Third brake light relocation

[g6civcx]

I would love to get rid of the third brake light, but federal and state law requires that all S13s have it. Plus the cops here are very strict.

I'm running the BN Sports MR2-style hatch. We all know what it looks like so I'll spare you the pictures.

I'm looking for ideas on where to put the third brake lights. I don't like the idea of cutting a hole into the ultra-rare hatch to mount the light.


I was thinking about a couple of ideas:

1) getting a trailer light and putting it either inside the rear windshield or taping the trailer light onto the center garnish where the reverse lights mount. The third brake light is very close to the garnish so it wouldn't be a big difference.

2) custom rigging an integrated brake light into the center garnish itself. I think this would be slick but would be hard to pull off without breaking the hard plastic.


Any comments or links?

[Ninjabread]

Maybe try using a coupe rear light? it goes in the back window, and you could probably find a way to mount it to the hatch.

[dori_sil8t]

00 celica high mount. mount it at the top of the hatch.(inside) or get a strip of leds. it'll be a bitch to wire but worth it in the end

[los_inc]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/G_13590G_CL_1.jpg
you can get a 16 LED 3rd brake light from jc whitney for like 20 bucks
-los

check this out


(http://www.virtualvillage.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=4616171&utm_source=baseusa&utm_medium=shopping)

[g6civcx]

All these are good ideas. Wiring is no big deal.

I saw those JC Whitney ones. I like the idea of keeping the light inside the car, but the hatch really has no where to mount. The small rear window goes straight down and there is nothing to mount onto unless I fabricate a bracket or something.

I really don't like cutting into the hatch any more than I have to. That's why I was looking for something with the reverse lights.


Another idea is to get a rear spoiler with built-in third brake light, but I really don't like rear spoilers and would prefer to keep the rear deck clean.

[mrmephistopheles]

Remember that the 3rd brake light is supposed to be mounted above the taillamps.

[Hatch93Love]

do u have a c-pillar bar if so u could find a way to mount it on there

[dori_sil8t]

he can't its a del sol looking hatch

[los_inc]

http://images.virtualvillage.com/002511-010/001.jpg
just epoxy this to the top of the glass
-los

[g6civcx]

he can't its a del sol looking hatch

Yes, I can't run a cpillar bar because the hatch goes halfway into the cabin.

[KA-T_240]

get the LED strip and see if you can mount it inbetween the hatch and tail lights.

[JVD]

So you honestly think a cop is going to look at your car and say...

"That's an S13. They came stock with a third brake light. He doesn't have one because of that BN Sports Hatch. I should pull him over."

If you really need one, LED strip behind the glass.

[iron_monkey_drift]

I would say go JC but honestly I agree.... a cop isnt gonna no any better and if their as strict as you say than they gonna pull you over regardless. Good luck on your hunt..........................

[g6civcx]

I'm sick of this forum. I try my best to help out people on here.

Every time, every single time I have a simple question, some smart person will say something stupid.


Thanks for all the help.