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MG MGA - Third Brake Light Continued

The third brake light thread late last year showed how to install a centrally located LED brake light on top of the body, using the Lift-a-Dot studs as an anchorage.

I have just installed my version - see image. The item cost £4.70 including postage on Ebay. When it arrived I discovered it was exactly the same width as the central two tonneau Lift-a-Dots. I was therefore able to dispense with a supporting bracket and instead inset the female fasteners into the base. It is working great.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Wow Steve, that is a very neat installation. I assume its a tight fit and twists forward to remove? did you use the double lift the dot male fasteners?
Neil McGurk

Neil

No, I did not need to use the double length. The unit tilts forward to release.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

Perhaps you could give more details of the ebay item and wiring on your website
dominic clancy

Dominic

This is the light, although I got it from a UK supllier slightly cheaper: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-24-LED-Car-Red-Third-Brake-Stop-Rear-Light-Lamp-New_W0QQitemZ270323036973QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item270323036973&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I just ran a wire to the unit from brake light input terminal on the indicator input relay. The other goes to earth. You could wire directly from the brake light switch, but my back is giving me gyp and I could not contort myself to get down there. I ran the cable through the bulkhead, behind the cockpit wall trim, under the door rubber, behind the wall trim in the battery box area and up to the unit.

The unit was in fact about 1/4 inch to wide to locate both Lift-a-Dot centrally on the bases, so I dismantled it all, cut to suit and reglued.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Same item on ebay U.S. for $19.00: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LED-RED-THIRD-BRAKE-LIGHT-3RD-UNIVERSAL-TAIL-LIGHTS
N Kopernik

Looks good Steve - must look out for one.
Cam Cunningham

Since fitting my light I have noticed just how much brake pressure I need to illuminate any of the brake lights. Looks like the pressure switch is on its way out. Another job to do!

Steve
Steve Gyles

HI Steve, try and get a genuine old part if you can the new bits have quite a high failure rate, I went through a couple of "new" ones which either didn't work or failed, until I picked up a secondhand one which worked perfectly


gordon
g c pugh

Steve,
I looked into using led bulbs during my resto and was told they would only work on Negative Earth (its a function of the LED, not a case of insulation from the +earth etc). I take it you converted to such previously?
regards
Colin
C Manley

Steve

Could you re-post your picture? For whatever reason it will not open for me, and both eBay links do not come up with the desired page.

Thanks

Larry

Lawrence Hallanger

Larry

I will post the picture it on my website tonight and post the URL here.

The Ebay item was no. 270323036973

I did not order it from them. It seems a number of suppliers are advertising the same unit. Rained heavily last night on the home and did not let in water (I got a bit damp and also continued to function). Looks quite easy to seal up the joints if necessary.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Larry

This is my page on the topic: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/Third%20Brake%20Light.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

Thanks for the link. Now I can see what you are talking about. By the way, the link you posted doesn't work. However "www.mgaroadster.co.uk/Third Brake Light.htm" does the job.

Thanks

Larry
Lawrence Hallanger

Steve, just got one of those lights, and as a previous contact advised, these operate only on Neg.earth..no good for those of us with original wiring, i.e. positive earth. Is there any way around this, and keeping to original?
Gary Lock

Gary

Should not make any difference to the car's polarity. The unit is a plastic body and comes supplied with 2 wires. First time I wired it up it did not work, so I just swapped the wire connections round and it worked fine.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve, Again thanks for your tip. Like Gary, I have just bought one too - off ebay for the same price you paid - I also have an original + earth car - don't envisage any problem connecting it to the brake light circuit in the boot. - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

I have been operating my system with excellent success (my opinion) for the last 3 weeks. I have a luggage rack fitted and one added bonus is that I see the reflection of the illuminated LED light in the top cross bar. I invariably glance in the central mirror whenever I touch the brakes (part of my defensive driving measures) and it is always comforting to know that the lights are working.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 24/01/2009 and 18/02/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.