Hey guys, I'm going to attempt a third brake light install on my '87 this evening. I was hoping for some advice. I bought one of those cool 6" flexible LED units from www.radiantz.com. Any suggestions on how to wire it? I'm pretty sure I'll have to drill a small hole above the rear window, route the wires through the trim inside down to the floor and back to the tail lights. Anyone have experience with this? How do I determine which wire is the brake only and not the turn signal at the brake light? Or do I need to wire it somewhere else?

You don't have to route back to the tailights to get brake light power. Look in the back of the smugglers box behind the drivers side. Pull down the carpet and you will see where the wiring harness for the rear lights passes thru. I don't recall which color wire is the brake lead, but maybe someone with a service manual or wiring diagram can help you out. Come to think of it, I belive there are wiring diagrams available somewhere on this site.

It is real easy. l grounded it to the frame. Then I ran a wire under the headliner, down the front post to the break light switch at the pedal, you spice into the orange wire.

Awesome guys! Thanks for the help. I'll document the project and post pictures later for fun. (goes to start project)

When I mounted one in my 4th gen I went ahead and ordered a diode that stops the brake light from flashing with the turn signals. The way 4th gens are wired the brake light flashes with the turn signal and thus so would a third brake light wired into the harness. I got a diode kit from JCWHITNEY to stop it but I didn't use it. Turns out the light I got had two independently wired lights. That means I get an extra turn signal where someone behind me can actually see it kind of like the old buick regals in the 70's used to have. The other light stays steady on so I still get 3rd brake light action.

It's not hard to do once you find the rear lighting harness. You should be tapping into both brake lights by the way. At least that's how my light was supposed to be wired but that may be because of the dual light setup.

Good luck with it.

As promised here are the pictures. Wired the positive driectly off the white wire from the brake pedal to eliminate the turn signal problem. I tried the orange wire Tommy but for some reason on mine it was the white, however I wouldn't have even thought of that way to go if it wasn't for your suggestion to thanks. I then grounded the negative to the frame. Works perfectly. Put silicone around the hole to prevent leakage. Turned out great I think.

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A21C8E2E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A21E574E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A21FA52E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A220E73E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A222744E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A223C1BE04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A224FF2E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A226546E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A227E62E04F11D8.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/bradc2755/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-27%2021.34.37%20-0700/Image-2A229327E04F11D8.jpg

looks good! Almost looks stock! I checked your link to the chiro site. Are you the one on the right(I would guess so) or the left? Just wondering on a boring night. :D

Thanks, I think it turned out pretty well. Yeah that's me on the right Supercharged '86.

Hey elcamino74guy,

I have one on my 76 and it doesn't require all that. Just go to the switch at the pedal. After the light leaves the pedal it goes to the turn signal circuit. I don't remember which one it is (color that is) but use a bug light or a DVM you'll figure it out pretty quick.

:D

Hey Doc, thanks for the pix..that looks really sharp. I may have to try that myself.

Hey elcamino74guy,

I have one on my 76 and it doesn't require all that. Just go to the switch at the pedal. After the light leaves the pedal it goes to the turn signal circuit. I don't remember which one it is (color that is) but use a bug light or a DVM you'll figure it out pretty quick.

:D

I wired it according to the instructions (brief as they were). Also it was far easier to tap into the harness near the back window than to run wires all the way to the front of the car.

The one thing I notice with his setup is that his third brake light is on with the taillights and then flares like it should when he hits the brakes. Mine will stay off till I either hit the turn signal or the brake. Which is the way most of the OEM's do it anyway. Like I told you earlier I ended up with the side benefit of having extra directional signals since my light has two independent bulbs in it.

Don't matter as long as it does what it's supposed to do.

:D

I installed the third light top center, using the relay box from JCW you described to keep it from flashing with turn signals. Also added little clearance lights connected to the tail light circuit. Then I used a trailer conector in the bed so the top is removable when necessary.

The one thing I notice with his setup is that his third brake light is on with the taillights and then flares like it should when he hits the brakes.


Do you mean the one Dr B did? I believe that's just a reflection from the flash.. cus the Dodge has it too.. I don't know if it's legal to have the third brake like on with the tails, as it's only meant to be a brake.. cops prolly wouldn't like it being on all the time.

Yea, It will only come on with the brake pedal pushed. That's weird that yours was the white wire but I am glad it worked for you. You can see pics of mine in my gallery in the sig. You don't really notice it until it is on, then it is reaaly bright. It's a smart thing to have on all Elkys.

Very nice! I wanted to do a custom third light,but got a kit from stylin concepts instead (third light on the license plate) its billit,looks ok,and was easy to hook up...I like the one on yours better,because its higher,and looks like stock. I've got to upgrade.. :cry:

Very nice! I wanted to do a custom third light

yeah I hear that. I always wanted to maybe like french in a bowtie symbol that would light and act as a 3rd brake light, or in the case of my 72 SS....maybe have custom 454 light characters (which are red already) made that light up when I hit the brake..... :cool:

I almost forgot to tell ya the setup looks really good back there.

As for the third light on all the time, I know some cars like the newer cadillacs and the Acura NSX have the third light on with the taillights, it just gets a whole lot brighter when the brakes are applied. If it does that you should be ok just as long as its a low brightness without brake applied. Of course that doesn't apply in this case since DR B said it turned off without the brake.

BTW Dr B, your bed is in awesome shape from your photos. Wish Mine looked that good before I put the liner in it.

:-)

Hi all:
I recent installed one of the JC Whitney units with the diode kit on my '83, but I did it a little different. I fabricated a small, light weight metal bracket that I mounted the unit to; then I was able to screw it onto the upper rear window trim, run the wiring through the bracket and behind the trim over to the side and down the side to where I tapped into the tail light harness. That way no holes to the outside through the cab sheet metal. I spray painted the small bracket the same color as the trim (Dark Briar Brown) and it looks like it could be OEM.

Just another approach.

Dan

Hi all:
I recent installed one of the JC Whitney units with the diode kit on my '83, but I did it a little different. I fabricated a small, light weight metal bracket that I mounted the unit to; then I was able to screw it onto the upper rear window trim, run the wiring through the bracket and behind the trim over to the side and down the side to where I tapped into the tail light harness. That way no holes to the outside through the cab sheet metal. I spray painted the small bracket the same color as the trim (Dark Briar Brown) and it looks like it could be OEM.

Just another approach.

Dan

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has mounted any of the GM third brake lights like you find on the jimmys, some vans and some of the other GM makes. I have mounted them on two El Caminos we have and they look like they came from the factory with them. They are the ones with the led lights in them and about 15 inches long. On the 86 right above the fuse panel in the wiring junction it is factory wired for the third brake light. All I had to do was get the correct male end attach to my wire and plug in just as the factory does. Really works out nice
I have even had some people that noticed them say they did not realize the El Caminos came with the third brake lights when they have seen them.

Eddie

I just installed one last week, thanx to this topic. And yes I hooked it up to the white wire at the brake pedal switch, thanx! I bought the $18. LED with the adjustable mount.Pilot LED Brake Light (http://pilotautomotive.com/pilot2hc.htm)
and mounted it to rear glass of my camper shell 8O ,no flames :P


Did you guys notice on your Elkys that the LEDs are 1/2 second faster than the stock bulbs?