Third Brake Light Flasher Install

[Heimkehr]

Seems like every shit box Honda in my area has them.

Possibly that's a consequence of what is or isn't written in the state's Vehicle Code.

I've not observed flashing tail lights, etc. on any non-commercial/non-gov't. four-wheeled vehicle here. Coincidentally, and being curious, I asked about this very subject when the Jeep was at the dealer a few weeks ago for the annual safety inspection. The Service Writer, who holds a PA inspection license, advised me that flashing lights intended to draw attention are legally limited to emergency vehicles.

Perhaps there's a carve-out for motorcycles, because I use this bulb in my Suzuki's tail light (to great effect) and it has passed its own state inspection without issue. Prior to such bulbs coming to market, I used this module to obtain the same effect.

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[AFD]

Coincidentally, and being curious, I asked about this very subject when the Jeep was at the dealer a few weeks ago for the annual safety inspection. The Service Writer, who holds a PA inspection license, advised me that flashing lights intended to draw attention are legally limited to emergency vehicles.

Like a turn-signal? I'm honestly not sure if most of our state's inspection mechanics truly understand the poorly defined legalese in our vehicle code.

Having read through the lighting sections of it myself countless times, I'm still confused myself on what it does and doesn't allow for off-road and auxiliary lighting. Don't recall ever seeing anything specific to flashing brake lights under the required lighting section.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Buster1

Program your offering so your third brake light pulses 4 times in 4 seconds when you press the brake pedal and so that the pulsing does not repeat upon any subsequent application of the brakes for 5 seconds.

Do this and you will not annoy trailing drivers in stop-and-go traffic.... and in most, if not all States, Law Enforcement Officers on the roads and State Vehicle Inspectors if you have to have your JL, State inspected .... will have no issue with your 3rd brake light pulser which rapidly pulses the 3rd brake light.

 

[Flip]

I like it! I think I'm sold. While I'm at it I think I'm going to add on a brake light wheel ring too.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Hi guys. Just wanted to write up an easy mod I just did that enhances safety, though it might not be entirely legal in your area. I installed a third brake light (CHMSL) flasher module. Total time was about 1+15 minutes, with 15 minutes or so to program the module.

Mercedes puts these in most of their cars stock, as well as some Asian manufacturers. Here’s a study Mercedes did if you’re interested in the science.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1155/2014/792670#_i17

https://www.superbrightbulbs.com/dcell2.html

Here’s what I did for the install.

I ordered the X1 module from Amazon. There are other modules you can get from this company too each with different features that the module can do.

I like the X1 because it has the ability to program the flasher to stop flashing with repeated brake applications… like in stop and go traffic. So it won’t keep bothering folks behind me, but on the initial stop… it should help get the attention of distracted drivers.

Once the unit arrives you’ll have to program it with a 9V battery. But the video they have online is actually pretty good. This is a screen grab for the S1, but the video walks you through all their models.

After programming the rate of flash, number of flashes, and other parameters, you’re ready to install!

Gain access to the third brake light wire and ground. I chose to do this in my swing gate, just left of the connector plug. White/green is the + and the gray (or black wire right of the connector) is the -. The third brake light wires are the middle bunch and just have the 2 wires. The upper black wire with the white connector clips is the back-up camera (if you have that option).

The instructions are pretty good and all the splice connectors are provided. You will need a quality wire splice crimp tool.

I won’t get into all the wiring, again, the instructions are good. The red and yellow wires go on the positive wires, and the black clamps on the ground with the supplied clamping clip. The white wire stays unattached and can be used later for reprogramming if desired. I covered the end with a little electrical tape to prevent any problems.

Here it is wired in. Test it here to ensure all is well, then zip tie it down for security.

Good luck!

YES you are 100% correct but a lot of Cities, states, GOVT does not see it and I do not know why.

Flashers have been available for brake lights since the 70s that I know of but for some reason it has faced resistance.

 

[Steadman]

In Texas, we have adopted the Federal 108 standard, which is the lighting laws. This is what manufactures also adhere to when building vehicles in the US. The 3rd brake light, known as the high mounted stop lamp must be steady burning. Flashing is not legal now but NHTSA is looking into the effectiveness and we may see it a standard later on.

In short it is illegal and you can be stopped for it.

 

[Upnarms]

Must suck living in states where they regulate/inspect every little aspect of your vehicle. I read so many posts about folks in states that keep you from doing basic mods. I get it, you can't go around with red strobe lights on your dash , but these nit picky places that control if your tires are allowed to stick out an inch from fenders, if you can sell a lifted jeep, exhaust mods, headlight color temp, and now a flashing brake light. Sorry venting. In AZ you just pay the ridiculous registration tax and you are good. Emissions test every couple years after the first 5 (only in 2 counties and they basically just read your obd for codes) but thankfully no tickytac vehicle inspections.

I already had the tazer so used it. I like it has ability to change number of pulses and the speed of pulse. I do feel it grabs the attention of morons driving and looking at their phones just enough to catch their eye in time...at least that's the hope. Id rather annoy a few drivers if i potentially prevent getting rear ended.

I actually added a couple of brake lights off Amazon to my rhino rack for better visibility especially if I'm hauling bikes. It was a $30 investment but they are great. I need to tap into my current tail lights though, as I just connected them to a 4 pin trailer plug for now.

Great info though, I wish I had this thread when I first got my JL. Maybe I'll put one in the TJ.

 

[Heimkehr]

Must suck living in states where they regulate/inspect every little aspect of your vehicle.

No, it doesn't. There are trade-offs, as you tacitly concede here:

In AZ you just pay the ridiculous registration tax and you are good.

While we do have annual state safety inspections in PA, what we don't have are ridiculous fees and/or punishing property tax schemes that make annual vehicle registration renewals an exercise in having our pockets picked. We pay just $45/yr. for passenger vehicles and $24 for motorcycles. Compare those modest fees with the three- and four-figure(!) registration fees that others in certain states have to pay. No thanks.

As it concerns the absence of annual inspections, I was stationed in one such state (FL) whilst on active duty. Two things became very evident, very quickly:
1. Barely-roadworthy vehicles could be seen every day without having to look for them.
2. LE was that much quicker to light someone up for even a dim tail light, etc.

The risk that any number of drivers behind you may be piloting vehicles with faulty brakes, etc., but who also don't have to care about or account for such deficiencies is a bridge too far.

Where tire poke and such are concerned, some inspection shops are a bit stricter than others. Word gets out soon enough and the informed owner will know where to take his Jeep, etc. to have his vehicle pass and get his window sticker.

 

[AFD]

In Texas, we have adopted the Federal 108 standard, which is the lighting laws. This is what manufactures also adhere to when building vehicles in the US. The 3rd brake light, known as the high mounted stop lamp must be steady burning. Flashing is not legal now but NHTSA is looking into the effectiveness and we may see it a standard later on.

In short it is illegal and you can be stopped for it.

Good info, thanks! Would a briefly pulsing 4th brake light, like the Diode Dynamics HitchMount LED (LINK) and similar products adhere to the Federal 108 standard?

If I'm reading things correctly (possibly not), then it looks like the code doesn't allow for anything other than turn signals, headlights, hazards and side markers to flash, even if they're redundant/ancillary..

S5.5.10 (d) All other lamps shall be wired to be steady-burning.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2004-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2004-title49-vol5-sec571-108.xml

 

[Upnarms]

Good info, thanks! Would a briefly pulsing 4th brake light, like the Diode Dynamics HitchMount LED (LINK) and similar products adhere to the Federal 108 standard?

If I'm reading things correctly (possibly not), then it looks like the code doesn't allow for anything other than turn signals, headlights, hazards and side markers to flash, even if they're redundant/ancillary..

S5.5.10 (d) All other lamps shall be wired to be steady-burning.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2004-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2004-title49-vol5-sec571-108.xml

This doesnt necessarily make it against the law for the consumer to install. The federal standard would apply to manufactures. You would have to check your state traffic code laws to see if it is a violation in your area.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

In Texas, we have adopted the Federal 108 standard, which is the lighting laws. This is what manufactures also adhere to when building vehicles in the US. The 3rd brake light, known as the high mounted stop lamp must be steady burning. Flashing is not legal now but NHTSA is looking into the effectiveness and we may see it a standard later on.

In short it is illegal and you can be stopped for it.

In Texas, I run around with a flashing light on my truck, no front license and very loud exhaust and I haven't seen a Police Officer care whatsoever in living and driving in DFW for 35 years.

Heck, in my AMG, I got pulled over doing 99, around a corner, and somewhat in the wrong lane. the DPS officer was more interested in my car than anything else and we talked a lot about it and he said "just be safe out that" and let me go.

I highly doubt that they will bother you over a blinking brake light and the inspection guy has never hit the brakes and had someone look back there to see if they are working.

 

[Steadman]

In Texas, I run around with a flashing light on my truck, no front license and very loud exhaust and I haven't seen a Police Officer care whatsoever in living and driving in DFW for 35 years.

Heck, in my AMG, I got pulled over doing 99, around a corner, and somewhat in the wrong lane. the DPS officer was more interested in my car than anything else and we talked a lot about it and he said "just be safe out that" and let me go.

I highly doubt that they will bother you over a blinking brake light and the inspection guy has never hit the brakes and had someone look back there to see if they are working.

I understand what your saying, but in black and white terms it is illegal. You can be stopped for it.

 

[AFD]

This doesnt necessarily make it against the law for the consumer to install. The federal standard would apply to manufactures. You would have to check your state traffic code laws to see if it is a violation in your area.

My state's lighting codes were probably written 100 years ago and added to piecemeal by complete morons over the years. Most confusing piece of code I've ever read. It literally states in the older sections that off-road lighting is only allowed to be mounted on the roof or rollbar, then elsewhere makes newer exceptions for auxiliary lighting with very weird and further oddly specific stipulations (can't be mounted forward of the primary headlights and must be spaced 20" or further apart) without striking the older law.

Was mostly just curious if say my state decided to eventually follow the Federal 108 standard like other states have, if something like that would adhere to the letter as it's written today - solely for the purpose of passing state inspections and legal justification for being pulled over by law enforcement.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I understand what your saying, but in black and white terms it is illegal. You can be stopped for it.

Sure but if you look and act like a decent citizen, they most likely will never mess with you.

 

[Steadman]

Good info, thanks! Would a briefly pulsing 4th brake light, like the Diode Dynamics HitchMount LED (LINK) and similar products adhere to the Federal 108 standard?

If I'm reading things correctly (possibly not), then it looks like the code doesn't allow for anything other than turn signals, headlights, hazards and side markers to flash, even if they're redundant/ancillary..

S5.5.10 (d) All other lamps shall be wired to be steady-burning.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2004-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2004-title49-vol5-sec571-108.xml

Its really a grey area right now. Recently they just allowed certain cargo tanks to have pulsating on the rear. I think in the near future it will be standard to have pulsating 2 -3 flashes.

edit: just saw it was a hitch mount. Technically its not a high mount stop lamp since its not mounted as high as practicable. It would just be and extra light thats not regulated. Flashing red, white, blue or green could still be an issue tho.

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