Brake Light Pulser ... DIY

[rawlus®]

clearly i misinterpreted the sprinkling of CAPS and !!!! as something else. my apologies.

[bigcritter]

When I use CAPS, it's for emphasis only! I'm not shouting......or attempting to indicate that I am. I've been accused of that before, and it's not the case. I'll either use CAPS, or quotation marks just to "emphasize" certain words!! So please don't "misconstrue!"

[Billc]

If they were talking about red flashing lights then what about your turn signal lights. You know mine are red so I guess I can't use them anymore.

I would like to install mine but does anyone know which wire is the hot one on a Cabrio?

[Old SGM]

If flashing red lights of any kind are a violation, then do not use your emergency flashers, because your tail light will flash and they are red.
It would be reasonable to think the flashing red light referred to in the law would not apply to factory installed lights, i.e. the 3rd brake light.
But each state has it's own rules.
A couple of years ago my 27 roadster's electric fuel pump overheated and locked up while I has coming home from a Hot Rod show. Within minutes a Penn State Trooper pulled up behind me and told me he had already called a tow truck and if my car was still stopped when the tow truck arrived, my car would be impounded for being a traffic hazard, it did not matter if I could fix it within minutes, if I stopped that was enough for him to have my car impounded. Luckly I got it going before the tow truck arrived. It made we wonder if his response was because he did not like Hot Rods or cars with Virginia plates? In Virginia it is common to see State Troopers using their cruisers to protect the rear of a car while the driver is changing a flat or fiddling under the hood.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Old SGM

... In Virginia it is common to see State Troopers using their cruisers to protect the rear of a car while the driver is changing a flat or fiddling under the hood.

I've seen VA State Bulls actually helping people change tires.

[Kidbyte]

BillC,

I have the same problem with my passion just now. I cut the wire to install the flasher. The brake light never worked again. Now my car will not come out of Park, the brake light does not work and the ABS light on the dash is on. What is going on? I have restored the wiring to the way it originally was. I checked the bulb and it is ok.

Kidbyte

Originally Posted by Billc

I was installing the flasher unit on my Cabrio and now 7 days later I still do not have my car back from the dealer.

I cut one of the wires and hooked up my volt meter and could not find any power with the switch on and the brake depressed. Could not get the car out of park so I had it towed to the dealer.

He said the shifter was bad but now is saying that the brake switch is bad. I don't know if I will have to pay for this or not but its been there since last
Friday. Part was lost in shipping is what I am told.

I don't see what I did could hurt anything. I cut the wire without the switch on. I don't see how this could make the brake switch bad.

I will just have to wait till I get the car back.

[xcrew229x]

Lord only knows what'll happen if a light burns out............

[Kidbyte]

It's unreal... No brake lights at all, shifter locked in Park, ABS light on and ESP light is on. I checked the brake bulb, fuse and they are all ok. Rechecked my brake light wiring, ok. I can temporarily get it out of Park by using the technique of flipping the little yellow lever under the shifter cover. If you ever put it BACK in Park, it's stuck again. Guess the smartcenter will be getting a call from me tomorrow morning.....

Kidbyte

Originally Posted by xcrew229x

Lord only knows what'll happen if a light burns out............

[Kidbyte]

I cannot find a "fuse 38" in my 2008 Passion. Could that have been fuse 28?

6:40am - Next morning
Well, all fuses appear good. I can get it OUT of Park, but if you ever put it back in, it's "Lock City"! ABS and ESP indicators still on. This thing is buggier than an old Jaguar. I just now hit 1,000 miles. After review, it seems I am now a member of an ever growing club within the Smart Community. Guess I will have to pull my old reliable 98 MB C280 out and get to work that way. They'll have to come get the little bugger today.

Kidbyte

Originally Posted by Old SGM

Found fuse 38 (that controls the brake lamp switch) to be blown and that a 7.5 amp fuse was installed from the factory where a 15 amp fuse should have been present. Installed fuse. Cleared faults and test drove vehicle. Everything OK at this time. Case #DTAC1128."

[GMGDave]

The laws on the flashing lights are for permanent flashing lights, Or lights that will flash all the time when the light are turn on. Lights the flash then go solid are legal. I have contact MA as I lived there once and talked with the state police inspections bureau, they have no issue, I sent them a video of the light and they said not an issue.