I know it is not the best location, but is it cheesy? Third brake light

[Scott S]

Hi All -
I was thinking of converting the rear fog light on my 77 to an additional/third brake light. I know the location is not great, just looking for some additional awareness without altering the car (adding an additional window mounted light).

Thoughts?


Thanks -
Scott S

[OffCamber00]

Not cheesy - just not sure how useful. What is the driver for a third light anyway? Are the other two broken?

[wildthing]

IIRC the third brake light was for trucks who are high up and may not see the regular brake lights when they are close. So since the fog light is at the same level I don't see it working for that purpose.

Which set of drivers were you planning to make more aware?

[Flojo]

... and it does not fit the design of an early-up-to-89-911 at all (thumbsdown)

[Scott S]

Nope, they both work fine. Just a level of paranoia. Our brake lights just seem so small compared to everything else on the road, and I would like to drive the car more regularly this summer (to the office, etc). My commute is 45 minutes and not on anysort of highway - all stop and go.

I was actually going to see if I could modify the rear fog by adding an additional bulb (or a dual element socket/bulb) so I could retain the rear fog function if needed.

I dont know - just thinking out loud......

[Craig_D]

Hi Scott, I've replaced my rear incandescent bulbs with very bright LED bulbs, and have also added an electric/mechanical brake light switch (instead of the slow acting hydraulic brake light actuator).

I've found that more people are paying attention to my car now, and I can wake them from their peripheral vision method of driving.

I have some links for these I'll look for.

[TCracingCA]

On the back of your helmet!

[Craig_D]

Here's my mechanical brake light switch THREAD

Here's a video of the LED turn signals, and the LED rear running lights (No brake light actuation)

Video 1

Here's a night time video of the LED turn signals, and the LED running and brake lights:

Video 2

[wwest]

I retrofitted the '88 style High mount brake light to my 78, simple job.

[Reiver]

Source for the led lights?

[Rikao4]

these days ..
folks are looking for the light- bar..
tail-lights are so..
confusing.. is what they mean to say, but won't..

have one & it's saved the P numerous times..


Rika

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by Reiver

Source for the led lights?

Fellow Pelican Etarga is your man, and who I bought mine from.

At the tail end of THIS THREAD, you'll find tons of the LED discussions from brake lights, to turn signals, and LED Gauge lights.

[RSBob]

I used the fog as my third brake light back in 1980. Then I read that the reason the 3rd brake light is so effective is that they are pretty much at eye level and are hard to ignore. So then I ditched the fog brake and moved to a very small high intensity LED strip which is not really visible when not activated. Solution found. So you may have an alternative but chances are its ineffective unless it is aimed right into people's retinas

[Algernon]

Originally Posted by Scott S

Nope, they both work fine. Just a level of paranoia. Our brake lights just seem so small compared to everything else on the road, and I would like to drive the car more regularly this summer (to the office, etc). My commute is 45 minutes and not on anysort of highway - all stop and go.

I was actually going to see if I could modify the rear fog by adding an additional bulb (or a dual element socket/bulb) so I could retain the rear fog function if needed.

I dont know - just thinking out loud......

Hi Scott,
there are lots of LED third stop lights available for high up inside the back window - trouble is most either stick (or come unstuck) from the glass, or require attaching (irreversibly) to the car itself. I didn't want to alter the car in any way, so I bolted a tiny aluminum extension tongue to a 'bolt-on' LED unit, and just slipped it under the top of the rear window seal. I ran a couple small wires into engine bay via the access tube used by the rear window heater, and T-ed into the stop light wiring.
hope this helps,
Algernon