered a traffic violation. 

 

Honda Accord made its debut in 1976 as a three-door hatchback. It was only in 1979 when its sedan model was created. Honda aimed to create a car that would bring “accord” between people, society and cars. Thus, the name “Accord”. Since then, the Accord has been the benchmark for sedans, and one of the best-selling cars in the United States since 1989.

 

Each Honda Accord comes with a pair of tail lights as part of the vehicle’s rear lighting. Let's discuss what a tail light is and what it is for. 

 

 

Tail lights are just as important as the vehicle’s headlights because they illuminate the rear edge of the vehicle. They allow other drivers to properly gauge your car’s size and shape. These lights also serve as a warning light for other vehicles that your car is ahead, especially in low visibility conditions. Tail lights also serve as a warning for other vehicles that your car is ahead especially when it’s dark. 

 

Many vehicles have tail lights and brake lights installed in the same globe. Unlike tail lights, brake lights only illuminate when you apply pressure to your brakes. Tail lights, on the other hand, switch on along with your headlights or when your parking brake is on. That’s because tail lights are wired together with headlights so both will automatically turn on once your headlights are on. For automatic vehicles, these lights are automatically turned on once you start your engine. 

 

 

Older models of the Honda Accord usually come with Halogen bulbs. Car owners have the option to upgrade to another kind of halogen bulb or to upgrade to LED.

 

Halogen Tail Lights

 

Halogen Tail Lights come as standard in most vehicles. This type of tail light is popular because of its cheap cost. To generate light, it uses halogen gas mixed with tungsten-halogen filaments. However, one disadvantage of using this kind of tail light is its lifespan. A typical Halogen light bulb can last for about three years or 450 to 1000 hours. This lifespan is already reasonably long, but high-quality LED lamps can last for more than three years without replacing. 

 

LED Tail Lights

 

LED tail light upgrades are becoming more popular these days. This is because LED provides better visibility than its Halogen counterpart. LED bulbs are also more energy-efficient compared to Halogen. Since these bulbs require a minimal amount of energy, it puts less stress on your Accord’s engine. Because it is a newer technology, LED tail lights are easier to install.

 

Some car owners also consider the tail light housing and coloring options. There are a lot of variants available when it comes to this but most come in either a shade of black or chrome. 

 

 

Most Honda Accord tail lights usually cost around $70 to $1,200. Some tail light kits only feature the housing, while some include the bulb. They can be sold individually, in sets of two, or in kits. 

 

There have been ten generations of Honda Accord since its debut in 1976. To assure that you are getting the most accurate fit for your Accord, input the correct year, make, and model into our search engine. 

 

 

It will be difficult for you to detect a broken tail light especially if you are the one driving. You can ask someone to stand outside your car while you turn your headlights on. You will immediately notice that the tail light is not working properly because it will not turn on along with your headlight. You can also tap your break to make sure that your brake lights are working. 

 

There are instances where you might notice that the tail lights are not working but your brake lights do. When this happens, check the tail light fuse and bulb. Note that it is not always the bulb that is faulty. Your mechanic can check your fuse using a fuse tester. If the fuse controlling your tail light is damaged, you should have it checked right away. In some cases, it is very easy to detect a problem with your fuse because there is an obvious tear in the metal wire. 

 

If you notice that your tail lights are dim or cloudy, it is time to have them checked. Remember that having a faulty or busted tail light is considered a traffic violation.