How to Replace a Brake Light on a 2008 Honda Pilot

Prior to the 2003 debut of the Pilot, Honda offered a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo as its top-line SUV: the Passport. The 2008 model year ushered in the second generation for the Pilot and with it came revised headlights, taillights and front fascia. These updates were all part of Honda trying to make the Pilot look more rugged and appealing to the typical SUV shopper. This newly revised Pilot had two different brake light bulbs that were equally simple to replace yourself: taillight-mounted ones and the federally mandated high-mount brake light.

Instructions

Lower Brake Lights

1

Open the rear hatch and remove the two screws securing the taillight assembly to the hatch jamb, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the taillight assembly from the rear of the Pilot just enough to gain access to the bulbs on its backside.

2

Remove the brake light socket from the backside of the taillight assembly by turning it counterclockwise and pulling it from the taillight assembly. Pull the bulb straight out from the brake light socket.

3

Hold a new No. 7443 bulb with a clean, lint-free cloth touching the bulb with your bare hands can cause premature bulb failure and press the bulb in to the brake light socket until it clicks into place. Slide the bulb and socket into the taillight assembly and twist the socket clockwise to lock it in place.

4

Reinstall the taillight assembly onto the rear of the Pilot and tighten its retaining screws until they are snug. Close the rear hatch.

High-Mounted Brake Light

5

Remove the triangle-shaped screw covers on each end of the high-mount brake light assembly by laying a cloth down on the center of the high-mount taillight assembly for protection and prying each cover off with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the two high-mount brake light assembly screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

6

Pull the high-mount brake light assembly from the rear hatch just enough to access the socket on its rear. Rotate the socket counterclockwise to unlock it and pull the bulb and socket from the high-mount brake light assembly. Pull the bulb from the socket with a slight wiggling motion.

7

Hold a new No. 921 bulb with a clean, lint free cloth the oils from your hands can cause this bulb to fail prematurely, so do not touch it with your bare hands and press it into the socket until it clicks into place. Insert the bulb and socket into the high-mount brake light assembly and twist the socket clockwise to lock it in place.

8

Reinstall the high-mount brake light assembly into the rear hatch and tighten its retaining screws until they are snug. Press the screw covers back into place over the retaining screws.