you think that the bulb is getting too hot?

I would scrap the fan idea, it won't cool fast enough. Personally I would put a heatsink in there, maybe wrap one around the bulb partially... you figure it out, any good metal will take heat off the bulb..

also, maybe its the wrong bulb?

 

I was going to use two fans, one intake one exhaust but I think I'm going to scrap the idea. It's been working fine for about 2 weeks now and I don't want to cut my car up if I don't have to. If I can find an LED unit that fits there, I'd probably just buy that.

 

I'm actually fixing to make a bunch of these units... I'm gonna order a bunch of project boards off the net, and put in all these LEDS I bought, and fit them to all blinker spots...

 

i just need to figure out how to fix the part that actually holds the bulb.....damn thing won't hold the bulb in tight enough and it just works loose. tried glue one time when i was frustrated but that didn't last with the heat. things people do you know..

 

you could probably use some heat resistant adhesive, and just put a small amount, that way you can still yank it out later.

 

for a good heat resistant glue I would use Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive. You can get it here: http://www.crazypc.com/Merchant2/mer...duct_Code=5022 It's made for attaching heatsinks to hot computer chips, so I'm sure it will hold up to the heat.

 

that's great info....can it be found in stores anywhere though. maybe even a hobby type store? i hate buying things through the mail if i don't have too.

 

I'm sure it can, that is jsut where I get it because they're within the state (fast shipping). I'm sure most computer stores would have that product or another brand of the same thing available.

 

My '92 Z28 hatch brake light works fine after I modded it to accept a normal tail light bulb and socket instead of the very hot original. No problems after two years on the road.

 

what socket and bulb? i really don't care what's in it so long as it works. my wiring works but the damn thing gets too hot and it isn't like i'm holding the brakes on alot or something outrageous.

 

that's really weird... lets see, it says bulb "577" for the high-stop light... but it also says my fog lights are "93"... when they are H-3's... weird...

So even when you put a brand new bulb in, it overheats the bulb and the bulb stops working?

This sounds weird, but maybe somehow the bulb is getting TOO much voltage? Dunno...

Also, I have never heard of thermal adhesive for chips... sounds like a good idea, but I've only used the artic silver silicon paste (doesn't actually glue anything)

 

He's right. Thermal paste is only there to help transfer heat. It doesn't glue anything.

 

no need to dwell on it, the part that was referred was an adhesive and not a paste in its own.

 

imagine the 1LE guys trying to keep a third brake light working

 

It's actually an adhesive, It's quite strong, I've used to it to attach heatsinks to memory chips on my older video cards.
Anyways, the plastic got hot and deformed a bit and the bulb lost contact with the tabs, I just pried to tabs back slightly and put the bulb back in, it's been working for a couple weeks now. It seems to be a design error.

 

Here's a $5 permanent fix for '91-92 3rd Brake Lights...
...redid the graphic

 

Or you can do what I did and go this route.....

 

Except mine looks like this one......

I got it from this guy: http://members.aol.com/bluetpi/LED.html

(A REALLY GOOD DUDE!!!!)

 

 

Wow! These LED brake lights are great! Wish they were available when I needed to fix mine. Thanks for the lead.

 

vernw... I was just wondering, how do you know what resistors to use in the setup? You need to know the mw of the led itself (forward current), then the desired voltage is achieved once you know how many leds are used... I don't know the math...

For now I am just going to wire the leds to a resistor-type setup, but later I'm just using a voltage regulator.. because then when an led goes out, the rest won't just go out really quick...

 

You'll have to ask Brian Fisher that question (the guy who made mine). Here's his website again, access him off it:

http://members.aol.com/bluetpi/LED.html

or via e-mail to:

BLUETPI@aol.com

He can tell you for sure. I'd just be guessing.....

Sorry.



- Vern

 

Ive got a 92 convertible and ive never had a problem with my third brake light...the bulbs were replaced 2 years ago when we restored the car and it has been fine since. Ive noticed thought that yall have been reffering to the ones on the rear glass, but mine is in the rear spoiler.:hail:

 

mine is in the spoiler too, maybe that is why I haven't had a problem either.

 

Now, that's just one more reason why I must have a convertible!

 

I think it looks 10x better in the spoiler anyhow.