Super Ultimate 3rd Brake Light Build

Precisely

 

@MESO or anyone.. Are the 2 outer holes supposed to be precisely aligned with the KC light hole or just a tad bit off? Mine is a bit off:

 

Off. They have to align with the truck mounting holes.

 

Whew! Thanks for the quick reply

 

I sent you a message about buying the prototype if its still available.

 

Meso, are the KC5 housings still going to be available, anytime soon? If so, any idea time frame.

 

I'm having an issue with two of the red lights in my BD5. One of the lights is working intermittently and the other one looks like it is running at about 50% power. I'm fairly confident my extremely amateur wiring skills are to blame. Would you guys think it's the ground or the power wires that I need to rewire? I'm assuming power because the two white lights seem to work perfectly. Thanks for the help!

 

Do yourself a favor and pick up a some quality heat shrink butt end connectors, a ratcheting crimper, and a heat gun. It will be $50 spent today that will pay dividends for years to come. I’m not necessarily recommending the tools linked below, just providing a couple modestly priced examples. Happy modding!

Titan Tools 11477 Ratcheting Wire Terminal Crimper

$20 TITAN 11477 Ratcheting Wire Terminal Crimper Tool for Insulated Terminals, Fixed Jaw Crimper

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069TRKJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5tc9CbBZ9QZQ1

REXBETI 1800W Dual Temperature Heat Gun, 140℉-1210℉(60℃-654℃) High Power Hot Air Gun, Ergonomic Body Design, 2 Nozzle Attachments, Fast Heating In Seconds, No Smoke Issue

REXBETI 1800W Dual Temperature Heat Gun, 140℉-1210℉(60℃-654℃) High Power Hot Air Gun, Ergonomic Body Design, 2 Nozzle Attachments, Fast Heating In Seconds, No Smoke Issue

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759MHB45/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_svc9CbXTNYED3

 

Post a pic or a diagram of what you have so we can see what you have going on.

 

I might have a housing already made up and ready to wire in if you're interested.

 

If that's the tool to crimp the pins for the all weather connectors I THANK YOU SIR!! I've been looking for that tool forever!

 

Wiring is one of those things where having the right tools makes a HUGE difference. I used to struggle and curse my way through it but now I actually kind of enjoy it...

 

The curse for me is not knowing the right terminology for the electrical wiring and not having any supply shops for wiring where I can just as them the question lol

 

If you are using the run of the mill crimp connectors then yeah, but if you mean the weatherpack/Delphi type connectors then no.

 

I don't have a wiring diagram unfortunately. My lights go like this: Red-White-Red-White-Red. I have the power wires for the two white lights connected together, then the power wires for the three red lights connected together, and last the five ground wires connected together essentially making three separate wires. I can't remember the colors from the stock wires, but everything was connected and working previously.

It's going to be kind of a pain to undo those wires and reconnect, so I guess I'm just looking for validation that starting with the power wires for the three red lights makes the most sense? The two white lights seem to always work, so I'm assuming there is a bad connection in the power wires for three red lights.

 

Idk to be honest. I’d start with the connections but to me the LEDs shouldn’t be like 50% dim and then one unit not lit at all. If the connection was crap I would’ve thought they’d be on/off not in between but idk. LEDs aren’t exactly the same as incandescents. If wired in parallel they do have the ability to hog current. Maybe that’s what’s happening but I would think a lot more people would be having that issue.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate the response. That's why it's kind of weird to me. If the connection was bad for the three that are connected together, I would expect all three of the lights to be having issues. Not one working at 50% power, one working correctly sometimes but not at all at other times, and one working correctly at all times.

 

Thanks for the offer, think I'm still on the fence about the ultimate 3rd brake light. I really like the KC5 design its so, in your face when lit up. I just worry about durability.
Meso, hasn't had his housings subject to the most extreme environments like Texas in the summer for months on end. least I haven't found anyone to put a review up on his housing. Ive seen reports of corrosion on the KC lights along with water intrusion this concerns me especially when the existing factory light is such a dork design.
Love the KC5 design it is very functional fits the body lines of the Tacoma well. But for four hundred plus to replace my light I'm slightly apprehensive. If Meso, has a bonafide affordable, Ip69 rated LED he's designing from the ground up thats easily obtainable (for spares) and replaced then the HEX series will be the ultimate 3rd brake light I'll invest in. But again thanks for the offer.

 

Anyone know the best way to remove the “KC silkscreen logo”? from the lens without messing it up? I’m thinking acetone would probably ruin it.

 

haha thats so killer dude. everytime i look at it i like it more.