Thread: Brake/tail light mod

Hi there. Been a [s]lurker[/s] reader for a little while now. So far always been able to find what I need just by searching but I've now come across a question I can't seem to find an answer to.

I have an 08 with tinted tails. Everyone says it's hard to tell the brake light from the running light at night so they don't realize right away when I'm stepping on the brakes. I've tried LEDs but they all seemed worse than halogen.

So my question is, since there's already another running light (top) can I just cut the running lamp wire for the bottom brake bulbs. That way it will only light up when I hit the brakes or use a turn signal. Will that work? Or would that open the circuit and disable all my running lights?

What you want can be done but it has to be done properly. I am no expert so won't try to explain but I DO KNOW just cutting a wire will not do what you want.

Okay I tried it last night and it worked. But as said it's not just cutting the wire. If anyones interested, you'll have to cut the brown wire that goes from the connector to the bottom, brake light, then cut the brown wire that goes from that light to the top, running lamp. Next reconnect the first wire from the connector to the top running lamp. And that will work.

Looks better in my opinion, just odd in my car right now because the third, small light is out on one side :s

does the 08 take the same 3057 bulb as the 97-03s? if so, check out the following link.

Brighter 3057 bulb? - CandlePowerForums

the following is quoted from post #18 in the link above.

The difference between 3057 and 3157 is not in the bright filament, but in the dim filament. 3057 has a 2cp dim filament and a 32cp bright filament. The 3157 has a 3cp dim filament and a 32cp bright filament. Interchanging in either direction isn't wise; in one direction it screws up the intensity ratio between bright and dim, and in the other direction it drops the taillamp intensity below safe minimum. If you're trying to increase bright-filament intensity, use 3457, but...why? Those lights are already more than plenty bright.

hope this helps, it did for me.

Originally Posted by ZR1Vette09

why would he get pulled over? sounds legit to me. may even be something i look into. Which kind of LED bulbs did you use? you can't see my brake lights or turn signals in the day.

They were off ebay, just ones that had diodes on the sides too.

Originally Posted by oneil.GTP

does the 08 take the same 3057 bulb as the 97-03s? if so, check out the following link.

Brighter 3057 bulb? - CandlePowerForums

the following is quoted from post #18 in the link above.


hope this helps, it did for me.

Thanks for the info, I'll try again and reverse them.

Originally Posted by TurboTrav

the running lamp wire for the bottom brake bulbs. That way it will only light up when I hit the brakes or use a turn signal.

aka his break lights arn't on tell he hits the breaks so i assume at night they do the same thing--- you would have to hit your breaks every time a cop is behind you

It worked fine. Here is just the running lights on. Just the top now, instead of top and bottom.