Removing the third brake light

**skivviss** · 07-29-2010, 04:46 PM

did some checking and found that arizona doesn't require me to keep that pesky rattling eyesore on my rig.

Arizona Revised Statutes

but being a complete idiot with the wiring, will i mess anything up by just cutting the wires to it off and taping the ends and shoving the wire back inside the tailgate?

do i need to be more graceful about it?

**ronjenx** · 07-29-2010, 05:16 PM

I'm no legal expert, but I didn't see anything in your link that said you can remove the third brake light when the Jeep came from the factory with one.

Does Arizona have vehicle inspections?

I know in Maine, in order to pass inspection, all lights that came with the vehicle must be present and operational. (Assuming the inspector knows his stuff.)

DANJEEPO8 · 07-29-2010, 05:23 PM

i took my 3rd brake light off back in december and the license plate light, (to move it all around), and no cop has pulled me over yet. they gotta be in a real dickish mood or bored or something to worry about that crap...and we have very strict BS inspections...

**skivviss** · 07-29-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronjenx

Does Arizona have vehicle inspections?

nope, no real inspection. every couple years they check my fuel cap and plug into the obdi port for an error code download. that's it.

**ronjenx** · 07-29-2010, 05:33 PM

As you probably know, the computer monitors the state of many of the light bulbs and their circuits.

If you want to know if you will have any adverse effects, remove the bulb for a while.

**skivviss** · 07-29-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronjenx

As you probably know, the computer monitors the state of many of the light bulbs and their circuits.

If you want to know if you will have any adverse effects, remove the bulb for a while.

good idea, thanks.

think the superchips will display the errors if they don't make to the display in the dash?

**ronjenx** · 07-29-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skivviss

good idea, thanks.

think the superchips will display the errors if they don't make to the display in the dash?

Don't know about the superchips.

Another thought:

See if there is a separate plug for the third light wiring.

CDavisJK · 07-29-2010, 06:07 PM

Just remove the mount and then leave the wiring harness inside the tail gate. You can fill the hole where the rubber wiring grommet was with a plastic plug from Home Depot.

**krutj** · 07-29-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronjenx

Don't know about the superchips.

Another thought:

See if there is a separate plug for the third light wiring.

I'll bet you're right...chances are that it'll be behind the r/tail lamp.

The harness for a trailer plug is behind the left tail lamp.

Rafi · 07-29-2010, 07:35 PM

yeah its pretty easy you cant mess it up....

a rubber gourmet and a plastic cap will fill the holes

InfernoGirl · 07-29-2010, 07:54 PM

Idk if they changed them from TJ's to JK's, but on TJ's there's a black door inside the tailgate. Unscrew it and the wires run through there. Then you can fish them out without cutting them (you know, in case you have to put it back). There's an unused plug inside the tailgate on mine too, which I pulled and used to fill the hole. Maybe they didn't change that for you guys...

**Vin** · 07-29-2010, 08:36 PM

I changed out my Third Brake Light when I installed my Mopar off road bumper w/ swing away carrier. Pop out the the black vent like cover inside the tailgate. The wires for the third brake light are there and you can unclip them, pop out the grommet on the outside of the tail gate and remove the whole unit without cutting any wires. If you run into any problems down the line, you simply reinstall it. Go to Quadratac and look up the Mopar swing away carrier and download the PDF file.

**Vin** · 07-29-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfernoGirl

Idk if they changed them from TJ's to JK's, but on TJ's there's a black door inside the tailgate. Unscrew it and the wires run through there. Then you can fish them out without cutting them (you know, in case you have to put it back). There's an unused plug inside the tailgate on mine too, which I pulled and used to fill the hole. Maybe they didn't change that for you guys...

Nope...didn't change.

**skivviss** · 07-29-2010, 08:38 PM

thanks everyone.

djkbooth · 07-29-2010, 10:28 PM

on the 2010 if you pop the back cover off by the door lock on the inside there is a plug, unplug it!!!!!!!