Third Brake Light

I know I have one inside the grill on my car but it doesn't light. I can take a picture of it and maybe get a part number off of it for you. I have no idea how they wired it because I cannot see the wires. I'll take a closer look tonight.

Do a search on on the subject. It was been around the block a few times. For me it was easy. A self stick LED red light strip from any auto parts house for $10. with only two wires to run to a brake light. The hardest part was fitting it under the grill, but once there press and stick.

Pep Boys sells a red LED strip(two in the pack) that has a 3M tape backing. I stuck one of the strips at the top edge of my grill (On the fiberglass edge that extends lower than the aluminum grill) and ran the wires down to the back of one of my stop lights. I spliced into the stop circuit, now I have a 3rd brake light, only thing is it also blinks when I use my turn signal but it does get attention. The wire on the led string is not long enough so be prepared to add some wire. Somewhere here OR NOT are pictures of it I posted when the site was user friendly.

There should be a power wire (from one of the brake light "hot" wires) and a ground.

Since the brake lights and the turn signal lights use the same bulb - you need a 3rd brake light logic box to separate the "impulses".  Its about $10 - it prevents you 3rd brake light from flashing when your turn signals are on.  Suspect you could get a ticket or not pass inspection if the 3rd light flashes with your turn signals.

 

See Logic Box -

http://www.truckoutfittersplus...brake_lights.htm#lb1

Make sure that you don't wire it backwards because you will create a black hole.

TUB4STU - FWIW, because of my luggage rack, I use a license plate frame/brake light. If I have luggage on the rack, it would obscure a brake light located in the grill. I have one similar to the examples on this link, with the brake light on the top position of the license frame. Works very well. Choose one that fits your application and budget. There are other sites, just google 'License Plate Frame Brake Light'.

 

Peace-Out!    

 

http://www.shopwiki.com/l/Lice...With-3rd-Brake-Light

Great ideas and suggestions!! Many thanks to everyone!! 

 

I like the 1961 vw marker/turn lamp  paint the inside and out side  candy apple red and your all set. it matches the porche style trim nicely and is very visable..

 

 

 

 

 

I did what Nolam did using the 2 pack LED strips from Pep Boys, except I didnt have enough room to mount them between the grill and the fiberglass within the hood.  I opted for running them in two parallel strips vertically down the hood under the grill about 3 or 4 inches apart.

 

I played around with a few different mounting positions and found that there was a sufficient slope to the pannel under the grill that running the LED strips downward was very visible from behind, especially at night when the LEDs seem to light up a good portion of the grill box.

 

Wiring was easy.  I just tapped into the existing attachment for my driver's side brakelight.  The hardest part is running the two wires from the grill, around the hinge and into the engine compartment.  I took my time installing and think it took about 2-3 hours.

 

Hope that this helps, Grant   

@oldyeler...love the light...looks great!!! Would love to see other pics if possible to get ideas, and hey it gives you a chance to show off your car!!! 

Thanks again!!

STU

Started to order the logic box but OMG shipping and handling is $9.95!

Thanks Im not trying to brag Im always trying to make things look as if it was a factory add-on with a 50ish  lookt to it   my wiper and light switch bezels are 53 thru 57 ford truck has the words wipers and lights made into them. The 67 bus turn switch has a red simafhor style knob that lights up when signaling   the fog light knob  was a 66 ivory knob that i sanded down  and polishe to look like the early twin dizzy ignition switch knobs Note the hand brake with a combination lock.. The washer button on the foot rest was removed and i recovered the foot rest. Im useing 1990 ford truck wiper motor and switch it has intemitant wash and wipe built in it i re tapped the 66 vw knob to fit it and the early truck bezel still fit.

 

Ziggy - everything you've done to that car has turned out excellent! Brilliant work! 

The seats  started there life as 84 honda accord seats .I narrowed the seat and back frames  cut a wedge out of the rear seat frame to get it lower in the floor  and foolishly done a way with the head rest Now wish i had added the barrel back head rest  after having neck problens form time to time.

 

The arm rest are 96 Geo tracker i added a aluminum bead to them to match the drauz beads on the door caps

Thanks Jim But i have to thank The real 356er at the registry for letting me near thier cars at the rally i did my home work on the D conversion I don't like the seat decks eather i goofed on the tat butt seam it needs to be 2 inches more to the rear of the seat deck to help center your rear in the seat  they are still very comfortable but not quite correct. ( I tried)    But remember i made theses seats form Junk

 

 then theres the windows     (TILT))   It was tough  but worth it

You should be able to source a 3rd brake light logic box locally. Try a local PU cap place - they should have them in stock.  $6.95 at Summit and Amazon

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ppp-20-702

 

Pacer Performance part #20-702

I got the one on my beetle from JC Whitney.  But i still think the one on my D is more visable and less likely to be ignored..  By rubber necking a bumper basher,.

 

I just redid my 3rd light since it did blink with the turn signal (left side only). I added another LED strip and ran both along the side edge of the engine grill. Now the right one blinks with the right turn signal and the left blinks with the left turn signal. Both light up with the brakes and if the turn signal is flipped only the strip on that side blinks while the other stays steady with brakes applied. This is necessary since I have an automatic transmission and use the brakes at stop signs. Couldn't simulated them blinking but they do!

Nolan recently was very patient with my questions and gave me a complete overview and then a ride in his car.   When I noticed the third brake light was not working as expected,  Nolan quickly promised that this small issue would soon be resolved.  This car is gorgeous, flawless and very fast. Nolan certainly got my blood pressure up when pushed down on that excelerater.