3rd Brake Light Sticker Help

[Kevin Cook]

I recently purchased the 3rd brake light sticker and I searched to forum for instructions but didn't come up with anything. I remember hearing something about having to remove the rear seats...??? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Porkchop]

If im not mistaken you have to take off the rear deck to access this which would include taking the seat backs off, only like 4-6 bolts

 

[SHODWN]

remove

The lower seat
The Upper seat (4) bolts
the 2 side panels
rear package tray cover

and your there

 

[Funmart6]

When I replaced the rear speakers in my '97, all I had to remove was the rear seat "back" (4 bolts), and then that gave me access to remove the package tray trim panel. As I recall, the trim panel was attached by one push pin fastener. You can bend the trim panel in order to remove it from under the side panels but be very careful as to not bend it too much or it will break. It is made of some kind of fiberous card board material, looks kinda cheap to me but I guess that is how they make 'em these days. This should give you access to the third brake light if I recall correctly.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Easier to just remove the bottom seat though. The upper seat is 4 bolts. You need a 13mm socket for those. Once you get everything apart, just push in a little on the light bezel and pop it off.

Also, if you are tinted or plan on getting tint, now would be the time to paint the bezel black so it does not stick out like a sore thumb once your tint is done.

<small>[ June 17, 2003, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: RCADDELL ]</small>

 

[Funmart6]

" Easier to remove the bottom seat though"

Why would you want to remove the bottom portion of the seat when trying to get to the third brake light bezel? shrug

By the way, very good tip about painting the bezel black if you have tint. My SHO is Ebony Satin with grey interior and the car came with tint and, yes, that grey bezel stands out like crazy right now, but not for long, it will be painted black as soon as I get back from the auto parts store with the paint! thumb beer

<small>[ June 18, 2003, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: Funmart6 ]</small>

 

[Kevin Cook]

Yep, thanks for the tips guys, I was planning on painting it black for sure... with the tan interior it would stick out like a sore thumb... especially with 5% limp tint all around wink

 

[Funmart6]

By the way, the package tray trim panel is attached by 2 push pin fasteners. I just had it all apart again to paint the third brake light bezel. Now it is gloss black instead of grey.
My wife thinks I am crazy to go to such trouble just to make a change to something that possibly no one will ever even notice. I guess to some it may sound like a lot of trouble removing the seat back and the trim panels and then the bezel itself, just to paint it and then put it all back together, but I like it and it does look a whole lot better to me and that is all that matters. thumb

 

[SHOGHOST]

what kind of paint should be used if you are painting the back light for when the windows are tinted?

 

[spragers]

Anyone have a link to what these brake light stickers look like, or where to buy them? I did something similar on my '91 police package, but then the third brake light is right in the back window

 

[99V8SHO]

Can somebody that has done this before write up step-by-step instructions on how to remove the rear seats for us folk who have never done it before? Thanks.

 

[Funmart6]

In order to get to the package tray trim panel, rear speakers,and 3rd brake light bezel you have to remove the rear seat (upper part/ seat back).
All you have to do is fold the pass thru parts of the seat down and you should see 4 large bolts that are 13mm in size, you cannot miss them, they are the only bolts exposed if I recall correctly.
Remove these bolts and lift up on the seat back and it will come right out,(I just flipped it upside down and removed it through the rear driver side door). Now you will be able to remove the package tray trim panel by removing two black plastic push pin fasteners. I didn't have to remove the side panels in order to get the package tray trim panel out of the car, I just simply pushed down on one side of the trim panel and kind of lifted the side panel out and the trim panel came right out from underneath the side panels, just be careful, the trim panel will bend a bit but don't over do it because it looks like it will break easily. Once that is out of the way there is an insulation mat that just lays there and is easily removed. Now you have access to your rear speakers (if you ever want to upgrade them)and the 3rd brake light bezel. The bezel is held in place by some plastic tabs and is also easily removed, just take note of how the tabs lock in place and move it around a bit, it will come out, I think I pulled it back away from the rear glass and up to remove it, don't forget to remove the bulbs first. When you have it out of the car, remove the silver reflector from the bezel and use masking tape to cover the backside and frontside of the lens and now you are ready to paint! I used plain old "Color Place" (Wal-Mart) gloss black spray paint to paint my bezel, just did it yesterday (Monday). Just be careful and spray light even coats and it will look great. I let the paint dry for about an hour and then put it all back together and it looks great! No more gray bezel standing out like crazy, but a nice black one that blends in well, all you really see is the red lens.
As for where to get the stickers, I have seen some on "ebay" that say "Ford". They look nice but I don't have one yet, I guess if I ever get one then I will do this all over again.
I know this has been a long read but I hope it all helps. thumb