ERA Brake Lights Dim

[bliss]

My brake lights work, but they are really dim and can barely be seen in sunlight.

Is there a fix for this?

[patrickt]

Check this thread for a lengthy discussion on brake light upgrades. Just the new bulb is a tremendous improvement -- you don't have to go all the way with the 3rd brake light modification... even though it's a thing of beauty if I do say so myself. LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Check this thread for a lengthy discussion on brake light upgrades. Just the new bulb is a tremendous improvement -- you don't have to go all the way with the 3rd brake light modification... even though it's a thing of beauty if I do say so myself. LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Uhhh, lemmeee tell you, even the snobbiest of Cobra snobs have admired the beautiful and clever craftsmanship of that third brake light. A thing of beauty, yessirreeee. Absolutely gorgeous.

[rodneym]

ERA?
Brakelights?

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

Go get him, Pat.

[bliss]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Check this thread for a lengthy discussion on brake light upgrades. Just the new bulb is a tremendous improvement -- you don't have to go all the way with the 3rd brake light modification... even though it's a thing of beauty if I do say so myself. LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights

Thanks....from that tread.....

I ordered the RED 1157-R45-T bulb from LED Lights, Bulbs & Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS -- they have 45 LEDs on them and are perfect for the rectangular, single bulb, rear lights that have the light vertically installed. I had the "extra bright" bulbs in there, along with the reflectors behind them, but the LEDs make a real noticable improvement. It's a five minute installation, and the turn signals work just fine.

So, I need to order 2 RED 1157-R45-T bulbs, correct? Also, "along with the reflectors behind them" - is that another part that can be ordered? If yes, from who?


Will the bulbs simply replace the ones I have now, no alterations? (I'm not knowledgeable about this sort of thing - just a driver/owner)

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bliss

So, I need to order 2 RED 1157-R45-T bulbs, correct?

Also, "along with the reflectors behind them" - is that another part that can be ordered? If yes, from who?

Will the bulbs simply replace the ones I have now, no alterations?

If you have the rectangular lights, not the two round lights, they are a simple "plug and play" -- nothing to it. The reflectors are a single piece of polished aluminum that just go over back of the lights over the same bolts that you use to hold them to the body. You just use an additional two nuts to hold them on the back. Call Bob P. up and he'll send you a pair -- I'm sure it's less than $50 or so. Let me see if I can find a pic of them and I'll post them for you.

[Murky781]

You guys have brakes? Whhhhyyyy? If anyone is that close behind me that they need a brighter light, they better be pulling my hair and talking dirty to me! For stopping I use guard rails, bumpers and the front wall of my garage. You guys need to toughen up!

[patrickt]

Here's a pic of the reflector. It's a very simple piece of polished aluminum, but it makes for a pretty good difference.

[patrickt]

And this page, about half way down, Options list says they're $22.

[bliss]

Originally Posted by patrickt

And this page, about half way down, Options list says they're $22.

Thanks so much for your assistance - I'm thinkin' that I'm good to go on this.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bliss

Thanks so much for your assistance - I'm thinkin' that I'm good to go on this.

Great. New LED bulbs and reflectors can both be installed in 5 minutes or less with nothing more than your thumb and forefinger. In fact, even ERAChas and RodKnock could do it, working together, after one of their benders.

[ERA Chas]

12,937 SUBSTANTIVE posts...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

12,937 SUBSTANTIVE posts...

Would you prefer they had been procedural posts?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Originally Posted by bliss

My brake lights work, but they are really dim and can barely be seen in sunlight.

Is there a fix for this?

You might have the wire plugs reversed. Try changing them.

[Quik289]

Ditto on reversing the wires at the taillight plug-ins. That solved my dim light problem.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

You might have the wire plugs reversed. Try changing them.

You can check whether things are correct on the light:

Disconnect both wires from the light (making sure that the wires don't ground out).

Turn the parking lights on.

Touch the red wire to each terminal. One will light up brighter than the other. That's the terminal to correct the other wire (yellow or green).

[RICK LAKE]

Guys these Led light are nice but Do have problems just like HID headlights. Some bulb make alot of heat in an enclosed small area and have no outside air to swap with hot inside air. I have seen wiring harnesses, sockets, and lens melted from installing lights that are either too bright or too hot in a tail light or head light housing. Those deflectors should be a Heads UP on the amount of heat these little lights make. If wired right should be able to see them in the day light. Other note while a 3rd brake light look silly on a cobra, it might save your life or whiplash from a rearend accident. Polished Kirkhams are the oNLY car you don't have a problem not seeing any time. Rick L.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Guys these Led light are nice but Do have problems just like HID headlights. Some bulb make alot of heat in an enclosed small area...

These LEDs make absolutely no heat whatsoever.