It consists of 4 or 5 seperate bulbs. Two of mine burned out, and evidently this light is not connected to the diagnostic/warning system. We wouldn't want any A4's to be driving around with less than perfect lighting would we?

I've been looking to modify my third brake light for some time now. I have got a graphic file of the 4 rings in clear, and the background in black. I am going to print it out on transparency material, and put it over the bulbs in my third brake light so when I hit the brakes, 4 rings light up! I just need to find some transparancy shhets and print it out.<p>Christian

Warning: Right-wing harangue follows ( or thoughtful, sensible observation; depending on your politics)<p>That third brake light shouldn't be there in the first place. After sifting through numerous studies saying the third light would not make a difference in reducing rear end collisions, the safety nazis finally found ONE that said it would reduce them by 30-40%. Well here we are years later and we find out that rear end collisions have gone down around 8%,which means that the light had no effect because the accident rate for all types has gone down that much over the same time period since the invention of the car. One of the original plans was for these lights being mounted on small poles and fixed on top of our cars,luckily someone must have realized how weird that would look. So we are stuck with this law of dubious value that has very little chance of being repealed,just so your average motorist doesn't have to pay attention to the traffic ahead.<p>Bill Shaffer

While I'm not a proponent of goverment regulations, I like the 3rd light. Regardless of studies and tests I think it gives me much better warning than regular brake lights. I find myself actively trying to avoid following a vechicle that doesn't have a brake light when I can.

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This is a great idea. If you get it working Jason could make up hundreds of them on the same material they use for the A4.org logo window stickers and sell them in the A4.org store.<p>I would be the first on the list for one of those.

My right brake light went out when the car had 4,000 miles on it (3 months old). The service dept at first insisted that I was mistaken and I must have thought the absence of the fog light on that side was really a burnt out light. I insisted NO It is my BRAKE light that is out,although i hadnt seen it myself, multiple friends who had followed behind me at one point or another said it was out (and it happened during the day even when the fog light wouldnt have been on) They said there was no computer warning that it had gone out so they said i must be mistaken. Incidentally, i had the car in for an air bag light at the time, and they couldnt fix it that day because they didnt have the part in stock, so i had to come back the next week. After getting home, i checked it myself and it WAS out. so i let them have it on the survey from AOA - and finally i got the stupid $2 bulb replaced. Sorry for such a long story for such a simple comment, but i cant believe the way women get treated at the service dept. sometimes!

Melissa, Sorry to hear about the run around. I to have had a brake light go out, and I was immediately notified by the diagnostic system. I have the trip computer, I don't know if that matters. Seems like alot of lights are going on these things.

...I have found the light has another value. When I find myself behind a car, I can anticipate when the driver will brake by watching the high mounted brake lights of the 2nd or 3rd vehicle ahead of me. Any extra braking time I can get I appreciate in heavy Chicago traffic.<p>For this reason I don't like being behind any type of vehicle that I can't see around. This includes SUV's, mini-vans or anything you generally can't see through.<p>Yeah, I know you can still anticipate the movement of traffic without the high mounted brake light. I just believe that the light makes things a bit easier.<p>Just my humble thoughts on the matter.<p>M. Ivy<br>98.5 A4 2.8QTS<br>Black/Ecru

some gm dealers are alredy doing this<br>

Since Jason already has a shop who makes stickers for the A4.org, he probably could do this with no problem. I will continue to work on the exact dimensions, and when I get it right, I will just send it on to Jason and talk about how it can help the board.<p>If costs amount to $2-$3 each, we could charge $6 each, and let all the money go to the board. Jason, are you in for the product?<p>Christian

NT

Nice idea C, let us know if it works.

Hey Christian,<p>I've already got a similar thing over my third brake light. I've got a silver "quattro" decal pasted over the red lense of the third brake light. (some members of the A4 Club of Vancouver have seen it). I think it looks great! The colour matched well with the four rings on the trunk lid. Another bonus, when I hit the brakes, the decal is transparent enough to let the light shine through. That means no troubles with local law enforcement officers!<p>Took me s bit to figure out how to take out the third brake light assembly though. The FAQ on removing the rear deck did not mention the child seat anchor, which is standard on Canadian models.<p>Later,<p>James Wu<br>A4 Club of Vancouver<br>1998 Black/Onyx 1.8tqa<ul><li><a href="http://avant.extreme.com/va4">A4 Club of Vancouver</a></li></ul>

NT

...to figure that out a few years back on my 90Q. It has 8 lights (I think), and I had two or three burned out. Looked funny, because they were on the same side. Now i have extra bulbs. Of course, i have no idea where they are! :-) No warning on that car either!<p>Charles<br>

...but I really doubt them. I find them to be tremendously helpful. Especially because you can more often see the brakes of the car 2 cars in front of you. Unlike daytime running lights, which are misguided and make riding a motorcycle more dangerous, the 3rd brake light can only help.

I can vouch for the brake light warning as well. Though even on my 86 5000S, sans trip computer , the self check system would pick up burned out brake lights. I would be *really* surprised if that required the trip computer.<p>-randy<br>