Cappuccino Owners Club  ›  How to...  ›  high level brake light
Topic Started by:
Printable Version

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Friday, March 4th, 2011, 12:46:41am

Sorry if this has already been addressed but I would like to make the high level reflector thing into a working brake light.
How easy is this bearing in mind my back window ect is all off the car at the moment anyway so thats done. Has anyone done this if so exactly what parts did they use, did they fit properly or need any adjusting and where did they get them from ? Thanks in advance from Alli

Posted by: Andy Posted on: Friday, March 4th, 2011, 8:45:57am
Reply: 1

Most people have used the LEDs from another high level brake light.  You will need to open up the reflector either with a knife or cutting disc. Then open up the donor high level brake light and put the whole LED and wiring into the reflector and then seal it back up. There is a wire already on the boot to connect it up to.

Posted by: muggle3000 (Guest) Posted on: Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:00:12am
Reply: 2



Here's a picture of mine with the lens already removed.  I bought the strip of LED's off ebay.

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:24:11pm
Reply: 3

Thank you both as mine isnt at home just now does anyone know what length LED strip fits the caseing. I think I will do this while it is in bits :)

Posted by: Andy Posted on: Friday, March 4th, 2011, 11:34:48pm
Reply: 4

I'd take a guess at 30cm but not absolutely sure.

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 12:45:03am
Reply: 5

Ok thanks Andy I trust you :)

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 12:57:28am
Reply: 6

Just counted Adams led`S 36 :) THANKS

Posted by: Andy Posted on: Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 12:13:53pm
Reply: 7

Yeah that's what I did too then made a guess :D

Posted by: muggle3000 (Guest) Posted on: Monday, March 7th, 2011, 8:37:09am
Reply: 8

I think I need new glasses.  I tried a number of times to count those lights & kept going wrong.  So I gave up.
As a wise man once said "if somethings hard to do it isn't worth doing"  Homer Simpson.

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Tuesday, March 8th, 2011, 12:27:45am
Reply: 9

Bloody hell thats a bit of a job parting the black plastic from the main red refector hands and wrists aching now but it will be worth it, managed to do it without breaking it too so chuffed now off to find red led strip, e bay here i come, Andy almost spot on 30cm maybe a tad longer but not much :)

Posted by: Andy Posted on: Tuesday, March 8th, 2011, 6:59:56pm
Reply: 10

Probably need the innards of a 30cm brake light which will then be slightly shorter then...

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, 12:25:36am
Reply: 11

eh Andy ??? you mean I need more bits I cant just use the 30cm strip of LED`s and get someone who knows what there doing to put the wires wherever they go lol, Lost now lol

Posted by: Andy Posted on: Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, 8:21:20am
Reply: 12

Just a strip of LEDs is fine! A lot of people have got those by opening up an existing high level brake light that's all. ;)

Posted by: shonen-angell (Guest) Posted on: Thursday, May 5th, 2011, 3:08:40pm
Reply: 13

do you have an ebay link for the led strip you bought?

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Saturday, May 7th, 2011, 1:42:57pm
Reply: 14

hi im pretty sure it was this one. I have had no probs and it was perfect for the job very bright too good luck getting the cappa one apart lol :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-30CM-30-Red-LED-Flexible-Neon-Strip-Light-/330462417532?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cf118527c

Posted by: shonen-angell (Guest) Posted on: Monday, May 9th, 2011, 12:06:52pm
Reply: 15

many thanks - bizarre that they do them in quantities of 2. Are both needed? And if not - can I buy your spare off you instead?

Posted by: muggle3000 (Guest) Posted on: Monday, May 9th, 2011, 4:02:17pm
Reply: 16

Personally I'd go for this one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/32-LED-Car-Red-Third-Brake-Stop-Tail-Light-Lamp-12V-/320664158953?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aa912c2e9

strip it down to get the led's out.  Get a hot glue gun & fix the pcb into your chassis.
If I rember correctly fit some 2.4mm straight spade connectos on the wires.  These then push onto the pins in the existing connector in the boot.

Posted by: muggle3000 (Guest) Posted on: Monday, May 9th, 2011, 4:28:46pm
Reply: 17

This ones pricey but perfect

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/36-LED-3rd-Brake-Light-Auxilary-Strip-Brake-Light-NEW-/170637172251?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27bac49e1b#ht_500wt_689

Posted by: alliballi (Guest) Posted on: Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, 1:33:29am
Reply: 18

Adam will certainly know what works best but I can say mine so far have been great I dont fancy stripping 2 lights down the cappa one was a nightmare to prise apart. I only used 1 strip and they are very bright. I have no idea at the moment where i put the other strip. They are very inexpensive and that seller seemed to be good, very fast in posting out. You dont need both strips but always good to have a spare in case you ever need it, mind you thats if you can ever find the spare one should you need it lol, im still hunting for a back light unit I brought to replace my slightly cracked one, can I find it lol.
Back to the point Adams advice will be the best if you ask me, had I had that advice when i done mine I would have went with it :).

Posted by: shonen-angell (Guest) Posted on: Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, 4:05:23pm
Reply: 19

Many thanks - I've put the 36 LED one on order via EBay. (better buy a hot glue gun whilst I'm at it...)

» Print page generated: Monday, May 20th, 2024, 5:12:34pm «
Powered by e-blah Platinum Series © 2007