Installation of Hopkins Backup Sensor System with Audible Alert on 2015 Honda Civic

Question:

I have a 2015 Honda Civic LX Coupe, certainly no exotic but it is my daily driver and I am concerned about tapping into the backup light harness. I am not certain how to find it or where to locate the ground. I watched your install videos and while they are very informative they are filming an installer skilled at and comfortable with what is to them an easy task and to me a monumental one. The rest of the install is no problem, it is just that wire splicing, and locating the correct wire and where to locate the ground as it was much different on the Traverse than on the Jetta. Any remedial tips would be much appreciated. Thank you.

asked by: Dennis

Expert Reply:

I can certainly help walk you through the install of the Hopkins Backup Sensor System # HM60100VA on your 2015 Honda Civic. In order to determine what wire at your taillight assembly is reserved for the reverse lights, you will want to use a circuit tester.

I recommend the # PTW2993 circuit tester because it uses both a light and sound to show when there is signal on a wire. I have attached a review video that will go over some of the features and how test a wire with the circuit tester.

You will want to use the circuit tester to find the wire at the rear of the taillight assembly that only has signal when the car is in reverse. I wish I could tell you exactly what color the wire will be, but we do not have a guide to vehicle manufacturer wiring functions by color. Once you've found the wire that only has signal when the vehicle is in reverse, this is the wire you will want to splice into for the # HM60100VA's red reverse signal wire.

To ground the black wire in the # HM60100VA's wiring harness, I recommend using a ring terminal # DW05737-1 and self tapping screw # 101131802. It is best to secure the ground to an area on the vehicle where the sheet metal is doubled over. It is easier to use a ring terminal to ground the wire than to try and determine which wire in the vehicle factory wiring harness is the designated ground wire.

If you have any further questions about installing the Hopkins Backup Sensor System # HM60100VA, please feel free to let me know.