My 3rd break light is out... we failed inspection at the DMV and sent to our local acura dealership... Price Acura In Dover Delaware

after diagnostic, they came to me with the news that it's barely working and a new one is 165$ plus 35 for labor... thats pretty damn expensive for only like 15 led strip isnt it? well is there another option for the 3rd brake light? ie aftermarket, etc? im here right now lol so a fast response would be appreciated

thanks... searched and dosnt look like someone has had a 3rd break light out so...

 

What does "barely working" mean? Does it light up at all? Did they check power going to the light? Don't count on those idiots to give you a correct diagnosis. Get a voltmeter and see if there is power going to the lights. If there's low voltage or no power at all, you could have a bad brake switch.

 

it seemed to me it was faulty... it was VERY dim and at times it didnt light up at all. there is power goin to the light. they tested the light on an outside power source and its all the bulb so they say.

so this is the only option i guess. i wouldve done a mod to it if there was a swappable LED solution rather than this 200$ led from acura... but i dont think there is... been searching for the past 2 hours

 

Don't know how to test or what options you have, but my '05 failed inspection for having 2 of the LEDs out. Luckily I had just bought it certified from an Acura dealer so they just replaced it with no questions asked.

 

i didn't know LED's could burn out so soon ... i thought they had an insanely long lifetime. what happens if the led's in the tail light burn out, entire new tail light?

 

...looked it up in the dealer database, and couldn't find a price list for the 3rd brake light.

....nothing on ebay right now either.

 

ugh. none of my leds were burned out - just DIM. it was replaced for a total of 205$.

when i went out to eat last night, a friend did the brake for me and alas, it was STILL DIM. there has to be another problem. im getting furious. 205$ later for a part they fix BEFORE because the casing was loose, i bet they screwed something up then. i guess i have to call AGAIN for the 3rd time in 2 weeks

this is truly BS. and Trew you were right. I just wish i was more savy with taking my car apart... im pretty scared but thatll go away in time. thanks

 

^ I had a problem with my 3rd brake light being dim, not lighting up or half turn on the other half was off. I started to diagnose it before dropping 200 bucks for a 3rd brake light. It turned up to be a bad brake light switch located right behind your brake pedal. IF you stomp on your brake pedal does the light get brighter or change? It may just be a bad 3rd brake light but it's a simple enough test to do.

 

^ i wish you saw my thread about a week ago

lol they diagnosed that it was a bad light and paid 205$ for replacement. i brought it in today and the second i should your post to the service person, they got a call saying that it was the break switch. now i am seeing if this will be free - they did diagnose a new light was needed when it wasnt.... and we paid for it and labor when it wasnt needed....

but thanks, you are correct sir

 

Yeah it sounds like a typical brake light switch. thats what it usually does on our cars as it's about to go out. Sorry to hear man! I hope they can work with you. BTW chances are they still have the same 3rd brake light in they just changed your brake light switch.

 

My 3rd brake light works maybe twice when I'm braking. Could it me the brake switch as well? My car is 4 yrs old. I hope its a loose connection. Can't see spending $200 for a light replacement

 

dude the switch a blow job and coffee better be free

 

What i didnt understand was that how did they not check the first time w/ the new light that it wasnt working. ugh but it is the switch... it has to be... should be bout 45 bucks all in all

 

Go back and speak in person with the SERVICE MANAGER
Explain that their tech misdiagnosed a large repair bill that did not solve the problem= you dont pay for their mistake in diagnostics..thats why its called diagnosis
Did they charge for the diagnosis too??

PLUS you dont pay for the real problem they do finally fix

If the Manager doesn't agree to that- WRITE to acura corp with copies of all documents, copy of this thread so they know you are on acurazine...they fear the Internet and its fast moving information sharing- bad press on a dealer...

Request a full refund

The switch is the first thing they should check for voltage and adjustment- mechanics 101- these things go out on acura gen2 so gen3 is no different


Perhaps a junior level tech was assigned the job and the service writer wants to make money- so you need 200 part!

For others with actual LED failure- take the thing apart and see what the auto parts store has in LED bulbs/plates to spice in, or plug direct in to the wiring

You see a lot of newer cars with partial LED failures, and a brake light or fog light inop on a car only a few years old.
Quality of mass produced car parts is down~

 

Great info! My brake light switch was my problem. Dealer wanted to "replace a bad light bar", but when I suggested we start with the switch the service tech said
"Oh, that could be the problem and if it is you will get out of here real cheap".

I told him of this thread and went to the parts department and got the switch for less than $13, replacement was a snap, with removing the cover plate, it only took about 15 minutes.

 

glad it helped you!!!....howd you get it for 13? even after the 200 brake light job, the break light switch from the dealer cost me still 95$...