Blinking/flashing third brake

[xaviersayys]

Hi everyone!

I just bought a used GT2 yesterday and noticed today when a mechanic was backing my car up that the owner before me installed the flashing third brake light module. Is it easy to undo that? I personally hate that mod. I know nothing about wiring and am terrified of removing panels, etc. lol. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[MerlintheMad]

You've been lurking a while.

I've never heard of this mod, can you show a short video or at least post a pic? If it were me, I'd have the dealership remove it. But only if you have a good one.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Part out.

 

[D.J.]

Brake light modulators are definitely easy to remove...but your gonna have to locate it first.

 

[JSolo]

@OP, as much as you may hate it, it may help prevent a rear end collision some day. We install these on motorcycles exactly for that reason, to be more noticeable.

 

[xaviersayys]

Ahh, I’m assuming the wires were spliced, no?

 

[D.J.]

Ahh, I’m assuming the wires were spliced, no?

I would assume yes ... Splicing into wires is usually how this accessory is installed.

But can be removed and returned to stock in a matter of minutes

Dead simple wiring.

Similarly to @JSolo , I too have installed several on many of my bikes over the years.

And one on my previous Mazda 3, 3rd brake light.

 

[socalvn]

Most likely right off the light under the rear lid

 

[cjbigcog]

That's where mine was.

 

[xaviersayys]

How would I take off the lid?

 

[Rodtheviking]

I'll take it.

 

[xaviersayys]

This is all I see.

 

[SoCalSHO]

Probably it was a dealer that installed it on their mandatory "optional" safe lighting package. I know Glendale Kia did that.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Ricers

 

[chad1064]

@OP, as much as you may hate it, it may help prevent a rear end collision some day. We install these on motorcycles exactly for that reason, to be more noticeable.

I absolutely hate the blinking middle brake light mod. It uses emergency signaling for a non emergency event.

It would be most effective if the blinking was triggered by a special braking event (sudden slam of the brakes, braking hard enough to trigger ABS, something that warrants a blinking "hazard" light). Instead they seem to go off with just casual braking. So imagine city traffic, where 1/4 of the cars have blinking brake lights for no reason at all. There's no special attention given to a car that might be braking super hard, compared to another car that's just casually slowing down. Even driving in the country, seeing a car with the blinking mod, did they just slam on the brakes because a deer jumped out? Or just casually slowing down? It detracts from what *could* be a helpful mod.

On a bike, I can see that it would be helpful. But on 99% of the cars that have them? Not helpful at all.

 

[vipeboy2000]

I absolutely hate the blinking middle brake light mod. It uses emergency signaling for a non emergency event.

It would be most effective if the blinking was triggered by a special braking event (sudden slam of the brakes, braking hard enough to trigger ABS, something that warrants a blinking "hazard" light). Instead they seem to go off with just casual braking. So imagine city traffic, where 1/4 of the cars have blinking brake lights for no reason at all. There's no special attention given to a car that might be braking super hard, compared to another car that's just casually slowing down. Even driving in the country, seeing a car with the blinking mod, did they just slam on the brakes because a deer jumped out? Or just casually slowing down? It detracts from what *could* be a helpful mod.

On a bike, I can see that it would be helpful. But on 99% of the cars that have them? Not helpful at all.

agree, thanks to our archaic laws, we don't get the nice brake adaptive/dynamic brake light features europe/korea gets on most european cars where under hard breaking extra brake lights turn on and blink, they don't turn on under normal braking and the regular brake lights just turn on. In the states, bmw/mercedes, etc still has those extra brake lights that light up under heavy/sudden braking along with the regular brake lights to hopefully catch people's eye. They've had them for years now..

 

[Rodtheviking]

Okay

 

[rpoffen]

This is all I see.

From the picture, it looks like all you need to do is remove the all the connections to the unit, and the wires that went to the red and yellow of the blinker unit plug them together.
Some dealer force this on you. They install these things on EVERY vehicle they sell, and add an exorbitant price (like $250 for a $10 unit) and if you complain during the deal, they say tough, take it or leave it.

 

[RogueIV]

From the picture, it looks like all you need to do is remove the all the connections to the unit, and the wires that went to the red and yellow of the blinker unit plug them together.
Some dealer force this on you. They install these things on EVERY vehicle they sell, and add an exorbitant price (like $250 for a $10 unit) and if you complain during the deal, they say tough, take it or leave it.

You can usually talk out of things like this. I did with the VIN etching in the windows.