3rd Brake Light Replacement

[camhabib]

One of my biggest grievances with this car so far is with the sorry excuse for a 3rd brake light. I saw another 2016 Civic driving at night and thought something was wrong with the brake light until I got home and looked at mine. It's a single somewhat dim light in a very poorly built reflector housing. Even on the cheapest Toyotas and the like, it's a more substantial and evenly lit display.

I'm looking for suggestions or ideas on how to replace the bulb or entire assembly. I don't care about making this an LED necessarily, I would just like something brighter and easier to see for those driving behind me.

Has anyone looked in to fitting a LED strip, brighter bulb, or upgraded reflector / housing from another Honda car?

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[Newflyer3]

I believe 2007 Civic Coupe EX and up models had an LED brakelight. The housing for the 3rd brake light are exactly the same from the 7th to 10th gen Sedans. However, it install it, the whole rear deck has to be torn apart and retrofitted. Its not like replacing a bulb.

 

[camhabib]

I believe 2007 Civic Coupe EX and up models had an LED brakelight. The housing for the 3rd brake light are exactly the same from the 7th to 10th gen Sedans. However, it install it, the whole rear deck has to be torn apart and retrofitted. Its not like replacing a bulb.

Removing the deck lid doesn't seem overly involved. My current idea is something along the lines of replacing the single bulb with a string of LED's or the like. I was hoping that a nicer assembly from another Honda would be the same dimensions and be able to just swap in, but after some investigating, it doesn't look like that's the case.

 

[Newflyer3]

I meant that there is a replacement housing for an OEM LED strip. It is the same dimension that you can swap in but it involves taking out the rear deck first.

If you'd like an red lens, you'd get the one from the Civic EX Coupe said above. If you want a clear lens, pull the trigger on the 3rd brakelight from the 12-15 Civic Hybrid.

 

[slgta]

Will something like this work ? http://www.dx.com/p/3-2w-220lm-32-1...xible-lamp-strip-12v-30cm-166414#.VwrsMnrejyA
or ...
http://www.dx.com/p/15w-waterproof-...20lm-700nm-white-dc12v-1m-391823#.Vwr5QHrejyA

 

[Newflyer3]

Will something like this work ? http://www.dx.com/p/3-2w-220lm-32-1...xible-lamp-strip-12v-30cm-166414#.VwrsMnrejyA
or ...
http://www.dx.com/p/15w-waterproof-...20lm-700nm-white-dc12v-1m-391823#.Vwr5QHrejyA

LOL I wouldn't waste my time with something cheap ($5 CAD) when it affects other users on the road.

This is the 'proper' replacement for the LED 3rd brake light. It's #1 and the first part labeled.

 

[1WickedCivic]

This is the 'proper' replacement for the LED 3rd brake light. It's #1 and the first part labeled.

This part will replace the 3rd brake light & is plug-n-play?

 

[Newflyer3]

Yes, it's plug and play and the housing has been like that shape since the 7th gen civic

 

[1WickedCivic]

Yes, it's plug and play and the housing has been like that shape since the 7th gen civic

Thank you, that was very helpful. Now I gotta figure out how to take the rear deck apart for the install, lol.

 

[nurvcom]

I know my next mod going to be

 

[MarkP]

I hope someone already installed this with an OEM 3rd brake light from 2014 Civic Hybrid as posted by Newflyer3. I got a screenshot of the rear deck from 2016 Civic and this is the 3rd brake light looks like.

 

[Newflyer3]

I checked the electrical connector with my coworkers 2010 Civic Hybrid and its the same.

The incandescent 3rd brake light housing used on our cars is the same right down to the 7th gen civic. So knowing that this fits in a 2014 gas civic, the architecture shouldnt be different and the hybrid brake light should work.

 

[MarkP]

@Newflyer3, you are totally right. I saw this diy from DriveAccord.net and it is basically the same lamp assembly that is used in Civic 10th gen. He replaced it with '06+ Civic Hybrid 3rd Brake Light just plug-n-play and it fits perfectly!

Here's the link for reference:
http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/5...upe-sedan-led-3rd-brake-light-conversion.html

 

[Newflyer3]

It's a good mod to do but I'm not going to do it yet until my original bulb shits the bed. Then maybe it's an excuse to get me to yank out the rear deck and all that hassle.

However, there's something appealing knowing that if my incandescent CHMSL dies, I can replace it with a $2 bulb rather than to replace the whole part. Chances, are, people in public driving behind you aren't going to know or care if it's LED or not and if the LED assembly breaks, it's $100 and the hassle of tearing out the deck instead of a $2 bulb swap.

 

[mhwkr01]

It's a good mod to do but I'm not going to do it yet until my original bulb shits the bed. Then maybe it's an excuse to get me to yank out the rear deck and all that hassle.

However, there's something appealing knowing that if my incandescent CHMSL dies, I can replace it with a $2 bulb rather than to replace the whole part. Chances, are, people in public driving behind you aren't going to know or care if it's LED or not and if the LED assembly breaks, it's $100 and the hassle of tearing out the deck instead of a $2 bulb swap.

Kind of jumping in late in the discussion but I've been wondering the same thing for years. I saw what you saw about the Civic hybrids CMHBL housing being identical to our normal incandescent bulb's. The only problem is trying to do the swap and i think the rear deck would have to come out if it were to be done unfortunately.

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