Reacting to the awful rear end collision reported this week here on World, I think a third brake light install is a low cost serious safety upgrade, Here is a question for SPOKE, how about suggesting or better, supplying a "blinking" relay(?) to wire in series with a third brake light power supply? Thus always, but only making the third brake light "blink' when the brake light is on via the brake pedal, to get the attention of these idiot texting drivers.

Maybe a flashing Strobe Light? Or a camera flash?

Here's the link from a few years ago discussing 3rd brake light options. And yes, I put a blinker relay in the hot lead. What I thought was interesting was that when I videotaped the light going on, you can see it light up (LED) a few milliseconds before the incandescent tail light bulbs:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=309015&hl=

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LALAA

Tail and Brake light

There are all sorts of cheap options for a LED 3rd brake light on ebay/aliexpress that flashes at first and all that.

I would use a tailgate brakelight

But that doesn't fix getting rear ended
Its the cel phone not the brakelights

I'm thinking the same from these folks.


https://aoonuauto.com/blogs/news/third-brak...ht-installation

I'd prefer if Spoke @Spoke can offer a group buy. Keep the $$$ for our valued vendors.

Oscar

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=2480248

True That..
But it Sure makes a 914 Look Big as a truck..

Please tell me how you made this? I want to install it on all of our 914s.

Clay

@pjhaun 914 from years ago

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=1240830

I totally agree with the importance of the 3rd brake light. If you don't have one you should be thinking about mounting one. Some guys have mounted the 3rd brake on the engine lid which is fine but I prefer to have the 3rd brake light as high as possible on the vehicle since the 914 sits so low.

I've thought about doing something for the 3rd brake on the 914 but the issue is there is no existing fixture to be reused or repurposed. As well there are many off-the-shelf options for 3rd brake and LED fixtures and strips.

Any solution will involve cutting, drilling, or taping and that's something I've stayed away from with my LED boards.

About the front-end flashers when you hit the brakes, there are many standalone brake light flashers on the market; some for as little as $5.

One thing I have thought about making is a pigtail with or without a flashing module that would help to wire a third brake light onto the roll hoop or engine lid. This is what I did with my 914.

On my 914 I stole power from the driver side rear light bucket using a Y-spade connector.

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For ground I used a ring terminal and attached it to the ground stud behind the relay board.

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I ran the power and ground wires up the sail panel under the trim and over to the 3rd brake light.

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The unit I used was from Summit Racing in the 12in version. They also have 9 and 6.5in versions.

Brake LED Strip

Using a small angle clip I mounted the light to the chrome trim on the roll hoop.

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The LED is only 0.625 inches tall and is not seen from the interior because of the roll hoop pad in the interior.

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I did have to file a little bit of the chrome strip for the angles to mount.

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Also had to make a wire chase by grinding a slot in the roll hoop but this will be covered by the chrome strip.

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It's a pretty easy install once the LED and wiring was determined. One thing I like about the wiring is none of the 914 OEM wiring was cut or spliced. One could also add a 3rd brake flasher in the wiring.

That’s the most intelligent thing you have ever posted........

Lots of clean installs but the one I liked best if I remember it correctly was done into the chrome strip. It was a very slick install.

What would be cool but doubt the tech exists but a wireless light with magnetic base that could be sent a signal from the brake light switch to turn on..

IF there was, how many of us would forget to change the batteries?

True but we all remember to charge our phones.. Just a thought as no drilling would be required.

There's this one:

3rd Brake Light in Chrome Strip 1

And this one:

3rd Brake Light in Chrome Strip 2

I was thinking about doing the same thing. I had an idea, that I might put in the rear reflector panel. It appears that the panel itself is red, and that there is a coating on the back of it. I was thinking that all I had to do was get the coating off somehow, then wire up the lights. Also, put a row in the upper strip on the sail panel, can't be too safe.

But even then, most of the yahoo's out there, are to distracted to noticed, that traffic is stopped. I had a guy rear end me in my TL, awhile back, and totaled it. That was a crying shame, since it was an SH-AWD with a 6-speed. The guy at the body shop said they were afraid of it, since they did not think they could get the chassis correctly aligned.


The problem as I see it, with the teener, which is what it so much fun, is that it is so low to the ground, I was following one in my gf's Trailblazer, and could barely see the tail light at a stop light. So that combined with distracted drivers, is a bad combination. Not that I am complaining, I love how low it is, and the feeling of your butt ring on the ground.

I agree with Preach. The one that was cut into the top rear Chrome trim was the cleanest. Use a clear LED that disappears until you stop on the brakes.

Oscar - I think I like this option a lot - I've been looking at doing the 3rd brake light and (for many reason - one being non-destructive) I think I'd prefer a self-adhesive version on the inside of the rear window. Problem is that most options have the adhesive on the "wrong" side of the fixture. The only thing on these is that they're 3-feet long and on first glance that seems big but the more I think about it, the more I like it....but if @Spoke could come up with something that's even better.

Several of us have installed a third brake light that is available on eBay etc. and was stock on the late 1980's Corvettes, and surprisingly also on the 944 Cabriolet (spell?) - identical!

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I'm with mb911 on this one, if at all possible. Wireless (no holes), removable and just have to remember to do the batteries once in a while (long while with LEDs). Any electro-techies out there?

This is what I have. I think it is a perfect fit and looks great on the car.

Having said that, I lost my 914 in a rear end collision. Maybe under the roll bar would be better because it is higher. I cannot see mine sitting in the car. I don't think I would like to see something in the rear view mirror. Lights don't stop cars so nothing is perfect

That's what I did. I later added the flashing module, which I think should add to its visibility. Yes, I know, it's not up high, but the car had the center reflector when I bought it, and this solution was better than nothing.

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Agreed and both threads very helpful and this is something I want to do too. This is one of my favorites so far.

Thanks guys for all the great info.

My Snugtop has one. Battery powered, trigger is a light sensor pointed at the 3rd brake light on the cab.

Thats pretty cool..

@pvollma - I like that since you already have the rear panel. Did you consider taking the LED lights all the way across the reflector panel?

What flashing module recommendation?

Have long wanted to do something like this, but don't want to see the third brake light on the car...so I haven't.

Need to do Spoke's brake light upgrades first, but I like your idea of putting something on the upper part of the targa bar—you wouldn't see it standing near the car, but a driver following you at any distance where there's still time to brake would. I wonder just how low profile something could be with today's LED lights? I wonder if it could get anywhere near slim enough to be "invisible" on the car—which might be slim enough to be acceptable in the rearview mirror. Anything there would help...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=camper+shell+bra...;ref=nb_sb_noss

I like Spoke’s clean installation. Just ordered the 12” light from Summit. This will be a good Stay At Home project. Maybe I can draw it out to 3 or 4 hours. Oh, wait..... it’s a 914 project. No problem getting 3 or 4 hours.

I purchased both the LED strip and the flashing module from superbrightleds.com back in 2015, that may have been what they had in pre-cut weatherproof strips at the time. The flasher module rapidly flashes the bulbs 4 times for 0.4 seconds, slowly 4 times for 2.6 seconds, and then the lights remain on bright until the brake pedal is released.

Patterned mine after Spoke’s installation. Went well.

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How did you run the wiring?

“ How did you run the wiring?”


Look at posts #13 and 14 on page 1 of this thread.

After chatting with Bob, I decided to look into making a kit using the 12 inch LED strip hung under the chrome strip. It will also have a provision for adding a strobe flasher. I've got to figure out a way to attach the LEDs without much modifications. I had to file a bit of the chrome strip and Bob drilled and used a screw to hold the LEDs.

Also looking at the picture and his brake lights and license plate, I started working on this board. Anybody interested in it.


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Lol.... with that plate, I’m in.

I am interested in a solution.

When I see the small strip of LEDs on the side of the board above, I wonder: How thin could a third brake light under the targa bar be? Could it get close to invisible?

If so, I'd be in…

Need to pull the trigger on Spoke's rear brake lights. Tempted by his other stuff but a love of the old incandescent glow stops me short on the front running lights and turn signals. Having already been rear-ended once, back in 1995, brake lights are another matter…

Jerry - I'll buy whatever you make.

Mines a Hella unit which the PO had fitted into the roof ,why I don't know ?,my solution to power it was a small 2 pin plug mounted above the seatbelt anchor,unplugs easily when removing the roof.
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Got the round pattern boards in. Will have to build up a couple of sets. Will give a set to Bob for his 914RS car.


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Finally finished up my install yesterday. A simple install of a 36" weatherproof red LED strip. No drilling or targa bar dis-assembly required. Full stealth install as the strip is black and resides just under the under the deck grille until it lights up. Facing straight back to the trailing driver. Previously did the Spoke LED brake lights a couple years ago.
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ok - this is pretty brilliant (so to speak...) what LEDs did you use - any more pics of the install?

Here are a couple shots from the underside. Still need to clean up the wire management a bit. wire heads back to rear left brake light along wire harness for connection to power and ground taps. The strip https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/cl...redirect_disc=0 is currently discontinued by superbrightleds.com. Might be able to be found at another supplier.

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I like the look but I don't want to lose the break light when the roof is off? Is it illegal I wonder for the brake light to strobe before it turns solid? Our new work trucks will strobe for a few seconds before turning solid. It definitely grabs your attention.