markyman <marko.online@gmail.com> wrote in
news:7e31d60f-160c-47f6-b771-f632f557eb8c@q37g2000vbn.googlegroups.com:

>
>> * * I was very surprised to learn that I'd have to remove the front
>> bumper cover to replace a headlight on my '95 Civic. I'm hoping I
>> never have to replace my Camry's taillight, because I see no way to
>> remove it. Manufacturers love to do stuff like this, probably to
>> drive you to the dealer. Volvo 240 airboxes have a nice pair of
>> quick-release clamps to open them. You just release the clamps, and
>> then...disassemble the air intake, because the cover isn't coming off
>> until you do.
>
> As you put it, I'm actually referring to removal of the plastic
> 'bumper cover'. I, too, would think that Honda would only do this as
> a Dealer Revenue Enhancement measure. Publicly, Honda would probably
> come up with the excuse that they're trying to avoid rattles and
> looseness in their cars, but its BS.




Body rattles and other noises are the bane of all automakers, making up
the bulk of many models' TSB listings.



> However, I'd think it would be a
> rather ineffective attempt to drive business to the dealer:



I very much doubt that. Taillight replacement is something dealers do
extremely rarely, so they would make trivial amounts of money off that.

It's mostly the body shops that get to replace taillights, usually in
conjunction with other damage repairs.



> I only
> realized that there were more screws when the old taillight wouldn't
> release and I glance over at the replacement to see the two screw
> mounts from the buttom and then cussed myself.



Honda's been doing that for over two decades, starting with those
flush headlights in the '80s.



> At that point, how
> many people would actually want to stop what they're doing and have it
> done by a dealer only for the sake of two screws? I think most people
> would have done the ripping out as I did.



Or they could get the shop manual and find out how the bumper skin comes
off.

The primary impetus for all this is cosmetics, not revenue. They're
trying for a seamless, smooth and clean look. This means hiding all the
fasteners behind other stuff. Also of critical importance is evenness of
body part alignment. Honda is anal about body part alignment. To achieve
what they want, it's necessary to tie everything down really well, hence
all the pins and fasteners.

Since the vast majority of broken taillights happen in the company of
other body damage, I'm guessing Honda decided hiding the fasteners under
the bumper skin wasn't such a big deal.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/