Third Brake Light Not Working on 1996

[samtoddlee]

A little late to the party but hopefully it will help someone. I purchased a red LED light strip from Amazon. Cut to size and replaced the older light strip with it. I cut the wires and removed the old light strip. Got the new LED strip and tied the wires to the old wires which were still attached to the connection and voila ! Third brake light nice and bright and under $9 bucks !!

Hey bud so did this fox get you out of replacing the diode or not? Thanks for reply.

 

[GhostWolverine]

Hey bud so did this fox get you out of replacing the diode or not? Thanks for reply.

Correct, I did not have to replace the diode. This is the LED light strip I bought from Amazon.

 

[samtoddlee]

and then you just wired it into the light then?

 

[kolimem]

1: Remove the two screws holing the third brake light on. a stubby phillips works fine.
2: Pull the light down. it will just hang from the wires.
3: Mask the area in front of the LED bulbs with 1" blue painters tape.
4: Trim the tape with a box cutter or razor to just cover the area in front of the bulbs
5: Use some Scotch Brite to scuff the areas not covered by the tape.
6: Clean scuffed areas with alcohol.
7: Mask the car and rear window around the light so you don't paint the car.
8: lightly paint the third brake light with flat black paint. two or three light coats will do.
9: Let dry a hour or so, remove painters tape and masking on car.
10: put light back in.

Maybe these will help. Yours truly...

 

[GhostWolverine]

and then you just wired it into the light then?

Yes, correct.

 

[firegod33r]

Ok, I have a new problem with this issue. Looks like the previous owner has yanked a bunch of wiring and harnesses out. Neither Third brake light nor my rear wiper is working. I have a bad feeling that I’m missing a complete harness. Does anyone know or can guide me exactly what I’m looking for? I see no wires coming out from under the third brake light and I do see 2 plugs covering the holes.

 

[Kernal]

There should be a few wires inside a long S shaped grommet (flexible rubber tube) running from the rear body opening (top left corner) to the hatch; is that present?

 

[firegod33r]

There should be a few wires inside a long S shaped grommet (flexible rubber tube) running from the rear body opening (top left corner) to the hatch; is that present?

So I had to drop the headliner to fish out the harness. The previous owner disconnects it and forgot to reconnect it when he replaced the headliner. At least I have power not lol
On to the diode fix

 

[Kernal]

Do you still have the grommet the wires run in? You'll want that of course to keep water out.

 

[firegod33r]

Do you still have the grommet the wires run in? You'll want that of course to keep water out.

Yeah, surprising that was left. It just wasn’t connected to the brake light side and the2 connectors were tucked up and disconnected

 

[SucioP]

Pretty sure my wires have crimped at the pivot point as the 3rd brake light and rear wiper works intermittently.

Nothing obvious in the grommet but can’t get a lot of slack to inspect or repair.

Where is the harness in the truck so that I can disconnect and fish some slack out to inspect and repair.

 

[SucioP]

3rd brake light won’t come on when truck is running or in ACC position. Will come on with the rest of the lights when the keys are out.

I’ve replaced the diode and check the voltage 1000x.

Super confused…..any thoughts from the collective brain trust?

 

[calokie]

feel like this thread could use some images of this Koito creation.
Pulled out the assembly yesterday, planning on replacing the existing Zener diode with the 1N4733A, however the Amazon LED strip seems like a smarter choice Amazon.com - https://a.co/d/fvnpryS