Many people have expressed interest in LED brake lights and at the very least a LED third brake light. I did not originate this, I've seen it before. Several members from various forums have used the LED light strip from Harbor Freight that costs around $9.99. I was planning on doing this, but couldn't find it at my local store. Instead I went on ebay and bought one from China for $1.49. When it came in, it looked identical to pictures I've seen of the one from HF:



As you can see, it's a flexible strand, which is the biggest drawback. I tried to come up with a viable and easy solution to mount it straight. I thought about making a metal mount for it, but after tinkering around it was too much work. I figured I'd try to wedge it between a few pieces of cardboard and see if that kept it straight. Seemed to work ok, but not ideal. I will eventually cut small strips of MDF or plywood and use that instead to make it straighter.

To start, open the hatch and remove the torx screws holding on the light assembly. Once off, you will then remove the two screws holding the plastic bezel in. Here is the underside of the bezel:



Once open you'll find this:



There is not a lot of room, but the light strip fits in there perfectly, just a bit snug.

I put a couple pieces of cardboard underneath, then laid the light in, centered.



I decided to solder the wires to the back circuit board, which seemed like the best solution. The wires are pretty thin and I don't think they will splice well. Also, the LED has polarity, so test the wires before you solder them.



I then put two more strips of cardboard on top and sandwiched the light between the setup:



As you can see, it's not 100% straight. I think small strips of wood would be a better solution. However, once I screwed the bezel back in, it seemed to straighten out a little more from the pressure:



I can't give a good reference to how bright it is, but it seems slightly better than the stock bulbs. I wish I had take before/after, but I didn't. Here is one shot in the garage when it was pitch black:



Overall I'm happy with the installation. It was pretty quick and easy. I did notice that the LEDs activate about a 1/2 second before the filament bulbs. And every 1/2 second counts! I think I will redo it later with wood strips to make it 100% straight. It's a simple mod that sets it off a bit and only a trained eye will notice

Matthew

Good post. I replaced mine (CHMSL) with a new one. (expensive) A bulb burned out (same bulb) six months later. I have three bulbs working. I just refuse to look at it. Nice fix you got there.

Very cool, Matt - great job!

That should last WAY longer than those bulbs & it looks great.
Thanks for the tip.

Nice touch! Little extra wake-up call for distracted drivers too.

Definitely a cool post. Something to put on the shelf for later projects. Nice job!!!

Looks good..

Mine cost a bit more, but I modded a CHMSL from an Uplander

That looks great, Jeff! Any more pics or info?

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Pics of the actual parts, no I forgot to do that.. LOL

you need to buy a CHMSL form GM for a 05-07 Uplander ($70~)

then you need to cut off 3 of the LEDs and rewire it. then cut the light diffuser down the same length.

it is a bit more work since you have to cut PCB traces and rewire the light groups.. OEM there are 3 banks of 4 LEDs, I changed it to 3 banks of 3 to fit

I'm a little concerned of the durability of this light. After all, it was $1.49 from China. The wiring is about 24 gauge...pretty thin. I hope it survives bumps and vibrations. I'll keep an eye on it and update with any changes. Also, there seems to be room for two rows (one on top of the other) in there, which would probably look good, too.

Matthew

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What's the max. dimension (width)?

I ask only because I'm about to order some LED lights for under the kitchen cabinets. Some of their strips are 3/8ths wide. All this stuff is 12vDC.

Nice job BTW.

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I measured the height of the LED strip but I don't recall exactly. I think it was 6mm.

cool mod

Nice work!!

Looks good!

I remember way back when Dad bought his '88 I thought I'd do something nice for him one day since all the bulbs in his were burnt out... I was shocked at the price of those bulbs. I forget now how much they were though.

Early 90's they were $15 ea for those 3rd brake light bulbs

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That sounds about right. I almost choked when the guy rung them up.

I'm trying to install some on a 2004 Durango but I don't know where to splice it. I tried the headlight harness but the wires are so tightly wound up together that I can't get splicer connector inside. Is there anywhere else I can splice it where so they come on when I turn on headlight/running lights? Any help is greatly appreciated.

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My first thought on this would be to ask in a Durango forum. There's a much better chance that someone there might know.

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You're trying to run LEDs up front like on an Audi? So you have daytime front LEDs?

If you have too little room for a splice connector, then carefully shave off the insulator from the factory wiring, make an oval shape in the factory wiring (like a needle), push the LED wiring through and wrap around it, solder it, and seal it well with tape.

Matthew

Excellent MOD.... if you feel you need the 3rd brake light. I installed the LED taillights and they are so bright you may not need the 3rd brake light at all :-)

I had considered before adding the led taillights that I might add an interior led brake light so as not to ruin the aerodynamics of teh original design.

In 86 there apparently was briefly ALSO an Interior mounted Rear brake light! I remember getting into an argument back in the late 80's with a friend over the addition of the tacked on 3rd brake light we all know today and whether the bumper mount like on a convertible was better.
My friend worked at a car dealer at the time and insisted that an interior 86 brake light existed. I doubted him for quite some time until the 86 he was thinking of came in for service and sure enough after conversing with its original owner he claimed it had come from the factory with and interior mounted brake light!!!:eek: I dont recall seeing another since!

I like what you guys are doing with this. I for some reason can't find hot wires that make my third brake work. I replaced the unit over a year ago it was burned up.

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Steve - You have to remove the brake light from the top of the hatch. Once everything is exposed, probe the wires and hit the brake - you'll see the hot one, the other is ground.

Matthew

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Around here I need all the brake lights I can get!

I like the LED taillights, I just can't justify spending the bucks right now.

Matthew

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I did that before nothing happened. That was when we replaced the entire unit.

When i finish my other projects I will check again.

I have a fourth brake light I wish they all work.

My vett isn't normal body.

Thanks Matt

Steve

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Do they work at all now Steve? The third brake light runs off a different switch at the pedal vs the rear brake lights.

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The one on top has no power. That was also why when I was installing the rear weather strips I pulled the halo off and tried there.

I am running the one by the lic plate off the brake lights. It seams to draw a lot of Juice on the drivers's side flasher.