Trailer harness
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Installation of the Honda OEM trailer harness is not difficult at all. I purchased mine through College Hills Honda and it came with very explicate instructions. The most time consuming portion of the installation was removing the interior panel from the cargo area. Take your time and don't rush things and ypou'll have it done in a couple of hours. Attached is the installation instructions so you can get a preview.
An update to this thread with regards to towing harness install. I just completed installation of the towing harness on an Elite. A few installation notes for Elite and Touring trim levels:
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- Inventory the parts that are in the kit upon delivery. I was missing two bolts.
- Step 2 is to disconnect power from the battery. If you are feeling lucky, skip it.
- Step 7 requires removal of the storage bin for the Elite and Touring. To release the bin, there are 4 latches. Pull the tab on each latch away from the bin (do not push the tabs towards the bin). Three of the tabs can be access from below. The fourth (outside latch) can be access via the portal for the gas filler emergency release.
- Skip steps 8 -14 and 19-20.. removal of left side interior panels. Not necessary for the Elite and Touring.
- Step 18 requires separating the 14-pin connector from the vehicle harness wrapped with electrical tape. A light, small mirror and sharp instrument to cut the electrical tape will be helpful. You must reach up in a blind area to access the 14-pin connector and cut the tape, thus a need for the mirror.
- Skip step 27 which states that the trailer hitch should be removed, if installed. If the trailer hitch is already install, it is just a minor inconvenience for step 29.
- Step 29 requires removing the cutout for the 7-pin connector on the hitch cover. Tape around the cutout with a few layers for protection. Place a cardboard between the hitch cover and hitch to protect the paint, if installed. Use a utility knife and work from the bottom up, 1/8" at a time... pierce with the point and cut through.
- Upon completion of the harness install and if you have a voltmeter, each pin on the trailer electrical plug can be tested except for the electric brake output. 12VDC to the ground pin for activation of each function (see photo for diagram of 7-pin plug).
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Thanks for the info. Do you have any helpful hints for removing the center cover that was replaced with the new one that comes with the OEM hitch? I want to avoid removing the bumper cladding like the instructions show.
Thanks for any help you can provide,
Jim
If you search this forum (not always easy, try "remove hitch cover"), there are a few discussions on installing the trailer hitch that addressed this question. To summarize previous discussions from memory and the most difficult parts:
- Tool #1 - Your hands. Be sure that you can reach up, feel for the bolts and able to manipulate a wrench.
- Tool #2 - A stubby 10mm gear wrench for the two 10mm bolts near the top of the cover.
- Tool #3 - "Trim removal tool"... a thin and stiff metal tool (1-3/8" width is optimal to match the width of the tab) that will fit between the bumper and cover to release each of the tabs (across the top and along the sides). Some people have used a thin butter knife or you can fabricate it from a heavier gauge sheet metal.
- Masking tape to tape off the perimeter of the bumper and cover for protection.
- Advise doing this on a warm day when the plastic is more pliable (see below).
- Follow instructions for the hitch installation, except for bumper removal. Remember to disconnect the electrical connection for the hands-free tailgate.
- Remove bottom hardware and then the two 10mm bolts at the top. This will take patience and a some time due to the limited access.
- Tape off the bumper and cover. Identify and mark center line of each tab on the masking tape, using the new cover as a reference.
- Release the tabs on both sides first. The lowest pair are visible from underneath and will a learning lesson for releasing the others that are blind. This will take the most time and patience depending on how well your trim removal tool works for releasing the tabs.
- Release the tabs across the top. I think left to right is easiest, with the right-most being difficult due to metal structures behind the cover.
- When releasing the right-most tab on the cover, you may have to carefully flex the cover and bumper to fully release and remove the cover from the car.
- Installation is easier. Take care to align the tabs and push gently till they snap in place.
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DudeCS, I did the center piece removal after dinner. I went slowly to avoid breaking anything. Thank you again for all the tips! I really appreciate it.
I found removing the two upper bolts to be rather easy. I think because I had to assemble and un assemble structures with wrenches in complete darkness while scuba diving in a silty bottomed lake years ago, I have the manual dexterity working “blind”. I used a stubby ratchet/open end wrench like you suggested. I did have to flex the cover a bit to fit my hands up there and once I loosened the bolts I put my pinky finger in the open end of the wrench and basically shook my hand back and forth creating the ratcheting motion. It worked beautifully and was fast! I used a 1” putty knife to release the tabs. I marked the tab areas using the new cover as a template as you suggested, which worked perfectly. The only part I had trouble with was releasing the two areas at the top left and right side of the removable center insert at the point where the bolts were removed. I believe that is what you were talking about when you said the upper left and right hand side take the little work. The ”tongue” on the bumper cladding is so long that I basically had to push the removable center piece in at that point while flexing the bumper cladding out To release the two. Took some cautious work, but finally the center piece dropped down. I disconnected the hands free lift gate sensor electrical plug from the center piece, put it aside and will complete the harness and hitch install tomorrow.
Thank you again for your easy to follow, informative instructions. If you ever find yourself in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, write a post and I’ll buy you some beers.
I found removing the two upper bolts to be rather easy. I think because I had to assemble and un assemble structures with wrenches in complete darkness while scuba diving in a silty bottomed lake years ago, I have the manual dexterity working “blind”. I used a stubby ratchet/open end wrench like you suggested. I did have to flex the cover a bit to fit my hands up there and once I loosened the bolts I put my pinky finger in the open end of the wrench and basically shook my hand back and forth creating the ratcheting motion. It worked beautifully and was fast! I used a 1” putty knife to release the tabs. I marked the tab areas using the new cover as a template as you suggested, which worked perfectly. The only part I had trouble with was releasing the two areas at the top left and right side of the removable center insert at the point where the bolts were removed. I believe that is what you were talking about when you said the upper left and right hand side take the little work. The ”tongue” on the bumper cladding is so long that I basically had to push the removable center piece in at that point while flexing the bumper cladding out To release the two. Took some cautious work, but finally the center piece dropped down. I disconnected the hands free lift gate sensor electrical plug from the center piece, put it aside and will complete the harness and hitch install tomorrow.
Thank you again for your easy to follow, informative instructions. If you ever find yourself in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, write a post and I’ll buy you some beers.
Happy that the information provided was helpful for you. Yes, it was very satisfying to remove the bumper cover without damaging anything.
Thanks for the offer! Conditions permitting, we will be passing through Wisconsin along I-90 in a few weeks. You are quite far north in Wisconsin! It looks like a beautiful area. We will have to explore northern Wisconsin at a future time.
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