3rd brake light flashers

I have noticed that the 3rd brake light on some cars flashes, then goes on steady when the brakes are applied. Does anyone know of a source for these? I am assuming that it is an aftermarket item.

I just got rear ended in my Subaru for the 2nd time since moving to SC. I need to get these SOB's attention.

Thanks, Chuck

Ouch. You okay?

Chuck, That sucks! I have one on my car, I think I got the site address from the PCA site. I'll look and if I can find it I'll post it.

here ya go Chuck, It's a cinch to install right under the rear grill. There are pics on the 356 Registry site in the Tech Area under Safety, not the PCA site, sorry.

http://www.brakeflasher.com/

I'm OK, thanks. I don't want an add on light. I am looking for a device that will make the OEM 3rd brake light flash. I noticed a 90's Nissan Maxima with one the other day. When the brakes are applied, the 3rd light flashes rapidly for a few seconds then comes on steady.

BTW, the nurse that hit me (hard!)while I was stopped at a light drove off when the light changed, even though I motioned for her to pull to the side of the road. She claimed that she did not know she had hit anyone. 3 hours later she rolled & totaled her Lexus SUV when leaving a Dr's office. She called me the next day and was barely coherent. It's scary that people like this are out on the road.

We got one of those rascals for our Subaru Forrester...Diana has been rear-ended three times in that car.This last wallop was a testament to how well built these little SUVs are. She claims the problem is my Raiders decal in the window.

Chuck, since moving to SC myself I've come to believe that all these folks are NASCAR wannabees and think drafting is a good driving technique. YOu can buy those flashers at auto parts stores or online. Usually they have a tunable delay before they go on steady. I think they're pretty cheap.

As for the nurse, she'd probably just pulled a double shift and was oblivious to the fact that she was driving a car. Yeah, kinda scary.

Where in SC are you? I'm down in Mount Pleasant outside of Charleston along with a couple of other Speedsters.

Maybe get in touch with Gordon. He has just about the coolest third brake light that I've ever seen. Really smooth and highly functional and totally integrated. It looks like it came as standard equipment.

I'll bet that the blinking-then-steady function is the relay/wiring, not the light itself.

Although . . .

Guys, I think he's talking about for his Subaru.

Oh CRAP ! ! !

Sorry Chuck. Duh, if I'd read the post I would have figured that out. All that said, if there isn't any other way to get what you're looking for the light I used came with suction cups, it may not look pretty but it would get the attention of the morons behind you.

Lane: I am in the upstate, outside of Greenville. My personal theory on SC drivers' poor driving skills is that it's a combination of the NASCAR wannabees along with SC being consistantly ranked as 49th or 50th in public education. 50% of 8th graders in SC will not graduate from high school.

Body shop says today that there is some minor frame damage to the rear end. Swell!

Thanks for the input guys.

Chuck
(I may live in SC, but I'm from VA.)

you and me both chuck... I was raised on the ocean in VA Beach and berated on the roads now... in Charleston! I lived in DC for 15 years and my car insurance since moving to Charleston has increased almost 50% more and I am now married and over age of 35... they said that you are 10x more likely to get in a car accident here than any place in the country? I guess lack of mass transit (well any transit for that matter) has a lot to do with that? That and Directional/blinkers are optional.

Chuck:

You can try at the local stores like Carquest, but also check the on-line catalog of J.C. Whitney - probably find one there, too.

I'm down in Beaufort. Hard to say which county in SC has the worst education rate, but at least they all match "INC" magazine's rating of our beloved Guv'ner Sanford; Worst in the Nation. hmmmm... Wonder if it's because he's discouraging new business development in the state in favor of a low-paying "Service Economy" for the benefit of the hoards of in-coming retirees??

When I got my new ford pickup in '74 it had no rear bumper - optional in those days. I bought one of those six inch tall C-channel steel bumpers, reinforced it with a weld-on frame mounted trailer hitch, and spray painted it all silver. Got rear ended at least three times in the next 22 years. It probably cost the other guys many thousands of dollars to fix all their cars. Cost me three cans of silver spray paint. Damn fine deterrent.

Here's a link to a device that will flash your existing third brake light:

http://www.formymercedes.com/mb_results.asp?model=W163&class=m-class&category=LED+Brake+Lights+

Oggie - that Mercedes device sounds remakably like a simple turn signal flasher, which you can buy for about $3.00 at Pep Boys. Of course, different flashers only work in specific cars, dependent on their bulb wattage. But $39? Sounds llike you're paying for the engineering development every time you buy one. Of course it is "made" for Mercedes if that means something. Feels like rip-off city to me. But like you said - here is a device that will flash the brake light!

It seems a bit more sophisticated than just a flasher, which would flash your brake lights steadily on and off, like a turn signal.
With this device, your brake lights would go "blink-blink-blink-blink" rapidly, then revert to steady on for 3.5 seconds, and then cycle through again.

Here's how it's described:

"Maximize your Brake Light Effectiveness with BackOFF. This compact solid state electronic module converts ordinary brake lights into an attention getting "wake up" and "get off the cell phone" alerting device, creating more visibility when braking or stopped. With BackOFF installed your brake lights will automatically flash on/off 4 times, followed by "steady on" for 3.5 seconds. This sequence automatically repeats itself as long as the brakes are applied. This pattern is not random, but has been selected because of its ability to gain and retain following drivers attention."

For the brake light system you're describing, take a look at Motorcycle supply houses.
For example:
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?store=Main&catId=220&leafCatId=22006&brand=62

Greg

Thanks for all the input. This is what I ended up ordering. I'll post a follow up when it arrives.

http://www.comagination.com/bflasher.htm

Chuck

I installed the brake light flasher last nite on the Subaru. It works great... lights flash 4 times then come on solid. I think that I will order another for the Speedster.

http://www.comagination.com/bflasher.htm

Chuck