Yup, it was mandated starting with the 1986 model year.

The flashing brake light isn't a bad idea at all, though. I should look into the legality in NY. Flashing lights on cars can be tricky, as far as vehicle codes and laws go. The last thing you need is for some cop to think that you're impersonating an emergency vehicle.

 

Were it visible from the front (or even the side in some jurisdictions) it could definitely be a problem, but the third brake light is only visible from a narrow cone in the rear, and should be OK in any rational state.

Let's face it, some driving instructors even suggest to their students to pump their brakes very lightly a few times when they start braking to get the attention of those behind.

For myself, if I'm on the freeway and there is a massive, sudden slowdown ahead, I will often hit my hazard flashers at the same time as my brakes just to give those behind a quick heads-up that things aren't right. No way do I want to be at the front of some 27 car pileup...

I'm not in California (Thank Ghu!), but knowing how Cali is, since these are actually approved by the Cali DOT, they should be OK most anywhere.

 

tomas
did you cut into the w-b negative wire or mount it?

 

Bite, I just use a 3M "tap" to connect the flasher module to the W-B wire - no cutting/splicing.

AND, I changed out the Third Brake Light (TBL) for a new LED TBL from Oznium.... Flasheer still runs it just fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iyhCZPCWIg

 

Here's that Oznium LED TBL on eBay for half price...

Well made, fits well, looks good.

Here's what I looks like from inside, installed...

 

Hey thanks for the tip.

Great price. I just picked one up on e-bay.


I have ther rear-aleart brake light module also to go with it.

 

Ditto^^^^^^^^^^^^ just need to grab the flasher now.

 

Very nice schematic documentation! Will put this on my mod list, as a to-do!

 

Just as an aside: I've notice that if I press the brake pedal just hard enough to turn on the brake lights, the flashing third appears for some reason to make tailgaters back off more often than just the regular non-flashing lights. An unexpected plus.

 

What did you connect the wire to?

 

I'm afraid I don't understand the question. Which wire?

 

Oh I see, you bought that thing to make it blink.

I just want mine to stay on with the parking lights, but still get brighter when I press the brake pedal.

 

Here is a picture of the one I got.

The green and white wire on the third brake light gets cut for this?

The black and white wire gets tapped?

 

That's quite a different looking module from the one I got, but except for wire color on the module itself, seems very similar.

As to your connection question, you sound like you have it exactly right. The schematic for connecting it up is on the first page of this thread, you just have to use the right color wires on your module.

Good luck!

 

It says to cut the green wire on the unit if you want it to blink even more!

 

Sounds like a decent option.

For my car I just wanted the initial 3 seconds or so of flashing to get the attention of the somnolent Bozo behind me, but sometimes I think a few more flashes might not be that bad an idea.

 

Gracias, Tomas. I ordered the same combo of IBF and TBL for my slow xB. Got another IBF for my wife's car, too.

 

I like it..good job Thomas
and thanks for the tip....

 

Oznium ships fast. I got my TBL on Wednesday. Waiting for my IBF now.

 

The IBFs arrived 2 days after the TBL. Got it all installed and working today.