Disable DTC error 3rd brake light

[YBABRAT]

Did a search for this before posting.

Some may have removed stock 3rd brake light for their customizations.
I found disconnecting the light will throw a DTC error. Not saying to remove the 3rd brake light to do this, but only if you are no longer using the 3rd brake light.

When the connection is disconnected, you can insert a 1k ohm resistor leg in the connector for each wire. You can trim to fit and cover with electrical tape. It fools the system in thinking the 3rd brake is functional.

At least if you wire an aftermarket 3rd brake kit, you can directly wire from brake light without triggering a 3rd brake DTC error.

Some states require a 3rd brake light on non vintage vehicles. It's a federal requirement to sell a new car, and having states following insurance guidlines in adoption, will have laws that require them.

Stay tuned when.... States requiring fully functional GPS and advanced safety features to get your car to pass inspection.

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[mwilk012]

The light is absolutely required.

 

[Heimkehr]

No state requires a 3rd brake light. It's a federal requirement to sell a new car, that is all the reason for them.

By way of example, Pennsylvania -- the state just to the north of you -- requires a functioning 3rd brake light in order to pass the annual Safety inspection.

 

[Terrymo]

After some of your self reported driving antics you might want to put it back on

 

[YBABRAT]

I stand corrected... will change my original post.

Though I expect once my 18"x10" wheels with 2" spacers and 13" wide tires are installed, 80" will be my width with my Rubicon. If not a custom 3rd brake light will be added for inspection.

 

[Centurion07]

I stand corrected... will change my original post.

Though I expect once my 18"x10" wheels with 2" spacers and 13" wide tires are installed, 80" will be my width with my Rubicon. If not a custom 3rd brake light will be added for inspection.

I'm pretty sure (not entirely) that vehicle width is fender to fender for Wranglers. It excludes mirrors, so I suspect wider tires would be excluded as well.

 

[YBABRAT]

Well off to get my tail gate sorted... I am halfway into a full tire carrier delete... thus my disable DTC error. I may do a metal cover thing since I want the backup camera functional. Brain is in think mode... will have something soon. At least inspection and 3 year tags were done a few days ago. TX gave me a 2 month pass, which ended today, and confused some in Virginia.

 

[Mocopo]

AZ doesn't require the 3rd brake light to pass inspection. Also, AZ does not require an annual inspection. Not even emissions. Only vehicles registered within certain city limits. I haven't done emissions on a vehicle in my entire adult life.

Yay for living in the wild west!

 

[Heimkehr]

AZ does not require an annual inspection. Not even emissions.

Nor did Florida, when I was stationed there.

The NCO at our In-Processing brief made it very clear that in exchange for this dispensation, local LE was less forgiving of small defects, like a burnt-out or even a dim tail light. They would light up drivers that much more frequently, and prioritized issuing pricey citations in lieu of cost-free Fix-It tickets, as a sort of trade-off for the absence of an annual inspection program.

A few of my friends in the barracks learned from direct experience the accuracy of what the NCO told our group that morning.

These things can go both ways.

 

[YBABRAT]

AZ doesn't require the 3rd brake light to pass inspection. Also, AZ does not require an annual inspection. Not even emissions. Only vehicles registered within certain city limits. I haven't done emissions on a vehicle in my entire adult life.

Yay for living in the wild west!

California and Illinois are that way. Though cities require smog. In CA Monterey and Redding don't require smog only at least 20 years ago. IL just big cities and suburbs require smog only.

Remembering back on granny's car... until 70s California had vehical inspections.

 

[Terrymo]

Surprisingly as of 2022 there are still counties in CA that don’t require smog certification. My understanding is Monterey and Shasta county do require it.

 

[YBABRAT]

Surprisingly as of 2022 there are still counties in CA that don’t require smog certification. My understanding is Monterey and Shasta county do require it.

I can see Monterey, since Fort Ord was shut down and became a UC system, more commuters have filled Santa Cruz and college students filling Monterey and surrounding areas. Tehema Co. and Trinity Co. Don't require smog checks. Not sure of Yuba and Sisku counties.

 

[mwilk012]

AZ doesn't require the 3rd brake light to pass inspection. Also, AZ does not require an annual inspection. Not even emissions. Only vehicles registered within certain city limits. I haven't done emissions on a vehicle in my entire adult life.

Yay for living in the wild west!

I could argue it does. The vehicle is equipped with the light, removing it does not meet the requirement of "in good working condition."


"If a vehicle is equipped with a stop lamp, tail lamp or other signal lamp, each lamp shall:

1. Be maintained at all times in good working condition."

 

[Mocopo]

I could argue it does. The vehicle is equipped with the light, removing it does not meet the requirement of "in good working condition."


"If a vehicle is equipped with a stop lamp, tail lamp or other signal lamp, each lamp shall:

1. Be maintained at all times in good working condition."

If you actually read into the reasoning for that law being signed, it was to give cops another reason to pull suspected criminals over, and the example used by the governor was a busted tail light. In all honesty, it was born from an extremely unconstitutional premise... but that's for another convo with a drink or 2 in hand =)

 

[zouch]

actually,..

correct that CA does not do inspections for passenger vehicles.
and they do not require annual smog checks, either.

after a vehicle is a certain number of years old (it varies for Gas vs Diesel and weights), unless the car was given to you by certain family members, Smog Certs are required when you register a car in CA. and if Smog is required for a car you're selling, you must provide a Smog Cert less than 90 days old to the buyer when you sell a car.
(there are no Military exemptions.)

in some counties (not cities) smog checks are required every *2* years.
according to the Calif DMV If you live in one of these counties, you need a smog inspection when you renew your vehicle registration.
Alameda
Butte
Colusa
Contra Costa
Fresno
Glenn
Kern
Kings
Los Angeles
Madera
Marin
Merced
Monterey
Napa
Nevada
Orange
Sacramento
San Benito
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Shasta
Solano
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Tulare
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba

the following counties require smog checks in certain zip codes only:
El Dorado
San Diego
Placer
San Bernardino
Sonoma
Riverside


(side notes: Redding is in Shasta county. Monterey is the name of a city in Monterey county. smog is required in both Shasta and Monterey Counties.)

California and Illinois are that way. Though cities require smog. In CA Monterey and Redding don't require smog only at least 20 years ago. IL just big cities and suburbs require smog only.

Remembering back on granny's car... until 70s California had vehical inspections.

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