Brake Light

[JacksonJ]

I've been asked for help on this Mod so I decided to give detailed instructions in the form of a DIY.


Very simple easy to do modification.


Tools:

Philips screwdriver
Exacto Knife (Not a box cutter) I picked mine up for a buck at a dollar store.
Vinyl or Black vinyl tape like I used, got it from Wal-Mart.
Waxed paper if you're using tape like I did, can be purchased from Grocery store
Printer (if you don't have one, get a friend to print it or at work)

Firsts step is to print out the image you want. The size of the image must be no more then 5 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inch.
Below is the image I used sized correctly, you may use it or do your own.
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/exd_logo.jpg

Next, cut out the image using the exacto knife until your left with a template.

lay down the vinyl or vinyl tape over some waxed paper and place template on top, be sure to leave about 1/4 an inch from the top of the vinyl.
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090032s.JPG

start to cut the vinyl using the template to guide your Exacto knife.

remove template from vinyl, next step to attach it to the lens of the brake light.

Remove brake light from car, there are 2 clips that you must push up from the trunk to release the brake light, then from the back seat pull up and out and unhook the plug
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090031s.JPG

Remove the screws on the bottom using a philips screwdriver to get at the lens. Pull the lens out.

Place vinyl onto lens, may have to play with it to remove air bubbles.
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090033s.JPG

If your text needs black in the middle, just use remaining vinyl and cut out freehand and place on lens.

Re-assemble lens into brake light case and put back into car, remember to plug back into the cars wiring.
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090034s.JPG

Press brakelight to see your masterpiece. You could have a friend do it, or like I did, use a stick between the steering wheel and brake.
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090035s.JPG

Closeup view
http://www.velocide.com/pictures/P3090036s.JPG

[SuperGLS]

Good work. I'll get that into its own page when I have some time (probably won't be today, sorry).

[JacksonJ]

no problem Super, Do you want me to make it up in an HTML? and send it to you by email? I may have more time since I'm off work right now.

[SuperGLS]

It's up now. Thanks again for the support.

[Jynx]

What was the wax paper for?

[JacksonJ]

If you use black vinyl tape like I did when you place it on something it is really sticky, the wax paper just makes it easier to peel off when your finished.

[snakegr]

Very nice my friend. I did it today. congratulation for your site. Thanks a lot.

[MrZombie]

does anyone know if this is legal? i live in MA, and i know that there is a law tht states you cannot removethe third brake light IF it came stock from the factory. but is there law about obstructing the third brakelight? i was in my trunk looking at the two clips when i thought o this hehe.

[SuperGLS]

This is one of those things that may be illegal, but, I think, there is no way a cop will pull you over for it. I imagine you'll have to be breaking the law in another manner and then once you are pulled over the cop might add on a ticket for it.

[JacksonJ]

I can't say for sure about US laws, but I've read through the Ontario Traffic act, and it does not state about changing the shape or size of the third brake light. Only that cars require it and it must be visable for 150 m.

Now we all know how cops can be pricks so you may want to get a feel around your area for this.

[waif69]

I have the same concern, local cops tend to look for things wrong.

[Munky]

Jesus, you make it look so easy.

[Codenomics]

I think imma do this sometime soon. Still too poor to buy stuff so im sticking to the free mods lol.

[BIGROB]

i did this a completely different way... and it turned out great.

i took vinyl letters and layed down "EXD" in the center of my 3rd brakelight and then spray painted the rest of the lense red.

after it all dried, i peeled off the vinyl letters, put it back together, now whenever i hit the brake all u see is EXD and during the day it still looks stock with it being all red.

pretty nifty huh?.. ill get pics if anyone wants them...

[ghrpdx]

I think I want to put BACK OFF on mine.

Oops, just realized I don't have one anymore. It's an LED on the spoiler. Duh.

[BIGROB]

I think I want to put BACK OFF on mine.

Oops, just realized I don't have one anymore. It's an LED on the spoiler. Duh.

i just got my OEM high spoiler today, and im gonna miss my 3rd brakelight in the window, but ill think of something for the brakelight on the spoiler...

[ghrpdx]

I don't miss the brake light in the window at all ... now my rear window doesn't light up red at night every time I hit the brakes.

[moonlite5hadow]

just did it. painted it red instead pf using tape. it looks great, and cant wait to see it and night and to hear what my friends say. the edges are a little jagged, just a little, and im gonna blame my self for doing a rush job. at night though, the brightness of the light should conceal those edges. I'l post a pic when it gets darker. forgot to take any pics of my painting method.

great DIY!

[BIGROB]

just did it. painted it red instead pf using tape. it looks great, and cant wait to see it and night and to hear what my friends say. the edges are a little jagged, just a little, and im gonna blame my self for doing a rush job. at night though, the brightness of the light should conceal those edges. I'l post a pic when it gets darker. forgot to take any pics of my painting method.

great DIY!

so u liked my method??? i think i was the first to do it that way, pretty simple isnt it, and yet u still get the same effect as the other way

[seanski]

i did this a completely different way... and it turned out great.

i took vinyl letters and layed down "EXD" in the center of my 3rd brakelight and then spray painted the rest of the lense red.

after it all dried, i peeled off the vinyl letters, put it back together, now whenever i hit the brake all u see is EXD and during the day it still looks stock with it being all red.

pretty nifty huh?.. ill get pics if anyone wants them...

i did kinda what you did, but a little different...

i used the elantraXD picture, and masked it backwards on the inside of the lense, so that the lense is still glossy when you look at it from the outside.

i used black spraypaint too

[J-Shazzle]

I used red outdoor reflector tape from pep boys. Not that it really matters now because I purchased the oem spoiler awhile ago, but it was a really cool and cheap mod. To this date, one of my favorite.