Still on the restoration project. The dreaded third brake light.

[Vallince]

As in the title, I'm in the process of trying to restore the third brake light. all I see online these days are Led conversions of this mount, but I really wanna keep the originality of this vehicle meaning I want to stick to the neon bar as its more pleasing to look at than a lot of red dots peppered on top of my hatch back. The ballast i'm pretty sure is the culprit and have Scoured the entire internet in hopes of finding a new unsoiled one so it'll last years and I have no idea how to rebuild one. Can someone recommend a place where they have gotten them or will any 12v Ballast work as long as it fits? I'm still new to this side of electronics but I definitely want to go the neon route with this project. As for the bulb itself I am pretty sure its still good since I hear with neons on this model SUV, that the Ballast is almost always the one to go first.

 

[donalds]

I gotta see how much you spend on this old Tec
I wish u luck
Interesting

 

[Mbrooks420]

You can easily make the LEDs not look like individual bulbs.

I think you’d need to match the outbound voltage as well, just just the 12v on the primary side.

Easiest bet is to hit the pick and pull.

 

[Vallince]

You can easily make the LEDs not look like individual bulbs.

I think you’d need to match the outbound voltage as well, just just the 12v on the primary side.

Easiest bet is to hit the pick and pull.

I had a feeling the pick and pull may be inevitable. As I can't find any on the entirety of the internet that either is new or rebuilt. Just pick and pulling a ballast means you have absolutely no idea how much life they have left.

 

[C420sailor]

Correct, the output voltage needs to be in spec.

Not sure if the specs are printed on the factory ballasts…but if you knew the numbers you should be able to track down something that would work with a little modification

 

[Vallince]

Correct, the output voltage needs to be in spec.

Not sure if the specs are printed on the factory ballasts…but if you knew the numbers you should be able to track down something that would work with a little modification

Thanks my guy I will probably take the ballast out in the near future and see what the specs are for input and output. I did find Fluorescent Ballasts that were 12v in, but since this is a neon bulb idk if a regular Fluorescent one will do the trick. Also do you know the output factory models?

 

[Vallince]

I gotta see how much you spend on this old Tec
I wish u luck
Interesting

Ittl be worth it if I can keep everything original. It was my moms ride and I grew up in the back seat of that thing. If I can restore it to its original glory. that will be enough

 

[donalds]

If I can restore it to its original glory. that will be enough

We can help with that

I'm not too good at restoring things but I am good at making them go faster Kinda lol

 

[J_C]

This topic should be merged with the other one.

Ittl be worth it if I can keep everything original. It was my moms ride and I grew up in the back seat of that thing. If I can restore it to its original glory. that will be enough

If you suffered a loss then I appreciate that and feel for you. At the same time, I am quite sure that mom does not care nor want you going through a burden just to restore some factory 3rd brake light. Probably the opposite, she wouldn't want this obsession. I apologize if you take that offensively, it was only meant in the most helpful way possible without writing a page+ more that just isn't fit for an automotive forum.

 

[Vallince]

This topic should be merged with the other one.


If you suffered a loss then I appreciate that and feel for you. At the same time, I am quite sure that mom does not care nor want you going through a burden just to restore some factory 3rd brake light. Probably the opposite, she wouldn't want this obsession. I apologize if you take that offensively, it was only meant in the most helpful way possible without writing a page+ more that just isn't fit for an automotive forum.

Thanks, for that. No offense taken. I understand what you're trying to relay. perhaps i should convert it to LED. just hope it will still look as good as the old one did.

 

[410Fortune]

Led look better and less complex imo

Anything with the word ballast that is not on a boat just causes issues, seriously ballast always go bad it is the nature of the beast. Led were a
Blessing, run with it