3rd brake light assembly install

I'm thinking about replacing the 3rd brake light assembly on my 2000 tundra. Wondering if I need to pull the headliner down to unbolt it from the inside on a first gen. Anyone done this before?

 

Have never replaced, but have for grins attempted to remove 3rd light from the outside when I was in there doing preventative maintenance caulking for water leaks.

That assembly housing is in there tight and was only able to slightly pull the unit out. Felt like it would break it I went farther with it. Have heard others here say yes the interior liner needs removing.

Why are you taking it out?

 

LED replacement?

 

I'm considering replacing mine as well. The halogen bulbs burned holes in mine. Its leaking anyway so I need to replace the seal at minimum but swapping the burned up housing is probably a good idea.

 

Don’t know about the first gens, but the new ones are supposedly a bitch to change out. Headliner does have to come down.

 

My original assembly has holes in it on the two ‘reverse/cargo’ lights. The holes are up high where th heat from the incandescents rose and melted the plastic in close proximity. I replaced those with led’s and they have very little heat. The middle brake bulb hasn’t burned any hole so that one was left as is.

The gasket between outer plate cover and assembly body on mine was in ok shape. I caulked it in place and the outside of the outer assembly body (where the leak occurs) was caulked as well.

Seems like a restoration job is the best vs. tearing out the headliner.

 

Mine is about the same except my gasket is pretty trashed. I'm gonna pull it apart when I get the time and see if there is intrusion from just the gasket or elsewhere. I'm strongly considering pulling the fuse all together but need to survey and correct the damage.

 

If they do leak, where does it leak? When I go through car washes I get my back rest of the rear seat wet on top of the drivers side.

 

Most PIA mod I did to my 16 tundra honestly

 

I'd like to change it out because the incandescent bulbs melted it in there. But if it's going to be a bitch caulk may do with new LEDs.

 

Changing out the housing is too much of a pain in the ass IMO. As long as the lights still work, just switch out the bulbs with leds and call it a day.

 

Any 2007-2019 Tundra will require the headliner be dropped down to remove the third brake light. You can remove the two back a pillars and mid pillar trims and drop the hoodliner on the back area only. You only need to loosen two bolts and un-clip the wire connector. The hard part is all the work to get the hood liner dropped. I believe a 2000 Tundra is bolted from the outside.

 

This^, I will also add that it would be worthwhile to buy a 10mm magnetic deep well socket. You'll thank me later. Good luck

 

Try this simple diy that will help you hands on understand. Take a phillips head and remove the two screws holding the cover and gasket in place. The cover will come off with a slight pry. This will give you access to the bulbs (2 reverse and one center brake). You will see that the body assembly recesses into the truck headliner (this is where the leak occurs).

If you want to go farther, then you can slightly pry that assembly out and caulk it. Push the assembly back in and put another bead of caulk along the top. It will make sense once you open it up.

Do not force the assembly out or it will crack and then you are up the creek!

Another leak intrusion point are the two rain gutter strips on the top that terminates at the front and rear window gaskets. Clean that up and caulk it. Gently!

 

Did mine just last night and am as happy as a lark!!!!

Not as bad as they claim it to be...

Make sure you have small hands (no pun intended), and muscles in your fingers..........

 

Noooooo... Partial Drop---- if can consider a drop.

Remove the back pillar enough so you can slide the liner by (mine was partially attached.
Remove the clips located to the side and by the window.
Use a plastic remover and gently pry down the headliner close to the rear window.
Slide hand now inside the liner and ceiling and gently pry down on the two clips - - they are almost 6 inches inwards, and more towards the middle.
Slide 10mm magnetic socket into pocket where the neck of the bolt is and undo. Be careful going back there.
Once the 10mm are out, the pry out light from bed of truck.

Use RTV Black Silicone and silicone the contact parts on the replacement light

I was in noooooooo rush and it took me almost 2 hours to take out... I wanted to make sure nothing breaks etc....

took me 15 minutes putting it all back together.

Would I do it again??? Hell yeah!!!!

 

Where is the after pic?

 

Nice write up, I did the same on both my 2007 & 2017 and it is kind of a PITA, the magnetic 10mm deep socket is probably the game changer. I have an LED bulb burned out in my aftermarket 3rd light now (they are replaceable). I have been putting off swapping the bulb since its just a pain.

 

I balanced the nut on my pointer finger. Held down the with other hand. And felt for the hole with wih my other fingers and ever so slightly got them on. Only dropped the nut once luckily it was the first one so I took light back it and retrieved it from outside. Painstaking without magnetic socket

 

It’s always going to be a PITA.

Only a few of US will do this mod.....

 

The 2nd and 3rd gen are different. OP has a first gen.

 

Here you go. Full Spyders in the back!

 

Nice. Wonder if its the same install technique as 1st gen? I know my assembly housing would not come out like yours did as it was connected from inside. Did not seem like yours, unless I missed something. No sweat because its not worth the effort for me. I just put in led bulbs and caulked the top.

Good work by the way and thanks for the pics!