To anybody who has they're outside 3rd brake light. Has anyone ever had the problem of the 3rd brake light not working? i wanted to un-bolt the 2 black plastic ***** from the inside but the it wouldnt budge. So I got a wrench and snappppp. I broke the damb thing. So I wrapped some copper wire in between the **** and the glsss so that I can atleast have an operating brake light. You see, I believe that there was a connection problem due to rust. So it didnt work. Has anyone every modified the area? Im thinking of drilling out the bolts to use a diffent bolt and nut. Any ideas fellaz? On one of the pictures, youll see that the ring terminal is sunkin while the other is good.

 

no pics.

make sure the connector on top of the rear cargo cover is in good shape, thats where the power comes from. The copper plates could be painted/corroded and not making good contact.

 

There is must be a mistake. I had pictures up last night. Any way, I checked with a voltimeter. I went the whol enine yards (continuity test, voltage test, ground and nothing. So I pulled off the whole bulb base and did a direct connection to the battery and it lit up. So I messed around some more and I have concluded that it must be rust because of the condition of the terminal. Here is the link to the pictures- https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...3rd-brake.html

If you have any ideas, you can post in either thread. I just wanted to spread the issue so that I can get a better chance of getting some advice.

 

eh, i see rust, but i really dont think the problem is there.

do you have voltage at the connection at the base of the hatch, on the rearmost interior panel. Its the rectangular thing with 4 little metal squares on it. The hatch has a little arm with 2 feet that stick down and contact that strip. Make sure there is power there.

 

Yeah theres power everywhere. As a matter of fact, I took my daughter to the hospital last night and I realized that there was some red light coming into the hatch area. I looked back and the brake light was working. So I stopped and asked my daughter to hit the brakes and sure enough, it lit up. So I moved the housing around (it's loose) and the light went back out. It would flicker on and off. So yes there is power there. I just need to figure out how Im going to do my own custom job so avoid this problem later down the road. I was thinking about using some small bolts with rubber washers to prevent the water from reaching them. Then I was thinking of replacing those 23 year old wires and terminals. What do you think?

 

the wires really goes bad, just the terminals and connections. The connectors in the light are probably fine, its just the ones that bolt through the hatch. bolts rubber washers and silicon will work, just make sure you dont have a metal on glass connection to risk shattering the hatch glass.

 

So how do I to make good contact on the metal film on the inside of the glass if I dont use a metal washer to make contact.

 

well, no choice i guess, just dont go crazy tight.

you might as well wait until you get the plastic bolt things out. not sure myself how they come apart. Im not sure how the hatch wire is attached to the lights wire. Might be as simple as fixing a loose connection?

 

I agree about not tightening to tight. Im planning to drill out and removing the two black ***** (inside glass) and using a skinny bolt and large washer to cover a greater area of stress when I lightly tighten the bolt. Then since the bolt and washer is a chrome metal color, I am planning to paint them with a permanent marker or even coat them with black silicon so that it can look like a soft type of material. Well then, as soon I complete my custom job, Ill post up some pictures so that you can see te final results. Thanks for the advice //<86TA>\\. Ill hit you up later. Peace.