Third Brake Light

Discussion in 'Technical' started by mojo, Oct 30, 2011.

  1. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    839
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    Anyone did the rear deck brake light? I have a 6 section LED I intend to use in that configuration. Thinkin abt going to the brake sw - not sure if I shud use the grn/red tracer or grn wire tap. Have not got arnd to testing the voltage going to and frm the sw. Lookin at the wiring chart the grn/red is resistance wire. Maybe I shud figure out something else? Cud buy another unit and just hook in the tail light wires and forget the brk sw. Any ideas? :hmmm:
     
    mojo, Oct 30, 2011
    #1
  2. mercgt73

    mercgt73 Member Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2003
    Messages:
    3,831
    Likes Received:
    359
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Eastern Shore, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    1973 Comet GT (clone), 1974 Mustang II, 1980 Bobcat Wagon
    If you hook into the tail light wires, your third brake light will blink with your turn signals. This is because our cars share 1 bulb filament for turn signals and brake lights.

    You should tap off of the switched side of the brake lamp switch. I do not know which wire is the switched side, just gotta test it to see.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2011
    mercgt73, Oct 30, 2011
    #2
  3. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    839
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    I plan on testing the brk light sw. Im wondering if the resistance wire is the one, will it provide nuff volts to op the LED'S?
    I have already discovered the added light will blink w/ the turn sigs - I tried it already. I figured it might frm lookin at the wiring diaghram. Just hoping someone had done the upgrade and cud put me on the right path. Thanks!
     
    mojo, Oct 30, 2011
    #3
  4. cactusgrabber

    cactusgrabber Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2009
    Messages:
    767
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Vehicle:
    72 Grabber
    Hi Everett, I agree with Rusty.

    You want to wire in with the Green output wire straight off the Brake switch.

    You were correct in going right off the brake switch. (The Green Wire) Some people try wiring straight to the Brake light bulbs, and find out that the 3rd brake light will come on with the turn signals also.

    You should have enough voltage for the LED 3rd Brake light to operate. Let us know if they don't act right, and what brand they are if so.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2011
    cactusgrabber, Oct 30, 2011
    #4
  5. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    839
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    Ok Roger! Thks for the info.. "Green Wire" .. I will post here agn when I get arnd to testing it. Got lots of things going now trying to get ready for the winter. Being a former midwesterner; you know where im coming from:rofl2:
     
    mojo, Oct 31, 2011
    #5
  6. maverick75

    maverick75 Gotta Love Mavs!

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2005
    Messages:
    9,018
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Location:
    Riverside, California
    Vehicle:
    The mav is gone but i'm still here!
    maverick75, Oct 31, 2011
    #6
  7. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    839
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    Soooo- what were the results? Where did u make the initial hookup?
     
    mojo, Oct 31, 2011
    #7
  8. maverick75

    maverick75 Gotta Love Mavs!

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2005
    Messages:
    9,018
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Location:
    Riverside, California
    Vehicle:
    The mav is gone but i'm still here!
    I removed it because I did the wiring wrong. I honestly cant remember what I tapped into, but it was wrong anyways.

    I bet I could hook it up correctly now, when I was 16 I knew nothing about car wiring. And now a days I can tune Honda/Acura OBD 0/1 ECUs via a laptop. I think that's a great improvement :)
     
    maverick75, Oct 31, 2011
    #8
  9. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    839
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    I wud have to agree.
    Im going to give it a shot as soon as I can get arnd to it; I gettin ready for winter here now. Checkin snow throwers and doing outside stuff.
     
    mojo, Oct 31, 2011
    #9
  10. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe
    When I was doing my carpet, I ran a wire from the brake light switch to the trunk area. Never hooked it up yet. I bought a 3rd brake light at pull a part out of a small Ford, might have been a Conture or Escort, that had the proper slope for the back glass, but you would have to make a stand to sit it on to make it high enough. I shelved the idea for a while until I can find one of the LED lights that are thinner. The one I bought is just too tall and takes up too much of the back glass.....
     
    ford84stepside, Nov 1, 2011
    #10

Share This Page