LED 3'rd Brake Light MOD Finished!

[effexfour]

A few weeks ago at work I replaced a 3'rd brake light in a VW Rabbit, so obviously the first thing that came into my mind was to build the led's into a Ranger 3'rd brake light.
Parts

Soldered stock plug onto LED strip and tested it out.

Cut out the lens backing to make room for the led's. And flattend out the section that separated the center and side bulb areas to have somewhere to glue the strip onto, level and securely.

Cut 3 led's of either side of the strip to fit into the Ranger lens and glued the led's into the len's with 2-part plastic cement.

Taped-up the back of the lamp to keep out dirt and keep too much red light from glowing into the interior light.

OFF

ON

 

[daniel3507]

good work. looks nice and bright and dont have to worry about it burning out for awhile

 

[exbass94]

Looks great. I was thinking of doing something similar but I ended up going the lazy and expensive route and bought an LED third brake light.

 

[effexfour]

Looks great. I was thinking of doing something similar but I ended up going the lazy and expensive route and bought an LED third brake light.

thanks!!
I was going to buy one as well, but had the parts to do it so i figured I would give it a shot and see how it turned out.. and it came out surprisingly well!

 

[baxtej44]

i think my 3rd light is just out. i have a topper on my bed, but i am pretty sure it still is out.


is it illegal to have that out? i wouldn't think so since you still have the two tailights (another thing that just went out... driving light on my rear right... not the brake light, just like the light that is on permanently with the night driving lights on.)

and i JUST replaced a headlight.. so annoying hah.

 

[daniel3507]

i went a different route than both of you. the cheep easy way and just bought LED bulbs for it.

i think, that all of the brake lights and tail lights you are equipped with must be working by law. sounds like you have some bulbs to replace.

 

[effexfour]

I was going to do that as well but decided to try something different. I ordered those bulbs from superbrightleds.com to do my tail lights with.

 

[daniel3507]

how do the tail light bulbs show up durring the day? any pics maybe?

 

[effexfour]

how do the tail light bulbs show up durring the day? any pics maybe?

I am on my way out now, I will take my camera and get a daytime shot.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

looks great!! i might try this someday...

 

[5speedin2.3]

So.. The LED strip is out of a VW Rabbit?

 

[5speedin2.3]

i think my 3rd light is just out. i have a topper on my bed, but i am pretty sure it still is out.


is it illegal to have that out? i wouldn't think so since you still have the two tailights (another thing that just went out... driving light on my rear right... not the brake light, just like the light that is on permanently with the night driving lights on.)

and i JUST replaced a headlight.. so annoying hah.

I thought Ford started using the 3rd brakelight in 93.

The 3rd brakelight is a safety issue but isn't required if the vehicle didn't come with it from the factory.

 

[effexfour]

 

[effexfour]

So.. The LED strip is out of a VW Rabbit?

Yes it's out of a new rabbit, the brake light in the tailgate spoiler. I do collision repair on imports (mostly German) so I get all kinds of cool stuff off of them. This one was a little too long so i had to cut 3 led's off either end.

 

[5speedin2.3]

Yes it's out of a new rabbit, the brake light in the tailgate spoiler. I do collision repair on imports (mostly German) so I get all kinds of cool stuff off of them. This one was a little too long so i had to cut 3 led's off either end.

Oh ok.

I got a wiring harness from one with cargo lights. Then I cut it and spliced it with some butt connectors. It's nice and bright.