Electrical Question- 3rd Brake Light

[goody90q45]

I got a rear parcel deck without a 3rd brake light for my Q. I unplugged the light and installed the deck but now I get the "stop lamp inoperative" message in the dash cluster. I'm sure this has to do with the 3rd brake light being unplugged.

I'm an electrical noob but I'm going to take a stab at the fix. It's a 2 pin connector so would the fix be as simple as permanently installing a jumper wire between the two female connector pins? I don't want to do this before getting the go ahead from the electrical gurus for fear of shorting something out. Thanks in advance.

[qship96]

no,it will create a short circuit and blow the fuse!,if anything,a resistor should be wired across the 2 pins to fool the warning display into thinking a bulb is in there drawing the correct current

[maxnix]

Get the spoiler with the 3rd brake light and the harness.

[goody90q45]

Get the spoiler with the 3rd brake light and the harness.

I've already got the spoiler with third brake light installed, That's why I'm swapping in the parcel deck without the 3rd light (no holes in the deck).

a resistor should be wired across the 2 pins to fool the warning display into thinking a bulb is in there drawing the correct current

Great idea. What size resistor? Radio Shack is down the street.

[Q45tech]

A resistor is a bad idea because it will need to be large and will get very hot just like the 2 bulbs in 3rd brake light do!

When you connect the 3rd light in the spoiler correctly [same 2 wires that feed the inside one] the problem will go away.

[goody90q45]

When you connect the 3rd light in the spoiler correctly [same 2 wires that feed the inside one] the problem will go away.

When I reconnect the parcel deck brake light the message goes away. The spoiler is connected correctly so I've probably got a marginal rear (stop) bulb socket that doesn't activate the error message without the parcel deck light connected (higher amperage/voltage to the rest of the circuit?).

By the way, I found the unused plug in the Q45t parts car glued under the thick insulation on the rear deck. There's no jumper installed when it's not in use so I've definately got a problem somewhere in the circuit. For now I've taken the easy way out and reinstalled the parcel deck with the light. Error message is gone.

[Q45tech]

Based on the number of rearend Q I've seen an additional few HUNDRED LED would seem useful.

Enough that the following too close driver feels the warmth a hundred feet behind on a 20F day every time you touch the brakes.

A rear radar system that activates following too close warning based on speed.

[maxnix]

Goody, you have a serious problem that may cause your car to explode.

The solution is to immediately wrap your t model rear parcel shelf in bubble wrap, box it carefully and express it to me. I will carefully handle it and render it to a safe configuration upon arrival.

Trust me.

[goody90q45]

I wish I knew you needed one. I gave away a tan deck last week to a local NICOnaut. I'd had it in my shop for 6 months.

[maxnix]

Some day I may convert the standard to the t out back. I prefer it slightly in getting the CHMBL out of the view rearwards.

[goody90q45]

I got a rear parcel deck without a 3rd brake light to go along with the spoiler for my Q. I unplugged the 3rd brake light and installed the deck but now I get the "stop lamp inoperative" message in the dash cluster. I'm sure this has to do with the 3rd brake light being unplugged. Any ideas?

Well, after 6 months of asking questions and troubleshooting I finally figured this one out. Actually it was Heath who made the brilliant suggestion that the brake lamp sensor needed to be swapped out for one from a touring model which came with a spoiler installed. Heath- please step forward and recieve your award.

I swapped in what I thought was a sensor from a 91Q with a spoiler. It's color was purple but it must have been from the base 91. I think the one I needed was green and I sold it. This morning while looking for a sensor for another member I came across the correct one (I knew I had it somewhere) in the bottom of a bin. It's one digit higher than the sensor in my base Q. I went out at 4:30am, plugged in my newly found jewel, unplugged the 3rd brake light, and viola!, no brake lamp message. I drove all the way to work laughing and with a huge grin on my face. It was great to get one up one the Infiniti gods.

For the record, if you're going to install a spoiler and the parcel deck without a brake light, or you want to unplug the 3rd brake light, you will need to change the brake lamp sensor. The correct P/N is 28425-60U21.

Thanks Heath for your suggestion. I'll finally get to install my rear deck that's been gathering dust for the past 6 months.

[Q451990]

I'm glad I could help! Just hearing that someone besides me has done something to a Q in his driveway or garage at 4:30 in the moring is reward enough!

Heath

[maxnix]

Kudos to Heath.

Sometimes the obviouos is the most difficult to see.

I will use this someday.