jpv7774

Me toooooo....2004 135k....same side...same light......
Bite the bullet order on ebay....I think it was $149.00.....I wasnt happy about this one. But now it works and life goes on

BradTank

There has to have been something defective when Lexus manufactured that year's "batch". It's odd the other side doesn't seem to have the issue.

The fact that so many are having issues on the same exact light and the same side and the same year seems pretty suspect.

I guess you can't be too upset though at a light that lasts over 10 years and 100k miles. But I sure would have preferred it costing a couple dollars for a standard wedge bulb instead.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I need to do my 3rd brake light. I just noticed its out and keep forgetting to buy the lamps. So far no issues with my led rear brake lights. Fingers crossed as I have an early 04.

KING

iTrader: (1)

same here. I'm happy I never suffered from that problem.

Lav you should get the nice set of LED's like the ones Tom got, they look really nice.

I always wondered why it never was the factory option for the 3rd high brake light to be an LED..

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I like LED but wasn't it pretty expensive?

Tom57

Aside from the safety issue, the high mount 3rd brake lamp is a moving violation in most if not all states, and, perhaps more importantly, is a basis for the police to stop you (aka "rolling probable cause"). Encourage you to replace it (bulb #7440) asap, Lav.

KING

iTrader: (1)

It's not cheap for sure. But it's a couple rows of LED's custom made, explaining why it's a bit on the expensive side, worth it in my opinion.

I wanted to get one of them, but I just recently got an LED for the break light, so didn't bother.


But now with the LED in the third brake light, the rear end of the car seems to flow together more, they all light up at the exact same moment. The OEM bulb is just a normal filament bulb that's cheap and found everywhere. Filaments don't light up as fast as LED's, that's why if you look very closely, the tail lights light up faster than the 3rd brake light.


True, you will be fined if stopped with an un-functional 3rd brake light.

jpv7774

Hey Lav ....you just told me to spend an extra $300 on a sub woofer like money was nothin'. Surely a few LEDs are just a drop in the bucket.

Zodiac

iTrader: (1)

The same spot on my 2004 back light went bad, but mine was on the driver side. Got an used one from eBay for $90.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I went back and found my eBay sale and I paid $200. I did this for the amp's sake though otherwise I would have gone aftermarket.

Lexus ls430 Mark Levinson OEM subwoofer:
86160-0w260

I will tackle the 3rd brake light tomorrow.

Tom57

The LED 3rd brake light failure is also quite common on the GS models where the LED's are in the trunk-mounted spoiler. Slamming trunk lid shut is the likely cause.

jls667

I have not replaced the bad section of LED's yet. It is such a small section. I will probably buy it on ebay.