Author |
Message |
PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6235 Location: Portland OR
|
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: Third brake light finally installed |
|
|
So I finally got a third brake light installed. It took about 40 minutes to install and run the wiring to the brake circuit. I drilled a small hole to run the wires through the back shelf so they would be concealed. I tapped into the wires behind the drivers side tail light and I was done. Total cost about $20. Here's the light I found at JC Whitney. It's slim and fit right where I wanted it.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10...0000358340
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Raynor Shine Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2005 Posts: 552
|
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice work> It's good to know you'll be seen, |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlanD Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: San Diego CA
|
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I put one on my 1989 Westy but mounted it on the back of the fiberglass roof. I was concerned about having it inside the back window and having it light up the inside and possibly interfere with vision out the back (I guess it is hard to see out the back window on a Westy anyway, isn't it?).
I routed the wires up the AC hoses, through a hole in the upper bed and then under the strip that holds the tent fabric. The wires are exposed to the sleeping area, but I put slack there so if a foot did hit them, they would not break. It is an LED type light, but I don't have the ordering information handy right now. But it cost about twice the JC Whitney one and was only half the length.
My main reason for the center brake light is that, especially on long trips, we have the bicycles on the back of the Westy and they obscure the brake lights some. I also was concerned about the visibility of the turn signals, so I did a fix on that too. I used two relays (with Normally-Closed (NC) contacts), one on each side, to turn off the side clearance light when the turn signal on that side is illuminated. So, the turn signal and clearance alternate blinking with each other. When I am not using the turn signal, the clearance light stays on as normal (I drive with headlights on all the time).
I can provide more details on that if anyone is interested. Photos show the center brake light.
_________________ Alan
1989 GoWesty Camper-2.3 L engine-9% higher ratio AT
1999 Subaru Forester
1989 Toyota 4WD Truck |
|
Back to top |
|
|
PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6235 Location: Portland OR
|
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey AlanD - I like that location a lot. I also use a rear bike rack at times and I didn't think about it blocking the light. It really isn't a problem at night with the light inside the window and any reflection. I do like the idea of it on the roof though. I hadn't thought of that. I might end up changing mine out! Thanks!
I also came across lights that were segmented to act like turn signals just like you describe. I can't remember the link right now either though.
Last edited by PDXWesty on Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
|
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am in the process of installing a 3rd break light also. The horizontal stick shape allows for the left / right halves to blink with the turn signals. I'll post when done. _________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
|
Back to top |
|
|
izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
|
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Alan,
Can you tell us where you got the light?
Thanks,
Jeff |
|
Back to top |
|
|
msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
|
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject: Have a look here... |
|
|
Have a look here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1056824
And a look at this:
Cheap, effective, and very functional.
Best! _________________ 'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4485 Location: Richmond VA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
“(I guess it is hard to see out the back window on a Westy anyway, isn't it?).”
Okay, this post is not taking, so I am trying again.
The PO of my ’87 Westy (who also installed a third brake light) installed a second interior rearview mirror, mounted down low on the windshield. This gives a greatly improved view out past the upper cabinet and lets me see much farther behind than the mere two car lengths’ view the stocker provides. It is actually much more useful on the highway than in town.
[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/424377.jpg[/img] |
|
Back to top |
|
|
riceye Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1661 Location: Caledonia, WI
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here you go:
_________________ '87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads
There's gonna be some changes made.
“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee
"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig |
|
Back to top |
|
|
campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4485 Location: Richmond VA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
How did you do that? I thought I was posting correctly (finally!), but noooo. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
riceye Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1661 Location: Caledonia, WI
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I always use the "preview" button before submitting, to be sure I get it right! Sometimes it takes a few tries. _________________ '87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads
There's gonna be some changes made.
“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee
"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig |
|
Back to top |
|
|
campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4485 Location: Richmond VA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I tried that and figured it just did not show the pic in the preview. Must be doing something wrong still. Thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
Alan D: I put one on my 1989 Westy |
I like it! Is that the same JCWhitney light as PDX used? It looks shorter than the interior mounting. Just wonderin'... _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mikls63rag Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2006 Posts: 555 Location: Antioch, CA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have a regular GL. Where is the best place to put on this van? On the glass in side or over the rear door on the out side or just above the rear window on the out side?
_________________ Michael
63' Rag
65' Bug
13' Passat S |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlefgardHero Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 131 Location: Colorado
|
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
mikls63rag wrote: |
I have a regular GL. Where is the best place to put on this van? On the glass in side or over the rear door on the out side or just above the rear window on the out side?
|
On the door just above the rear glass. I've also seen the third brake light on a spoiler. that looked sharp.
**edit** I guess I should mention the only place that I've seen the roof spoiler for sale is on the UK eBay every once and a while. _________________ VeeVeeOne is my baby, She is a 1983.5 Vanagon GL (Two-Tone Blue Baby, Yeah!). |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlanD Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: San Diego CA
|
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
MootPoint and izzydog,
The light I used is the American Technology Components AT-LED-28SMT Surface Mount 28 LED Lamp which is shorter than the JC Whitney one. The website is http://www.atcomp.com/php/protype.php?type_id=4. That page shows several different styles. The one I used is a surface mount type. More details are at http://www.atcomp.com/php/product.php?type_id=4&prod_cat=19&prod_id=47 .
I used stainless steel screws and self-locking nuts. You need three holes, with two for the mounting screws and one for the wires. I can't find my original literature on it, so I don't know if I got it directly from American Technology or a distributor. I notice the AT page doesn't show prices. I think I paid about $25 or so. _________________ Alan
1989 GoWesty Camper-2.3 L engine-9% higher ratio AT
1999 Subaru Forester
1989 Toyota 4WD Truck |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlanD Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: San Diego CA
|
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey campism ,
That lower rear view mirror makes sense. I know I can see better with the stock mirror if I adjust it so I am just looking at the bottom half of it, so it makes sense to have a separate lower mirror. I will have to try that.
Thanks!! _________________ Alan
1989 GoWesty Camper-2.3 L engine-9% higher ratio AT
1999 Subaru Forester
1989 Toyota 4WD Truck |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bd Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2008 Posts: 153 Location: west seattle
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
here's what we really need...not just for our vans but all our cars.
file under 'duh:'
http://www.physorg.com/news125773212.html _________________ 1990 2wd TriStar, Oettinger-tuned 1.6L TD |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlanD Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: San Diego CA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That does sound like progress as long as it isn't too "busy" or annoying.
I saw a vehicle where the middle light bar would flash several times each time the brakes were applied, and then was steady on. I was behind him in stop-and-go traffic when it was dark, and it drove me crazy! All that blinking each time he hit the brakes every few seconds was hard to stand. _________________ Alan
1989 GoWesty Camper-2.3 L engine-9% higher ratio AT
1999 Subaru Forester
1989 Toyota 4WD Truck |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rockfish Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 740 Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
|
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There are modules out there that are able to limit the flashing to the initial brake stop - then will go solid again if the brakes are pressed within a short amount of time after the first time. Personally, I'll stick w/ my "natural" third brake light. _________________ 89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|