How to Troubleshoot the Interior Lights in a Honda CRV

The interior lights on a Honda CRV may burn out, or you may experience a blown fuse if you've owned your CRV for a number of years. The electrical system that ties into the interior lights is quite simple, so troubleshooting all of the interior lights can be done in about 15 minutes. If you need replacement lights, you can purchase them from any auto parts store.

Open the fuse panel cover under the steering wheel and locate the fuse puller on the fuse panel.

Use the fuse diagram on the underside of the fuse panel cover to locate the fuse for the interior lights.

Remove the fuse for the interior lights using the fuse puller and check the fuse. The metal strip inside the fuse should not be broken or damaged. If it is, replace the fuse with another fuse of the same amperage.

Check each individual interior light. If the fuse for the interior lights is good, then any lights not working will need a new bulb. Remove the lens cover on the interior light in question using a screwdriver. Wedge the screwdriver under the small notch on the end of the lens cover and pry the cover off. Pull the bulb straight out of the bulb terminal and insert the new bulb. Then replace the lens cover.

Check the manual light switch on the vehicle. The CRV has a manual override on some of the interior lights, such as the overhead dome light, that allows the light to be turned off manually. If this light was unintentionally switched to the "Off" position, the light will never come on. To correct this problem, simply set the switch to the middle position. This will cause the light to come on only when the door is open. Alternatively, you can set the switch to "On," and this will turn the light on regardless of whether the door is open or not.