04 civic 4 door

here's how to remove the rear deck on the 04 civic 4 door.

those of you who cut around the brake light, or use computer-cut, there's no need for you to respond with "i just cut around them". we'll just assume it's either illegal to tint behind the third brake light in your state, or you don't want to go to this much trouble. okay?



first thing, find this 10mm bolt and take it out. it's located between the top and bottom cushions, just a little right of direct center. then lift the front of the seat up, it has clips holding it down. it will come right out.

go ahead and remove the headrests. they'll be in the way later.

next, there is a 10mm bolt holding down each of the sides on the back seat. remove these.
but don't try to take it out until you read the next post.

the little side cusions are held in by a plastic hook that is made to the cushion. if you break it, you can't fix it.
VERY GENTLY pull back on the piece just a little. use a door trim tool and stick in there and help pry it up.

this is the way the back of it looks.

next, remove the sail panels. they're held in by 5-6 little white clips. just grab the top edge and yank that mofo out.

before you do anything else, slide the seatbelts through the opening. that little plastic thing will break if you skip this step.

after that, remove the little round piece of plastic around the key lock. just use a door trim tool and pry it up.
next, lay on your back and slide into the trunk and unplug the third brake light. then use a pair of pliers and squeeze the clips together on the underside while lifting up on the deck. (like in the picture) you only need to get 2-3 towards the front of the car going and it will pop the rest out for you.

slide the whole thing towards the front of the car. don't worry about the center seatbelt. it's not in the way.
just rest it between the back of the front seats and the back seat.

and there it is. i usually fold the seats back up and lay the bottom cushion back in it. easier on the old knees.

now you have easy access to the ENTIRE back glass.

after tinting, reinstall in reverse order and you're done.

now, doesn't this look better?

total time to remove and replace adds maybe 15-20 minutes to the job. depending on how fast you work.
this is without a doubt, one of the harder back sections to remove of any car. but once you've done it a couple times, it's pretty easy. and definately better than fighting that deck that's pressed against the glass.

and to all you lurkers out there soakin up the good info---KISS MY AZZZ.

good tip TTS

That's exactly what I do TTS

Hey TTS thanks for going to all that work to help out the brethren...you are a great part of this site.

Great instructions! I do exactly the same thing but I don't use my Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver to pry those out. I use a craftsman flatblade screwdriver. I like to save my spendy tools for something other than a prybar.

Thanks, this tip saved me some time today.

great tip TTS

ratcheting screwdriver???

I'll charge $300 to do that to a Honda. Or any car for that matter. I just use whatever I can find to press out the water behind the light. Works for me -- Shuttle, yellow plastic thing w/ handle, spatula. Get all but 4 bubbles somtimes. Tell em it would cost you $25 per bubble to remove them.

autotintplus

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you must be reading my mind TTS..

did you ever know that youre my heeeeeero mann I left this site for a long time, couldve used that info sooo badly last week... thanks for posting it, I shoudve checked here

whenever there is a deck that 's like that (lots to removing it) but there is a bit of room behind the brakelight (but newer so there is no real dirt build up behind the brake-light) I use a 1 ft. black and white squeegee

end result

closer look

I wish that I would have had this site around 26 years ago, it could have helped

LOL..you can say that again..all the tinters wit hunder 10 yrs experience will never truely appreciate all the heartache the pioneer tinters went through during the "lack of information and tools " we didn't have. Had to figure it out somehow