71 Brake light wiring

[Ghia_Z]

Adding a third brake light to the Ghia and I’m at loss as to where to tap into the brake light wire. It appears that the taillight assembly is secured from behind as there are no visible fasteners under the lens. It’s an Autostick with full tar boards and the engine’s in, so getting at the rear of the assembly isn’t an option. I’m thinking that an access hole cut it the firewall tar board near where the license plate light wire braces off is what I need. Can anyone describe the routing of that wire so I don’t butcher the tar board looking for it? TIA!

[bnam]

[Era Vulgaris]

Please do not ruin your tarboard when it's easily removable. If your battery is still located in the factory spot on the driver side of the engine compartment, you'll need to remove your battery from the car. After you do that, you'll see 3 or 4 metal tabs holding the fender-side tarboard in place. Bend those tabs back, and remove the tarboard. From there you'll have access to the inner rear fender where the wiring connections are on the back of the tail light. Use a piggy back spade connector to run a wire from the driver side brake light to your 3rd brake light. Depending on what type of light your 3rd brake light is (incandescent in a housing, LED strip, etc) you'll need to find a spot to also take the chassis ground from. If the light is an actual housing that gets secured with screws, you can ground where they go through the sheet metal.

Also, cheers from NC!
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Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue

[Ghia_Z]

Thanks, Era. I’ll try that route. If nothing else, removing the battery will give me a break from obsessive-compulsively trying to make the horns work.

Regards from Hillsborough, neighbor.

[runamoc]

[Ghia_Z]

I have an LED strip that’s a perfect fit for the space between the hood and the rain tray to shine out the hood vents.

Partsam Submersible 17" Clear Lens Red 23 LED Trailer Truck RV Stop Turn Tail Rear 3rd Brake Identification Light Bar (Pack of 1) https://a.co/d/2uNKDyR
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[runamoc]

[Ghia_Z]

Thank you all !
As described, getting the tar boards moved with the battery out was simple enough. Routed power from the left taillight, with the ground tapped into the license plate ground wire.

I’ll post pics soon.

[Ghia_Z]

Here are the pics…

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Mark
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Signal Orange ‘71 Ghia Coupe, “Otto Schtick”

[jpajya]

Very nice Ghia and also appreciate the pics of your third brake light install.
Can you provide more info on how you mounted the light, and where you purchased it?
thanks, John
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John
'70 Ghia convertible

[Ghia_Z]

I found it on Amazon.
https://a.co/d/654Pk2w

Partsam 17” submersible clear lens red 23 LED

While test fitting it for a fastener solution, I discovered that it wedged in there so nicely that all it took was adding a couple of 3” strips of body molding tape on the perimeter and pressing it back in tightly.
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Mark
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Signal Orange ‘71 Ghia Coupe, “Otto Schtick”

[jpajya]

Nice. Looks like a good option. Thanks again.
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John
'70 Ghia convertible