I just put a spoiler on and am wondering if I should keep the factory rear window 3rd brake light and hook up the one in the spoiler and go with 4, or just disconnect the rear window one and only use the spoiler light as my 3rd brake light. What do you guys think?

 

If you wire the spoiler brake light according to factory wiring specs but still leave the 3rd brake light connected, you will find that only one of the two bulbs in the 3rd brake light will be lit, since the bulb socket for the second bulb is used to connect the spoiler bulb harness.

In any case, it looks sorta tacky IMHO to run all four brake lights...

 

When the dealer installs a rear spoiler, which brake light do they use as the third, the rear window one or the spoiler one?

 

I have had the factory spoilers on my last 3 cars & the dealer installed them all. My 2000TL was installed when I picked the car up new the high mount brake light in the window is not connected.
The same was true for my 94 ACCORD EX. My 90 ACCORD when purchased new I did add the spoiler untill later. The dealer installed it & disconnected the brake light in the window.
I asked them why they told me that it will draw from the lights on the spoiler or something. But most cars that have them the high mount brakelight is not connected. If it is I am sure that it was not done by a dealer or the person has reconnected the light.

 

I thought so too...but the Bodyshop that installed my spoiler spliced the wires and now I have all 4 brake lights on so I didn't really have a choice.

The bad: To some it doesn't look good (even to me at first).

The good: You tend to light up the road more. (Great for warning tailgaters)

 

Did they splice it because they weren't sure as to how to use the third-brake light connector to wire the spoiler brake light? You probably already know this, but with a spoiler (OEM or otherwise) that has the proper connector, it is connected to one of the connectors to the third brake light (there are two--one for each bulb, as the third brake light is lit by two bulbs) and then disconnect the other third-brake light connector so that you don't get the "half a third brake light" look...

 

Its illegal in some states to have 4 brake lights. In NJ, if you add a spoiler with a light, you have to disconnect the factory light in the window. Some people dont, but I dont like how it looks. If you have the funds, I'd buy the rear interior valance without the third brake light so it looks nice and clean.

 

Just pop the two bulbs out if you don't like it.

 

You guessed it. They must of not known that it uses a proper connector. That is my only guess on why they did it this way...yet at the same time I'd rather not mention it because they did give me the spoiler for free. I don't want to insult anyone

 

But that's why this board exists--you coulda asked someone here for the wiring info and it would have been all good!

 

My dealer installed my spoiler but left the rear window brake light working. As Tdoh said, it looked tacky 'cause it would only half way light up. Tdoh's bro (my tint installer) kindly disconnected it -- so now the spoiler is the "third" light. Looks much better in my opinion!

V.

 

Thanks for the input guys...I decided to use the spoiler light as the third brake light and to disconnect the rear window light...I like it much better that was too

 

Halfway as in both bulbs were supplied power but were not as bright as before? Or only 1 of the 2 bulbs were working?

I have both bulbs on at the moment...but still uncertain if the brighness of it dimmed. I know it should...but maybe the change might not be too much for the naked eye.

 

Thanks. I had the wiring diagram when I got the instructions for mounting the trunk springs. Problem is they installed it without my input...and I was hoping they would of already known how to wire in the spoiler (oh well). I know...worst case I just pull both of the bulbs out...but the fact that I replaced those with Polargs hyperwhites (In hopes that it will shine brighter through the tint for safety reasons) a few months back (before I got into an accident...and the free spoiler) kinda bothers me. If only I could use those bulbs elsewhere then I guess it wouldn't be such a waste. Till then I guess Im keeping them in. Too bad our backup lights use a smaller socket.

 

In Vincent's (and probably a few others where the spoiler brake light was connected to one of the third brake light connectors) case, they left one bulb of the third brake light still connected so...just one of the two bulbs were lit, hence the "looks like part of your third brake light is out" look.

As far as whether your bulbs are now a bit dimmer--you could just go to the next meet and compare with someone who has the spoiler brake light connected properly!

Tony

 

:flamer: :toothless

 

Funny you should post that--I just had my wisdom tooth pulled last Friday!:toothless