Last week the rear spoiler on my 99 Maxima SEL broke and I had to totally remove it. When I looked up the cost for a new spoiler I saw it over $500. Unfortunately the third brake light is on the spoiler. I'm looking for cheaper alternatives just to have the third brake light installed. Any ideas would be appreciated?

Would it have the hookup behind the rear window glass like the ones that did not have the spoiler?

Thanks!

 

It should have the harness for the 3rd brake light on the rear deck, yes.

 

The wire harness connector is probably there but there are 2 metal brackets that stick up through the parcel shelf for the nissan light to mount to.

But have you considered getting a spoiler from the junk yard? Or you could pm org member Maxima_Joe who has many parts. Also we have the for sale thread you could try.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...-1995-1999-43/

 

Thanks Amerikaner83 and DennisMik for your quick response.

@DennisMik are you implying metal brackets would not be there? I'm not really worried about the spoiler or the looks without it. In fact the spoiler snapped and the bottom part(which mounts to the trunk) is still attached covering those holes. So I thought mounting the brake light would be the cheapest option. But will check out the spoiler part as you mentioned.

I thought third brake light was not needed. But just found out it is required by law and you can be cited for not having it.

 

The brackets are just flat metal and may also be there but folded down flat and not bent up to stick up through the parcel shelf liner. You would have to cut holes in the parcel shelf liner for the brackets to stick up through.

EDIT:

I looked in the trunk of my 97 underneath the 3rd light and I have 2 screws coming down through the metal. Evidently the brackets are screwed on, not stamped out of the parcel shelf itself.

 

When I ditched my spoiler 2 years ago to avoid rust building on the trunk I haven't bothered inserting a permanent 3rd brake light. I spliced into the those brake light wires and soldered the pigtail connector into them. I keep the brake light pigtail connector sitting by the rear seat trunk door. During inspections I connect the brake light removed from the OEM spoiler and place it on the parcel shelf.

I've never been pulled over for not having 3 brake lights. A state trooper ticketed me last summer for speeding but he never took note that I only had 2 brake lights.

 

I couldn't find the wiring harness under the parcel shelf when looked up from the trunk. Is it there along with dome light wiring? Do I have to remove the parcel shelf?

@jholley I still have the light from the broken spoiler. did you connect it to the original harness which is under the spoiler(inside the trunk) or one under the parcel shelf?

 

Go to the junk yard and grab the rear shelf and 3rd brake light assembly from a non SE. The wiring should be there under the shelf, not in the trunk.

You must remove the entire rear seat, the C pillars, then the shelf trim. Its actually quite time consuming.

 

I spliced into the spoiler brake light wires on the left side of the trunk. On the SE they are not located under the parcel shelf. Remove the left sided trunk lining and you'll see the harness.

3rdbrakelightharness_zpsbc4e5693.jpg?t=1374720213

IIRC those wires were Red/ Green and Black.

 

I see thanks! Let me look in to it