semi-pointless mod: clear 3rd brake light

4405 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Kal_El, Dec 21, 2006

dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · Dec 15, 2006

so I dynomatted my rear hatch tonight, and for fun I pulled apart the 3rd brake light and made (dant dant dannnnnt!) the semi-pointless clear 3rd brake light mod. our third brake light is simply 9 red superflux LED's on a circuit board behind a red lens. removing the red lens looks kinda cool, and it's a little brighter, but it's really directional. of course, our 3rd brake light is pretty directional to begin with, but I thought the 9 little lights looked cool when lit up. anyway here are the pics. how to is easy, just pull off that plastic trim panel (it just pops off), use a 10mm socket to undo the two nuts holding the 3rd brake light on, pull it off and unclip the wire, remove the rubber trim around it (pulls right off) then remove the red lens with tweezers or needlenose pliers (you'll see how, there are two little releases you have to squeeze in and it pops off) and put the rubber trim back on, and reassemble in the reverse order of disassembly.

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 15, 2006

Before:

trim piece:

back of the light:

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 15, 2006

Inside the light with the lens off:

reinstalled:

after:

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S_e_X-Terra

· #4 · Dec 15, 2006

Hmmm, interesting.

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 15, 2006

yeah, kinda pointless. but here's one, does anyone know how to readjust my stupid rear wiper? it's stuck in that down position and I can't figure out how to get it back to the normal position. it works fine but it's starts from the too-low position.

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Lonesome Crow

· #6 · Dec 15, 2006

Removal and Installation of Rear Wiper Arm, Adjustment of Rear Wiper Arm
Stop Location EKS00DFD
REMOVAL
1. Operate the rear wiper motor and stop it at the auto stop position.
2. Remove rear wiper arm cover by gripping bottom edge and rotating cover up. Remove mounting nut, and remove the wiper arm.
INSTALLATION
1. Prior to wiper arm installation, turn on wiper switch to operate wiper motor and then turn it â€œOFFâ€? (auto stop).
2. Clean up the pivot area as illustrated. This will reduce the possibility of wiper arm looseness.
3. Install rear wiper arm and blade so that the blade is parallel with the lower edge of back glass as shown and tighten wiper arm nut to specification.
LKIA0608E
SEL024J
Rear wiper arm nut : 5.4 NÂ·m (0.55 kg-m, 48 in-lb)

From the service manual.

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 15, 2006

JAdams said:
Removal and Installation of Rear Wiper Arm, Adjustment of Rear Wiper Arm
Stop Location EKS00DFD
REMOVAL
1. Operate the rear wiper motor and stop it at the auto stop position.
2. Remove rear wiper arm cover by gripping bottom edge and rotating cover up. Remove mounting nut, and remove the wiper arm.

That's like saying

To remove engine:

1. Open Hood
2. Remove Engine

I'm kidding, I appreciate it, but I removed the little cover and the nut, and the damn thing won't budge. you'd think it'd be that easy. when I pull on it, it's pulling the motor with it (I verified this by looking at the motor assembly while pulling on it with the nut off) is mine broken or something? this sucks.

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Lonesome Crow

· #8 · Dec 15, 2006

Do you have access to a bearing puller like this one:

I got one @ Harbor Freight for $10.00, just tape up the ends w/electrical tape so it doesn't scratch the paint and it will pull the arm off of the splines. Mine was like that when I got it and this is what I used to get it taken off.

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 15, 2006

Good thinking man!!! awesome!

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dpatton

· #10 · Dec 15, 2006

dragonplayboy said:
I removed the little cover and the nut, and the damn thing won't budge. you'd think it'd be that easy. when I pull on it, it's pulling the motor with it

When a wiper blade won't easily come off it's splined drive shaft, try this:
1)
loosen the nut that holds the wiper blade to the shaft, so that the top of the nut is flush with the end of the shaft
2)
using channel-lock pliers(perhaps with tape on the jaws to protect the wiper blade) put one jaw on top of the nut and the other under the edge of the wiper blade housing that goes around the shaft, and squeeze

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dragonplayboy

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 15, 2006

I'll give that a shot, trying not to shatter the glass

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Kal_El

· #12 · Dec 21, 2006

I like it!!!! I am going to start calling you and MC "Bill Nye" ....hey it's better than Beakman! Thanks for showing all cool *ish you do it's awesome!

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Kal_El

· #13 · Dec 21, 2006

K so it took me 4 minutes and it looks sweet!!!!!

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