jbbons25

iTrader: (2)

As Summer is kicking in, the heat, 18W light bulbs and the reflectors inside the 3rd brake light housing warped the lens enough to come off by itself. I don't want to deal with that again so I decided to make an LED 3rd brake light. So I went to Radio Shack to get a perf board and some resistors. My dad had some red high flux LEDs laying around, so I don't know their specifications.

I cut the board to fit on the 3rd brake light housing and mounted some LEDs to see the best setup. This is what I came up with.



So I soldered everything up, used the wiring connector harness from the old one, got a lens from the local junkyard and put it together.







Doesn't look too bad. Surprised it came out just as bright as the tail lights. I might consider playing with different LEDs to see if can be improved on.

Amerikaner83

iTrader: (17)

Looks great

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

Looks good. I'd like to do the same to my 3rd brake light

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

I like that. But it brings a question to mind. On the 4th and 5th gens when you add led lamps as tail lights, the cruise control will stop working. I can't remember if this was a problem with the 3rd gens as well. Otherwise I'd be tempted to try it.

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

^I dont have that problem.

I have full 3-row LED tails, and two 12-SMD led panels in my third brake light.

My CC works fine

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Good stuff...a step by step thread would have been dope but props either way!!

DMad8724

iTrader: (4)

Nice. Looks classy!! Not to mention removing the 3BL is, well not a PITA, but just lame. Nice Mod

maxima278

iTrader: (3)

I always wondered if there was room inside the center garnish for LEDs.... Never took one apart. I thought it might be cool to have LEDs all the way across...

Ray229Harris

sweeeeeet

tosheto

iTrader: (5)

I like how this look. Very well done!

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Now do up some matching tail lights...

jbbons25

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the compliments guys

All it takes to remove the 3BL is undoing a clip on each side, lift and disconnect cable. Didn't have any issues taking it out
Ehhh not sure if it would look nice. You could probably add LEDs on the edges of the garnish like the Chanlleger. That's as far as I would go.
I was considering it, but I'm not sure what LEDs to use or how to start. I saw kzoosho's LED tails before the pics were no longer available, but I didn't like the look of a bunch of hotspots on the tails. A diffuser may help that though, but I haven't started doing anythingyet.

maxima278

iTrader: (3)

I was staring at the tail lights on a Dodge Dart tonight thinking about just what you were talking about. I was trying to imagine them doing that wall to wall ring or fill the tail lights and trim the center garnish, but I'm definitely off of wanting to fill the whole thing... It would be too much.

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

I'd like to do this to my 3rdgen...would look sick with the 3rd brake light OP fabbed up.

FLmaxlife

where did you get your led tail light asemeblys from tigersharkdude

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Niiiice!! Now hook up the actual tail lights with the led's!!