Center brake light information

[kriswinner]

Can someone post some information for me regarding the center brake light?I've got a project for work/school to improve a product. One of my pet peeves (on an otherwise great car) is the placement of the center brake light. Why have the light hanging down when you open up the liftgate glass? I'm planning on removing & replacing the center brake light with a surface mount led, but I need some info. Can someone...- post the diagram showing all the parts (w/part#'s).- post a wiring diagram I could get most of this the old fashioned way (rip the thing apart), but since I need to do a little analysis of the benefits of this change, I'd like to get some "official" documentation.Thanks in advance for the help...

Attached files

[joatmon]

Are there any laws governing the required brightness for the center high mounted stop lamp (chmsl)I haven't had troubles with the light housing getting in the way, maybe because I tend to open the whole hatch more than just the glass. Now that you pont it out, I can see where it could be a problem. Would you attach the new light to the hatch glass?How about looking at that wimpy rear window washer while you're messing around back there? Change that and you could probably sell a few here.

[joatmon]

Well, he said it was a "pet peeve" not some critical design blunder. I have a bunch of pet peeves about the car, nothing major, nothing that actually makes me unhappy with the Vibe. What would you pick to do?

[kriswinner]

I'm not sure about the required brightness (by law).The initial plan is to use the light that is currently used on the Blazer (not the TrailBlazer). It was also used on the previous generation GM SUVs before the center tail light was integrated into the rear liftgate. I figure an OEM light should be bright enough.I will either mount it on the metal "plate" that the window washer nozzle is on (the roof surface, though) or mount it on the roof itself just back far enough to clear the raised liftgate. The more I look at it, routing the wires would be easier on the roof. Putting a wire in the same area as the window washer nozzle may cause wear as the liftgate is raised and lowered. I'll know better once I take it apart.

[joatmon]

Well, for wiring info, there should be 2 wires. +12V on a green wire with a white stripe, and ground on a white wire with a black stripe.I don't have any part numer info for the thing.Check your IM for some other info.

[kriswinner]

Thanks for all the info.I'll post pics when it's complete.