Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - how to turn that rear triangle reflector into working brake light

I found this how-to guide on his to do this here

Quote:

first thing first, make sure you have the following tools:

-Jack
-Jack Stands (please use them for your safety)
-8mm wrench
-10mm wrench
-Flat tip screwdriver
-Hole saw
-Dremel (rotary cutting tool)
-soldering kit
-wire skinners/cutters
-electrical tape/heat shrink
-6mm circle connector for ground and male/female for + on tail light

0. raise and support car

1. start off by removing the two back-up light sockets
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/b0173e96.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/3d7fa2ab.jpg

2. using your flat tip screwdriver, pry out the pushpins.
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/silverdub/986be***.jpg[/IMG]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/5adce4b2.jpg

3. take your 10mm wrench and remove the 2 bolts seen on the picture below.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/34ffb17a.jpg

4. using your flat tip scewdriver again, pry open gently the two tabs at the bottom of the lighting assembly. this is not easy so be patient, keep in mind that you dont want to break anything on your brand new car!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/70ca8a0e.jpg

5. Locate the area that you need to make a hole

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/9721ca60.jpg

6. Source out an old corner light with the bulb and socket. Cut the old corner light and use for template. Cutting the housing will make some plastic dust in the unit, just blow it out through the hole you just made AND the back up lights holes. Do not attempt to open the housing to clean it or i promise it will break!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/aa223655.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/4b3fc8b7.jpg

7. Once the hole is done insert the socket and bulb, skin your wires and test the results.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/a56121c1.jpg

8. Open the trunk, take the carpet out and then using a srewdriver pry the trunk latch close in order to save your battery life.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/b8e08c38.jpg

9. Remove the drivers side tool tray by grabbing it with two hands and pulling upwards. You will then hear a loud POP but dont worry its normal

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/e642c685.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/d0791544.jpg

10. Now take this piece out by prying out the 3 pushpins and then pulling the piece upwards

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/2d874583.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/db608af3.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/64f306d8.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/6f77fd54.jpg

11. Now take out the inner side cover by taking out the clips just like in the previous step.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/a752ea82.jpg

12. Disconnect the trunk bypass switch

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/bdac7cf0.jpg

13. Disconnect the backup light connector located below the trunk latch hook. Follow the harness to the grommet and pull it put from underneath the car

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/1ef3f4ff.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/4d0a3140.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/45d81dc0.jpg

14. Put the sockets back in the assy and solder 2 very long wires approximately 5 feet long. Then remove zip ties from the harness and feed a steel wire starting from the connector. You could also just tape them around the harness. When you are done feeding the wires in the harness put back new zip ties in the exact same location.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/d96c9f03.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/449e5ceb.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/fc9e7caa.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/516b568b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/d83e3877.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/2cd957fb.jpg

15. Install the lighting assembly and feed the harness the way it was. Make sure the plastic protection is place like the picture below. Then get back in the trunk and cut the ground wire to the desired lenght and hook it up to the oem grounding point where the connector is located.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/4da18c8b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/f86075a4.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/e3d3b0ab.jpg

16. Remove the drivers side tail light and skin a small piece of the green/yellow wire and install a short wire and connector. This way, your tail light will be removable in the future without having to cut any wires. Once hooked up protect your connector with tape or something simillar.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/4330b466.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/676983b0.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/7aac7a5f.jpg

Now put everything back together, turn your headlights on and enjoy!!!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...b/f816d409.jpg

But there is a couple things to add

If you want your new brake light to stay lit and get brighter when brakes ar pressed connect to the wire that it shows in the guide, but if you want to have it only light up when brakes are pressed this is how

Disconnect the 4 pin plug from the left brake light, peel back the plastic protector, find the solid green wire and that's where your positive wire needs to be connected, you can strip a little section and solder the wire to it or use on of those quick crimps.

Also you do not have to pull the existing harness out the way he does just run your wires
and zip tie or tape your new wires to the old ones

The two silver screws on top of the reflector are a bit tricky to get but just work at it, they are 3/8in screws or Phillips screwdriver

I also wired up a toggle to kill the light when I feel I dont need it just buy a basic toggle and cut your power wire, put some wire connectors that fit the toggle on each piece of the cut hook it up and your good to go

I've completed mine and will add a link to a video when it's darker to show y'all mine