Fastback Third Brake Light for under $5

[nba1341]

I decided to add an easily removable third brake light to my 65 fastback for many reasons.

I started with this ($3.19):
New 15 SMD LED Red Strip Car Flexible Light Bar Line - eBay (item 330448178647 end time Aug-31-10 13:04:29 PDT)



Tinted it with 20% and cut out holes for the lights and painted exposed wire black so it looked like this:


Ran wire from brake switch and added these quick disconnects to it and installed it under this beam. It can be removed in 5 minutes by taking off that beam (2 screws) and disconnecting the quick connects.



Here is what it looks like installed. Was attached with the 3M tape that came with it:



Here it is ON during the day:




In Garage:





And at night:




So thats it a third brake light that can be removed in 5 minutes and is pretty small and not very noticeable. I like it and it gives me piece of mind and to know it can be easily removed is another plus. The pictures with exposed wire hanging down were before I installed it btw. Could also be installed in the lower window but I liked it up top but would be easy to hide wires both ways of course.

Opinions?

[pprince]

That is actually a really good solution.

When I first read the subject I thought "omg".

Good job.

[68EFIvert]

That is very clean. Nice job.

[wilit]

That sir, is awesome.

[Matt_W]

What a great safety addition, I think I will now have to add one to my car as that really looks pretty unnoticeable. Well done!
What did you stick it to inside the car? The only thing I have in that area is the headliner and backlite gasket. Do fastbacks have an interior panel there?

[Patches]

The only possible problem might be the additional current load through the switch.
The LED's don't draw much power, but if one were to use incandescent lamps it might require a relay.
That's my guess anyway.

[nba1341]

Thanks for the replies guys

Originally Posted by Matt_W

What a great safety addition, I think I will now have to add one to my car as that really looks pretty unnoticeable. Well done!
What did you stick it to inside the car? The only thing I have in that area is the headliner and backlite gasket. Do fastbacks have an interior panel there?

I attached it to the window gasket which is just thick enough to fit it in its entirety. Not sure about coupes I'm sure its similar?

Originally Posted by Patches

The only possible problem might be the additional current load through the switch.
The LED's don't draw much power, but if one were to use incandescent lamps it might require a relay.
That's my guess anyway.

The led adds less than 300ma of current. I would imagine some of the people that add 3 incandescent for sequential or halogens would have more of a problem?

[GypsyR]

Very nice. I got the third brake light off the roof of an S10 Blazer with the intention of doing the same thing. Shelved that project though. The light is nice, low profile and already dark tinted. Close to ideal for being hidden when not on. But...it is rigid plastic and has a slight curve to it. The curve is exactly backwards from what I need. The LED strip you used looks a lot more suitable. Thanks for sharing.

[CRUZZAR]

Do you get any glare onto the rear glass at night when the third brake light comes on or is it protected by the window gasket and rear roof bulkhead?

[nba1341]

Originally Posted by CRUZZAR

Do you get any glare onto the rear glass at night when the third brake light comes on or is it protected by the window gasket and rear roof bulkhead?

About the same glare as when you drive by a streetlight overhead. It really does not affect driving at all and if you use the NIGHT option on your rear view mirror this doesn't exist.

[68_GT]

nice I have been wanting to do something like this for my coupe but would mount it at the bottom of the window not the top like a truck

[Rockymtnmare]

Mounted an LEd one on the package tray.