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Third brake light on 94 Seville STS

Started by Marcus Keller, April 16, 2005, 11:03:01 AM

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Marcus Keller

Hi,

I recently sold my overpowered European shoebox and now am the proud owner of a very clean 1994 Seville STS that I stumbled over a few months ago at a collectors garage near Limburg. The car has only 78.000 km (about 48.000 miles) and finally I could not resist to upgrade to this total luxury but also sporty experience: http://www.diner59.de/94sev0.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/94sev0.jpg

Of course with a new car there are a lot of new questions that arise. But the thing that bugs me the most is:

The huge 3rd brake light in the trunk that stretches all over the trunk lid http://www.diner59.de/94sev1.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/94sev1.jpg and http://www.diner59.de/3bl5.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl5.jpg has been disabled due to some crazy import laws in 1994. The installation is somewhat accessible from inside the trunk. This is what I found out myself:
 
a) There is a connector on the right side of the trunk lid that connects to nothing. If I apply the brake there is a voltage of 12 V on the connector, otherwise not. Looks perfect so far, here it is: http://www.diner59.de/3bl1.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl1.jpg

b) What I missed was the part that this cable connects to. I saw a little hole in the brake light assembly and actually found a very short red cable inside. Unfortunately, it has been cut off so short that it seems quite difficult to attach another cable to it: http://www.diner59.de/3bl2.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl2.jpg

Here are my questions:

1) I could not find another cable in the small hole, but I would somehow expect that two cables (and not only one) are connected to the LED-assembly inside. Am I right about this?

2) In case that the second cable is somehow lost inside the brake light itself the only solutions seems to detach the brake light from the trunk lid and reinstall longer cables. The screws look like they should not be too much of a problem (although I am a bit scared by the plastic material): http://www.diner59.de/3bl3.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl3.jpg

3) What really alarms me are the two plugs at each end of the brake light. They look as if they will strongly resist to be pulled out and I fear that the whole light could be damaged while trying: http://www.diner59.de/3bl5.jpg. TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl5.jpg. I have the small hope that I could cut them off inside and screw new studs into the brake lights. Does this make sense or are these plugs part of the housing itself?

Or:

4) What is the standard procedure to remove the 3rd brake light without damaging it?

Regards,
Marcus

1994 Seville STS
1960 Sedan de Ville Flattop

Marcus Keller

Oops - I just saw that there is a wrong link to the plugs that might have to be cut off (and that I do not know of if they can be replaced).

Here is the correct picture: http://www.diner59.de/3bl4.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.diner59.de/3bl4.jpg

Regards,
Marcus

Bruce Reynolds # 18992

Gday Marcus,

That isnt a third brake light, that is a total rearward blinding device, ha ha.

As far as reconnecting the wire that has been cut short, Soldering would be the best bet and then using a piece of heat shrink to sleeve the joint.

I will leave others to inform you on whether there is a wire missing, and where you should look.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

Marcus Keller

Hi Bruce,

yep, this light is really impressive. I still remember how amazed I was when I saw it the first time glowing in front of me!

Meanwhile I got the information I was looking for from a very nice person who refurbishes these LED strips ( http://www.logandiagnostic.com TARGET=_blank>http://www.logandiagnostic.com ): Indeed there must be two cables coming out of the light so that I have to remove the whole assembly from the trunk.

Fortunately the cutting of the two clips at either side of the housing seems to be unproblematic since they are not needed to hold the whole thing in the trunk; according to Logan the trick is simply not to overtighten the nuts.

I will get the missing plug from GM tomorrow and then I will try to extend the remaining cables with my soldering iron. Hope it works, feel free to keep your fingers crossed!

Marcus
Duesseldorf/Germany
60 SDV 4W & 94 STS