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LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Printable Version

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LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - insite94 - 02-09-2005

Consider this a shameless plug for http://www.968engineering.com/



I just had Dave Greimann redo my 3rd brakelight with LEDs and they look great. I didn't know it, but I was driving around with 5 of the 7 previously burned out.



I have no affiliation, just a satisfied customer, etc. But I'm really pleased with the bright "fixed right and shining bright" look of the new LED array...



...reasonable price, fast turnaround, especially valuable for those of us without the time or skills to pull this off.



Thanks, Dave! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Best,



Buzz

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Greimann - 02-09-2005

And a big bitte schön back at ya.



Here is Buzz's car:

   

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Anchorman - 02-10-2005

That does look pretty awesome. If I can't achieve my first goal (eliminating the third brake light), I may go this route. I need to spend some time figuring out if I can pass NJ vehicle inspection without a third brake light.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Dave - 02-12-2005

Having wrestled with those little bulbs and tossed a couple of tools around the garage, this sure looks like a great option!

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Duckman - 02-13-2005

I wish I'd known about it a month ago. I had the same problem as manyof you. Only four of my bulbs were working. Bummer. I tried to replace them, only to fix it so well that then I couldn't get any of them to work. The problem turned out to be corrosion. Bummer.



So, in the end I bought a replacement. At least now it works.



Hey, Dave! Want to convert my old one?

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - chazmink - 02-13-2005

Anchorman,

I am afraid you will fail NJ inspection without the third brake light. I remember being lectured at the inspection station a couple of years ago with the inspector pointed out to me the the third brake light was a federal requirement and there was no way I would pass with it burned out.

Charlie



P.S. In case you don't remember me, we shared a table at Hershey last year and I won the high mileage award for my last 968.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Dave - 02-13-2005

Duckman - I may want to take you up on that. I have 5 of 7 bulbs working now (best I could do), so if you want to get rid of your old one please let me know.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Duckman - 02-13-2005

Well, right now it's just laying around in the garage. New these little suckers are expensive but I haven't a clue what they're worth used in non-working order. Probably zero. Remember that it's only value is as a core.



I'll donate it to the cause for the price of shipping. That way you can have it retrofitted with LED while still using your partially operating current light. Afterward, you could donate your old one to the next forum member.



Let me know.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Greimann - 02-13-2005

I did my conversion in July of 2004. So far still working flawlessly. Lots of stoplights in my town, and lots of trips to the grocery store where the hatch has to get slammed shut <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - flash - 02-13-2005

the inspector would have been wrong - if all he had to go by ws the federal laws, they only require that it be on cars brought into the country, and new oles sold here - it does not require that they be on the car to operate on the highway - that is up to the states - jersey may require it, but the inspector was wrong to say that it was a federal requirement

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - chazmink - 02-13-2005

The inspector may have been wrong about the federal requirement but I don't think there is any way you can get through state insepection in NJ without a third brake light if the car is newer than 1986 (or whenever it was that they became standard equipment). A private inspection facility might miss it but probably not.

Charlie

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - 968gene - 02-13-2005

Here's some info:

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108

S5.1.1.27 (a) Except as provided in paragraph "B" of this section,

each passenger car manufactured on or after September 1, 1985, and each

multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, and bus, whose overall width is

less than 80 inches, whose GVWR is 10,000 pounds or less, manufactured

on or after September 1, 1993, shall be equipped with a high-mounted

stop lamp…



I can't find in either the NJ or CA code where a third brake light is required...but then again, can the state have a lower standard then required by federal law? By the way, the debate over rear clear lenses always goes back to the FMVSS No. 108 if states have questions about the legality.



I like the idea of modifying TechArt spoiler to include a 3rd light and deleting the factory one (on a cab), although I have not seen this yet.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - flash - 02-13-2005

that's absolutely correct - it does not require that the light be there to operate, only that it be manufactured with it - nice loophole - the constitution establishes what the federal govern can and cannot control - they cannot control what is required to operate a vehicle on public highways - that is a state thing - they do have control over the standards to which things are made and approved for sale - odd but true

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Dave - 02-14-2005

Duckman - Shot you an e-mail on this. Please let me know if you received it.



Thanks,

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - raydog - 02-14-2005

[quote name='flash' date='Feb 13 2005, 06:31 PM']that's absolutely correct - it does not require that the light be there to operate, only that it be manufactured with it - nice loophole - the constitution establishes what the federal govern can and cannot control - they cannot control what is required to operate a vehicle on public highways - that is a state thing - they do have control over the standards to which things are made and approved for sale - odd but true

[right][post="696"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Flash that's rediculous! That's like saying that headlights are required but they don't have to work. You are comparing apples to oranges. The Feds make the laws regarding vehicle safety and it's up to the individual state to make sure items like a 3rd brakelight works at the time of inspection.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Greimann - 02-14-2005

[quote name='raydog' date='Feb 14 2005, 02:43 PM']Flash that's rediculous!

[right][post="751"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



"Flash I disagree" would be a more appropriate statement. Lets keep this civil. If we are going off track, lets make it an orderly train wreck. please.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - flash - 02-14-2005

california does not require lighting inspections at all (at least not regular ones like other states - i've never had one on any of my cars) - so, in a nutshell, that is exactly what i am saying - it is a state by state thing

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - BigL2U - 02-15-2005

[quote name='flash' date='Feb 14 2005, 07:12 PM']california does not require lighting inspections at all (at least not regular ones like other states - i've never had one on any of my cars) - so, in a nutshell, that is exactly what i am saying - it is a state by state thing

[right][post="754"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Wow - That's interesting..



Here in MD, you're only required to have a vehicle inspected the first time you (the owner) register it. If your lights aren't working properly you will fail an inspection. After initial inspection, if the lights on the vehicle aren't working properly, the popo will write you a citation to have the light repaired or can write a citation requiring you to have a re-inspection. If you don't get the item fixed your registration will be revoked.



It must be like playing dodge ball driving in Cali at night.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Duckman - 02-15-2005

For what it's worth, I think Flash's point was accurate. A law requiring manufacturing standards is very different from what a car must have to operate on the road.



A case in point is any kit car you choose to mention. They are sold as rolling chassis, rather than finished automobiles. The buyer has to buy the engine and transmission separately, hence the cars are exempt from federal manufacturing standards. Many of them don't meet those standards but they are perfectly legal to own and operate.



If you want to think or say that laws such as these are silly, that's your prerogative. However, being silly doesn't make it incorrect. A case in point was the ridiculous helmet law in the state of Delaware. In Delaware a rider must have a helmet on the motorcycle but doesn't have to wear it. Many riders rode around with their helmets strapped to the back of their seats. Very silly but not illegal.



My guess is that any car equipped with a third brake light would fail if the light isn't operable. However, the same car without a third brake light at all would pass inspection. Just a guess.

LED 3rd brakelight upgrade - Anchorman - 02-15-2005

If I do anything, probably my safest answer - but by far not the least expensive - is to remove the brake oight from the trunk lid (where I think it is totally unbecoming) and install a 996 light I have in the body where the "968" currently resides. That'll give a more integrated look, similar to the BMW 3-series convertible. For the moment, though, it's staying where it is (and I have to replace a bulb).