Purple and blue wire and high mounted brake light

Mr Freedom · Jan 22, 2019

Hello
My Defender (2010) failed the French MOT today, for various crap reasons. One is that, in France, you must have a third high mounted brake light. OK, I can buy one online for about £60, but must then figure out how to fit it. There is a thin, purple and blue wire running down, pretty much from the roof, by the side of the back door and its not connected to anything - would this be for the third brake light? I'm guessing not, since there are 3 thicker, and non purple/blue, wires plugged into the existing brake lights...

Mr Freedom · Jan 22, 2019

Actually, I now think the wire is for the rear interior light - which doesn't work!

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 22, 2019

Mr Freedom said:
Hello
My Defender (2010) failed the French MOT today, for various crap reasons. One is that, in France, you must have a third high mounted brake light. OK, I can buy one online for about £60, but must then figure out how to fit it. There is a thin, purple and blue wire running down, pretty much from the roof, by the side of the back door and its not connected to anything - would this be for the third brake light? I'm guessing not, since there are 3 thicker, and non purple/blue, wires plugged into the existing brake lights...

surely, if yu fit one, it will no longer conform to "as factory"?

Mr Freedom · Jan 22, 2019

I don't know what you mean? I've got to get one. It's true though, that if I fit it, it will likely be a bloody disaster.

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 22, 2019

Mr Freedom said:
I don't know what you mean? I've got to get one. It's true though, that if I fit it, it will likely be a bloody disaster.

I thought that eurofiles didnt like modified vehicles and it had to be "as it left the factory"?

Mr Freedom · Jan 22, 2019

Well without a third brake light I can't get the French MOT and then I can't register the defender in France. I'd prefer not to register it as the French can't chase UK cars for speed cameras, on the otherhand I'll lose my insurance in April if I'm not registered ... There may be some truth in what you say though, as another "major" reason for the MOT failure was that I'd taken the rear seat headrests off! The child seats don't fit with the headrests fitted!

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 22, 2019

@Datatek or @fredi250 or @Ian M in France might be able to throw some light on this??

Flossie · Jan 22, 2019

I fitted one to mine. Mounted inside to the top of the rear door, drilled hole for grommet and wire, ran wire inside the frame until it poked out behind the door card then ran it through the rubber franger to the os rear light for the feed.

zeaphod · Jan 22, 2019

What he said. Easy peasy.

mick the builder · Jan 22, 2019

Flossie said:
I fitted one to mine. Mounted inside to the top of the rear door, drilled hole for grommet and wire, ran wire inside the frame until it poked out behind the door card then ran it through the rubber franger to the os rear light for the feed.

I did the same , it was out of a boot lid spoiler . about 10 inches of leds. It was mainly for towing my trailer.
So what MHM was saying, does every vehicle that dosent come with a factory fitted 3rd light, have to get one retro fitted?

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

mick the builder said:
does every vehicle that dosent come with a factory fitted 3rd light, have to get one retro fitted?

This seems to be the case in France - no third light, no MOT.

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 23, 2019

And any fitted with a third light do not conform as “as factory”. Ie they are all modified vehicles.

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

The Mad Hat Man said:
And any fitted with a third light do not conform as “as factory”. Ie they are all modified vehicles.

You're right! You don't necessarily need a third brake light to pass the french MOT. But if the "as factory" car was originally fitted with one, then you must have one to pass the MOT. I've failed because the rear window has a mounting for a third brake light, so it looks like it's been removed (maybe it was in the past) - a modification! Same with the rear seat headrest, I removed them, another modification!

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 23, 2019

Mr Freedom said:
You're right! You don't necessarily need a third brake light to pass the french MOT. But if the "as factory" car was originally fitted with one, then you must have one to pass the MOT. I've failed because the rear window has a mounting for a third brake light, so it looks like it's been removed (maybe it was in the past) - a modification! Same with the rear seat headrest, I removed them, another modification!

or the rear door has been changed?

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

Not as far as I know.

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 23, 2019

So....
to sumarise.

We are NOT saying that all vehicles have to have a high level 3rd brake light, only that the vehicle should be "as factory". Which was what was understood anyway?

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

The Mad Hat Man said:
So....
to sumarise.

We are NOT saying that all vehicles have to have a high level 3rd brake light, only that the vehicle should be "as factory". Which was what was understood anyway?

Well, yes ... But the difference is, that it is now understood by me!

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

Actually, you might be right about the door replacement too. There is some historical damage to the rear, but not to the door ...

Mr Freedom · Jan 23, 2019

And, I'm guessing that, if the original door was not fitted with a third light/mount, then installing a third light may be more awkward - it will be a modification!

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 23, 2019

but yours is now "modified" as it has a non standard door fitted.

how do they work that one out?

Purple and blue wire and high mounted brake light

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