posted by Trung (Squall)

before it gets buried and deleted... as quoted from Ed:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/etli01/3rd%20brake%20light%20DIY/Slide1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/etli01/3rd%20brake%20light%20DIY/Slide2.jpg

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:clap: Nice write up.... someone was bored. Trung :P

WOW! nice write up.. but that still looks too complicated for me ! LOL haha

So will this be in the Tech Section for future reference?

So will this be in the Tech Section for future reference?
yup.

nice write-up. got some pics with it finished on the car?

borrowing some pics..

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/etli01/3rdBrakeLightBeforeAfter.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/SquallLHeart/LED%20swaps/184_8476Medium.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/Carlosxt/tC%20Mods/DSC01604.jpg
http://www.weckstrom.com/scion/brakelights.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/3lement4E/Picture023-1.jpg

^^WOW that looks so good!

i hate you guys. . now i kinda want one again.. :doh: hhahahahahahaha

looks great! gj!

That looks great. thats the one thing that i didnt like was the light didnt fully light up.

hey. which one of u guys has one in stock rdy?

finally did this damn paypal thing. so im ready to purchase now.

were all sold out at the moment.

let me know when you get more and prices

will do!

you guys should sell the whole thing and then hook up and installation would be all we would have to do, since i would probably break something with the dremel and the cracking of the plastic

we do offer the complete plug and play lamp.

complete plug and play lamp??

as in the whole third brake light??

hey I'm interested in purchasing the whole plug and play kit. e-mail me euklidATgmail.com please with pricing and install info. thanks! I have paypal!

yea...thats what i want. the complete plug and play thing.

who do i paypal.

i have paypal too. any pics of the plug and play??

plug and play

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/3lement4E/Picture018.jpg

dont they sell a light bar that not only is full but it lights up fuller depending opon break pressure or something to that nature

no.. no one sells anything like that for the tC.

it has been made before, i know that... the individual did alot of extensive wiring as well as installing components where the brake pedal is.

ah i just remember seeing one a few years back that was the perfect size for one..anyway i know u can get a costum one or just buy one that fits the length and just i guess"retro fit it" ill prob be doing so once i get my tc but..that might be a while

so guys....who am i paying so i can get this brake light?

is someone selling this 3rd brake lite already assemnbled??? if so let me kno how much that would be awesome!!!

I'm kind of out of stock right now. People who have already paid will get their lights or DIY kits first (naturally).

I will let everyone know if I have any left over.

How much do you charge for you guys doing the job i may take a long drive to do this :P

the little LED_Headz factory :P

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/3lement4E/tcfactory.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/3lement4E/tcfacory2.jpg

^ cant wait to work on this table. Wink wink...

i rather not send my own TBL out cuz then ill have a hole in my trunk...but if thats what i must do and someone can assure me a 1 day turnaround w/ some ultra fast shipping...ill front it then. i want this damn TBL lol.

definetly one of the cleanest mods u can do.

we have TBL in stock, we just dont have the actual arrays in stock. I dealt with you before. Hopefully once i get arrays, i'll let you know. Sorry bout that.

so how much is the tbl for the plug and play??

we have TBL in stock, we just dont have the actual arrays in stock. I dealt with you before. Hopefully once i get arrays, i'll let you know. Sorry bout that.

ah its ok bro. it took my so long to get situated. its totally my fault. But yes. once u get those array things i can paypal you a.s.a.p.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i195/djasthmatic/untitled.jpg

Call me weird, but i enjoyed the DIY and the extra $50

wow sweet!! i'm definitely interested in a kit please let me kno how much and when u will have some available.

They look so nice kinda looks like the S2000 lights at night

Hi folks,

We're not allowed to mention specific prices unless it's in the Sponsored Sales Section (I think....). Please see our thread there for the 3rd brake light (Just use the search function). Our prices are on the 1st page of that thread. The thread has been locked because we aren't paying the sponsor fee anymore. If that thread has been deleted you can just email me etli @ stanfordalumni . org (Just remove the spaces)

Ed (etli)

hey. i want dibs on the first one avail. lol

waiting to paypal u that money.

Please talke to Paul (Dakine) or Alan (o5_TRD_TC) for future 3rd brake light modifications and the DIY kits. I won't be doing the modifications anymore although I will still be available to answer questions about the DIY if you like.

Please contact Paul or Alan for future 3rd brake light mods.

As always, you can still contact Trung (SquallLHeart) for LED mods to the gauges, HVAC cluster, etc.

that looks really good...nice write up

just wondering but i noticed in the last step u left the tape on ...do u take that off..lol. or after the epoxy cures

just tear off what u can, or use rubberbands.

i just talked to dakine or he pmed me about the DIY kit and he told me its discontinued. Is there a way i can still do it

Wanting to see if there's enough interests! feel free to start a list if u want ;)

Great DIY thread

I was wondering about the LED cathodes and anodes.

How can you distinguish between the two when you hook it up?

they're labeled on the LED array

Where would one purchase the materials to do this themselves, for instance the LED array?

List for full tbl DIY kit
1) rvpps2rocks
2)....anybody

List for full tbl DIY kit
1) rvpps2rocks
2)cessntony
3).....V next

I started a list in a new thread so go here
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=163853&highlight=

Where would one purchase the materials to do this themselves, for instance the LED array?

Been a while since I've looked at the thread. We bought directly from the distributor the LED array which is a company called Future Electronics. They are distributing for the LED folks but there is a minimum order of 32 array - so that's their cost ($6) X 32 = $192 + shipping. So it's not exactly practical unless you want to stick the other 30 arrays somewhere else on your own car.

just wondering but i noticed in the last step u left the tape on ...do u take that off..lol. or after the epoxy cures

The tape is left on to hold the light together while the epoxy cures. Like alan and paul have suggested in past posts, you could also use rubber pands (zip ties, twistie ties, whatever) just so long as they won't slip during the drying process. I used tape so I can more easily control the pressure holding the light together.

After the epoxy cures, I used to take the tape off and then put more epoxy on the spots that the tape used to cover.

FYI - to save yourself some future headaches - tape up the face of your brake light too - espeically if you have tint on it. It will protect the face from getting scratched up during the construction. Also, it will keep you from accidentally getting any epoxy on the face of the light when you're applying it.

lol why is it afterwards i find out about this FYI..i got epoxy on mine but it was only a lil bit so i scratched it off with my nail and it came of ....big gasp of relief there

yep it can be removed on smooth surfaces easily soemtimes

Don't remember if I've posted this before but here goes;

When installing your new light onto your car, remember that the light is now only held together by the JB weld. Now JB weld is pretty impressive stuff - I certainly can't rip apart the light by hand. But I would suggest that you don't torque down on the mounting screws when you re-attach the light to the car. If you tighten the bolts too much it is still remotely possible you'd generate enough force to crack the epoxy. In other words don't "tighten until you can't tighten no more".

ed,

too late for some... lol

THANK YOU >>> !!!

your welcome!

fast repl... ;)

always try to :D

Quick question from a DIYer...

..couldn't these boards be made by hand? From the pictures it looks like they are just LEDs and a few resistors.

Anyone care to explore?


Anyone know what voltage/watts/etc you are shooting for with these arrays or what the prefabbed arrays electrical measurements are? I have a soldering iron with an itchy trigger fngers and tons of resistors waiting to be used! :lalala:

Oh..and for the interested DIYer I found this link in my travels...

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

So happy I found this!

Yes, you can make these yourself if you're so inclined using a prototyping board and your own components. The problem is, you have to be skilled at soldering. AND you have to come up with a way to secure the components to the proto board. Solder may look like metal but, depending on the solder you use, it doesn't have "much" physical strength in tension or compression. When you're trunk is bouncing down streets with big potholes, or just un-even pavement, you're really shaking the hell out of the solder joints. My understanding regarding most people who do automotive wiring is that they use physical connecters like quick-connects, and butt-crimps.

PM'd

what's the difference between the regular, smoked and red TBL

uhh.. color?

what's the difference between the regular, smoked and red TBL

Nothing - it's just different colored cellophane / vinyl film you put over the outside of the light.

I was wondering if someone can measure the length and height of the TBL?

i just totally messed up my car doing this... but it looks alright all the damage is under the covers and on my hands...

when i have some more time i'll change it out to a pure red led bar. no more of those crappy superflux and 5mm leds...

take pics of what your talking bout not really sure how you can screw it up

the 3rd brake light case was snapped in half. but thank god i had Weld-on #3 and 2500grit sand paper. you cant see the line unless your like a foot away staring straight at it.

my only option is to outline the while light diffuser.

how did it snap in half?

the 3rd brake light case was snapped in half.

how did it snap in half?

yes i did....

and to make it none visible i have to tint the sides...
but after i get a better Red LED light bar.

i'll post a pic of my messed up 3rd brake light.

i said "HOW"....

i said "HOW"....
i didnt know you were native american alan. :rofl: :silly:

ANYWAYS. so you cut open the light and snapped the gray part of housing in half ...or the lens?

lol sorry 05trdtc i guess i was a little sleepy to see that how...

lets just say go slow on the cutting its not cell cast acrylic...so if it gets too hot i'll crack and deform.

i took me 30mins to take that dam thing out and i just wanted to finish this thing so i guess rushing isnt a good idea. also had some deep cuts so be careful ppl.

im still looking for that solid single Die LED..

Yes, you can make these yourself if you're so inclined using a prototyping board and your own components. The problem is, you have to be skilled at soldering. AND you have to come up with a way to secure the components to the proto board. Solder may look like metal but, depending on the solder you use, it doesn't have "much" physical strength in tension or compression. When you're trunk is bouncing down streets with big potholes, or just un-even pavement, you're really shaking the hell out of the solder joints. My understanding regarding most people who do automotive wiring is that they use physical connecters like quick-connects, and butt-crimps.

thats incorrect. solder is what holds led's to the circuit boards.. nothing else. these led's are called snap led's and are put together by a machine. but most led's are soldered. it is a solid connection and dosent come loose.. there are things/times called cold solder joints, but that is different. they can take a beating as thats what they were designed for.

as for quick connects/butt splices, those are the least reliable connections known to man. nothing is more permanant/reliable than a soldered joint/wire. It can be proven very easily.

take apart any led factory or aftermarket led item and you will see it all soldered..

BTW: nice writeup! good for the cheapy's / DIY'rs out there.. bet that took awhile to write up.. LOL..

BE PATIENT WITH THE DREMEL, IT CAN OWN YOU!

frustrated bump because this never made it to the tech section and took me forever to find.

Edit: it made it to the tech section, I was looking for third or lighting not 3rd.

alphabetical order ftl :(

actually.. it's listed under '3rd Brake Light (Full)' under the tC, electronics section of tech

sorry you had a tough time.

Hey Trung, I thought this made it to the DIY list? from the tech section right?

yea.. it's like the first one..?

edited my above post - sorry for the confusion.

It might be worth nothing that in place of the DIY kit, (at the moment, unavailable) one can pick up 2 stock TBL's off the PPC and have a nice bright TBL for a fraction of the cost of the competition.

Best of all you get to practice with your dremel, and pick the best cut to glue back together into your TBL.

if there's enough interests ill bring it back...

Hello, are you guys still doing these TBL's? I don't want to do it myself, please pm me the price. I'm in SoCal, so I can drive if you're close... Thanks!

you guys still have some diy kit trung

they're discontinued. but I just happen to get one off of a member here. gonna do it tomorrow. will post pics!

im looking forward to bring back DIY kits! stay tuned!

will it be the same exact kit? any changes?

finished, dried, gave it a second layer of epoxy, dried again and finally installed it this morning. btw, these leds match nicely with the tyc leds

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1454/img7090.jpg

will it be the same exact kit? any changes?


exact same kit!