C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

3rd brake light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 08:50 AM
  #1  
theinvid's Avatar
theinvid
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Default 3rd brake light

forgive my newbiness...but I have a light bulb out (i presume) on my "3rd" brake light. uhhh how do you get to it to change the bulb??
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:00 AM
  #2  
SteveDoten's Avatar
SteveDoten
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

LED's, remove the inner taillight on either side, 2 7mm screws and a plug, I think you will need the whole assembly

if anyone has experience replacing individual LED's step in
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 12:57 PM
  #3  
theinvid's Avatar
theinvid
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Default

any idea what the whole assembly sells for?
sounds like a design flaw to me. shoulda been easy access and change a bulb.
damn GM!
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 01:19 PM
  #4  
Mr. Lucky's Avatar
Mr. Lucky
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

It's not a "bulb," and the easiest way to access it is by removing the license plate / backup light assembly and reaching straight up.




Images courtesy "Patches"

Last edited by Mr. Lucky; Nov 11, 2006 at 01:23 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 05:34 PM
  #5  
DngrZne's Avatar
DngrZne
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,218
Likes: 1
From: Cresskill NJ
Default

If it's the whole 3rd brake light that's out, you might just have to reconnect the wire to it again. When I had my 97, the light was out and the fix was as simple as plugging the wire in that fell out
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 10:21 PM
  #6  
USA C5's Avatar
USA C5
Instructor
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 231
Likes: 17
From: Henrico VA
Default Corvette Parts/3rd Brake Light

Try this supporting dealer on monday:

www.FichtnerChevrolet.com

Great Prices, Service, and People!
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 10:33 PM
  #7  
Mike Mercury's Avatar
Mike Mercury
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Default

Originally Posted by connecticut
LED's, ...

if anyone has experience replacing individual LED's step in
I cut mine apart. And you could change one of the bad LED's - except... EXCEPT you'll never find a source for the exact same ones that are already in there.

Sure you can substitute in a similar LED. But now... instead of one (of many) "bulbs" being out... you'll have one that is oddly shaped - or a slightly different brightness. And it still might look as goofy as it did with just the one LED not being lit.

The only solution I can think of to try & continue using your existing CHMSL is to disable the opposing sides good LED. So that you'll now have two "bulbs" out - but they'll be evenly spaced across the entire CHMSL.

But to do this, you'd still have to cut the thing apart, and then glue it back together again.

Last edited by Mike Mercury; Nov 12, 2006 at 03:26 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2006 | 08:09 AM
  #8  
theinvid's Avatar
theinvid
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Default

USA_C5, i sifted through every page of their parts section online and didn't find the 3rd brake light.

-- I hope it's only a disconnected wire...that would be nice.
I'll have to pull out the reverse light/license plate deal and hope not to F that up so I can see if it's just the plug or what. UMM...so HOW DO I TAKE OFF THE REVERSE LIGHT/LICENSE PLATE DEAL?

Thanks for the help guys.

Last edited by theinvid; Nov 12, 2006 at 08:57 AM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 12, 2006 | 01:58 PM
  #9  
theinvid's Avatar
theinvid
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Default

THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!

it was just unplugged.

found a nice link that illistrated how to take the license plate deal off.

just for future reference of ppl in need here it is

pictures and all
http://www.autoelectronicupgrades.co...ll/install.htm

(this site is showing you how to install some blinker deal but it shows how to remove the license plate...which turns out...is super rediculously easy.)
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2006 | 03:23 PM
  #10  
Patches's Avatar
Patches
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Default

Even easier if you take one of the tail lights out - two screws and 30 seconds, you're in.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 12:05 PM
  #11  
Smith Valley NV's Avatar
Smith Valley NV
4th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default Third break light - C5

Thanks for the help, all. My 03 C5's 3rd break light was not working. Took advice of removing inside break light, reached in and giggled the connection to the '3rd' and it fixed it. Great forum - I am in.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 3rd brake light





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:23 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE