DIY REMOVAL OF THIRD brake light!!!!!!!!

simota1 · 03-17-2010, 07:59 AM

here you go guys.... i thought this deserved a DIY... its such a pain in the as$ to take out this lil guy... anyways i took pics while taking out my third brake light... this is for those of you that wanna paint or tint your third brake lights...

alright!!! lets get started shall we

tools:

4 spreaders for body filler
a 10mm socket
flat head screwdriver

step 1....
pop out the panel on the hatch..... there is enough space to pry the edges start with the left corner then right and work your way around.... there are fasteners on the center of the panel soo your gonna have to stick you hand in the middle of the panel to release these clips.... im pretty sure there are special tools to pop out the fasteners.... BUT i dont have them sooo i used what i had... my hands LOL the panel looks like this...

step 2 ....

now the back of the hatch is exposed go ahead and remove the plug that plugs to the third brake light... ull see a tab on the plug push down and pull it straight out

super easy

step 3....

unbolt the single 10mm bolt holding the third brake light.... once you are done with that your done and ready for the fun part....

step 4.....

you are now ready to pry the third brake light out... BUT first there is a seal that holds the lense onto the body... sooo start prying and work your way around the third brake light... this can be done even with a sport wing on... i did it with my wind on.... dont be scared... BE GENTLE though there are small plastic tabs that hold the lense onto the housing it will snap or crack off if your not careful

once you have broke the seal around the third brake light start using the plastic spreaders and shove them all on the bottom side of the lense... this will start to make the tabs release... now start pulling upward and prying it slowly..... eventually it will come out and you have the lense out

step 5

now here is a tricky part... and the part that needs the 4 spreaders....

since the housing is stuck inside your hatch at this point... wedge the spreaders on the metal clips.... like this position

this will push down the metal clips so it makes your life wayy easier... now one the back side there are the guide shafts... these are the two long plastic looking things.. push them together STRAIGHT forward... if you did the spreaders trick correctly it will go forward with ease.... now the tabs will hit the edges of the hatch before the light housing can fully come out.. u can just pry them with a screwdriver and then viola!!!!

there your go the light is out.... all you have to do now is line it up and pop in the lense again...

now you can tint your third brake light paint it or whatever... BE CREATIVE

installing it is a breeze... just pop it back in and bolt the one 10mm and plug the plug and ur good to go

i wish all of you luck... first thing is always be sure you are aware of the risks that you are taking when you are gonna do this mod.... like breaking all the clips on the lense... take your time and dont rush... having a buddy really helps!!! i did this alone and i was holding done the hatch with my forehead hahah yup!!! my FOREHEAD then i pushed the guide shafts with my hands.... lastly... i am not responsible for anyone that breaks their third brake lights... you all know that you can break stuff while taking parts out of your car be sure you are willing to risk this and have enough belief in yourself that you can do it.. if you dont then.... dont go through with it... you might end up breaking something and regret it....

DIGItonium · 03-17-2010, 09:15 AM

Nice! I'm waiting for some clear smoke replacements (wink wink.... EVO-R).

simota1 · 03-17-2010, 01:31 PM

whoa!!! i didnt know they make clear smooke ones?!? since when?!? lol that'll look perfect with the jdm taillights

DIGItonium · 03-17-2010, 11:49 PM

Not sure yet, but I did inquire them. IIRC, I was told that it is in the works. There has to be one sooner or later.

schrute · 03-18-2010, 02:54 AM

Great DIY Simota. +1 Rep

simota1 · 03-18-2010, 05:00 AM

thanks schrute

thezmonster · 10-05-2010, 05:47 PM

thanks for the DYI Im workin on it right now and took off the third brake light it was not that bad taking it off but pushin in the metal clips to take it out in order to put the third brake light cover in to the assembly

thezmonster · 10-05-2010, 05:55 PM

in progress

thezmonster · 10-05-2010, 06:07 PM

simota1 · 10-05-2010, 06:51 PM

no problem man

looks like its working out good bro

Baer383 · 01-09-2011, 04:25 PM

Thanks Simota it came out pretty easy, I work in a body shop so it wasn't to bad no broken parts.

TLSpeed · 06-20-2012, 12:24 PM

Great write up! Im still trying to decide what to use to black my lights. Ive heard problems with regular window tint bubbling/peeling due to the shape of the tail lights.

Bonzo · 06-20-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLSpeed

Great write up! Im still trying to decide what to use to black my lights. Ive heard problems with regular window tint bubbling/peeling due to the shape of the tail lights.

I was scared to do this 3rd brake removal, so I used Oracal (think that's how it's spelled) tint vinyl from Andy at Bluebatmobile, and had the actual tail lights and the fog light (which I made a 4th brake light) painted by my local body shop for $175. It all matches up really well.

Don't have a pics from straight on back, but you can see the tails here.

Check that, I do have pics of the rear.......

rhd · 06-20-2012, 10:54 PM

simota1 YOU are the man!

+Reps for you dude.

DEpointfive0 · 12-02-2012, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Nice! I'm waiting for some clear smoke replacements (wink wink.... EVO-R).

I want a clear one point blank

03-17-2010, 07:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 405	DIY REMOVAL OF THIRD brake light!!!!!!!! here you go guys.... i thought this deserved a DIY... its such a pain in the as$ to take out this lil guy... anyways i took pics while taking out my third brake light... this is for those of you that wanna paint or tint your third brake lights... alright!!! lets get started shall we tools: 4 spreaders for body filler a 10mm socket flat head screwdriver step 1.... pop out the panel on the hatch..... there is enough space to pry the edges start with the left corner then right and work your way around.... there are fasteners on the center of the panel soo your gonna have to stick you hand in the middle of the panel to release these clips.... im pretty sure there are special tools to pop out the fasteners.... BUT i dont have them sooo i used what i had... my hands LOL the panel looks like this... step 2 .... now the back of the hatch is exposed go ahead and remove the plug that plugs to the third brake light... ull see a tab on the plug push down and pull it straight out super easy step 3.... unbolt the single 10mm bolt holding the third brake light.... once you are done with that your done and ready for the fun part.... step 4..... you are now ready to pry the third brake light out... BUT first there is a seal that holds the lense onto the body... sooo start prying and work your way around the third brake light... this can be done even with a sport wing on... i did it with my wind on.... dont be scared... BE GENTLE though there are small plastic tabs that hold the lense onto the housing it will snap or crack off if your not careful once you have broke the seal around the third brake light start using the plastic spreaders and shove them all on the bottom side of the lense... this will start to make the tabs release... now start pulling upward and prying it slowly..... eventually it will come out and you have the lense out step 5 now here is a tricky part... and the part that needs the 4 spreaders.... since the housing is stuck inside your hatch at this point... wedge the spreaders on the metal clips.... like this position this will push down the metal clips so it makes your life wayy easier... now one the back side there are the guide shafts... these are the two long plastic looking things.. push them together STRAIGHT forward... if you did the spreaders trick correctly it will go forward with ease.... now the tabs will hit the edges of the hatch before the light housing can fully come out.. u can just pry them with a screwdriver and then viola!!!! there your go the light is out.... all you have to do now is line it up and pop in the lense again... now you can tint your third brake light paint it or whatever... BE CREATIVE installing it is a breeze... just pop it back in and bolt the one 10mm and plug the plug and ur good to go i wish all of you luck... first thing is always be sure you are aware of the risks that you are taking when you are gonna do this mod.... like breaking all the clips on the lense... take your time and dont rush... having a buddy really helps!!! i did this alone and i was holding done the hatch with my forehead hahah yup!!! my FOREHEAD then i pushed the guide shafts with my hands.... lastly... i am not responsible for anyone that breaks their third brake lights... you all know that you can break stuff while taking parts out of your car be sure you are willing to risk this and have enough belief in yourself that you can do it.. if you dont then.... dont go through with it... you might end up breaking something and regret it.... Kbiz26 likes this. __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

03-17-2010, 09:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Nice! I'm waiting for some clear smoke replacements (wink wink.... EVO-R). DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________

03-17-2010, 01:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 405	whoa!!! i didnt know they make clear smooke ones?!? since when?!? lol that'll look perfect with the jdm taillights DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

03-17-2010, 11:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Not sure yet, but I did inquire them. IIRC, I was told that it is in the works. There has to be one sooner or later. __________________

03-18-2010, 02:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 17	Great DIY Simota. +1 Rep __________________ my journal \| 2009 370z touring \| 6mt \| platinum graphite \| my album second skin \| mr works \| fast intentions \| ssr \| eibach \| hotchkis \| spc \| toyo \| bluebatmobile \| v-led \| jwt \| ventureshield \| tinted tails

03-18-2010, 05:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 405	thanks schrute __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

10-05-2010, 05:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
thezmonster Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 221 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z CB M6 Rep Power: 16	thanks for the DYI Im workin on it right now and took off the third brake light it was not that bad taking it off but pushin in the metal clips to take it out in order to put the third brake light cover in to the assembly __________________ ZMONSTER!

10-05-2010, 05:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
thezmonster Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 221 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z CB M6 Rep Power: 16	in progress __________________ ZMONSTER!

10-05-2010, 06:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
thezmonster Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 221 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z CB M6 Rep Power: 16	__________________ ZMONSTER!

10-05-2010, 06:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 405	no problem man looks like its working out good bro __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

01-09-2011, 04:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 30	Thanks Simota it came out pretty easy, I work in a body shop so it wasn't to bad no broken parts. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

06-20-2012, 12:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
TLSpeed Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Red Deer Posts: 11 Drives: 09 370Z Sport 6M MB Rep Power: 13	Great write up! Im still trying to decide what to use to black my lights. Ive heard problems with regular window tint bubbling/peeling due to the shape of the tail lights.

06-20-2012, 10:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
rhd Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: In the shop Posts: 281 Drives: Women Crazy Rep Power: 13	simota1 YOU are the man! +Reps for you dude.

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