California T 3rd Brake Light LED Flasher mod

My usual disclaimer: Im posting to share knowledge & experience so that if anyone wants to do the same mod here’s the info you need to make life easier for you.

Im not here asking for your approval or whether you like this or agree with this or not.

If you disagree or you don’t like it its OK, its my car. You too can do whatever you want to your own car.
Always remember to each his own.

If this info helps you a simple thanks goes a long way.

Now that we have that out of the way.......................

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Situation:

To comply with US laws that brake lights shall be installed on a stationary part of the vehicle Ferrari late during their design reconfigured their tail lights assignment. See attached photo on how its supposed to be & how it turned out to be after complying with US requirements to the best of my knowledge.

Summary: they used the bottom parking lights on the bumper for brake lights.

Issue with this revised design is the brake lights are now way too low and are not in drivers plain direct line of sight view.

I can most likely figure out how to restore it back to original design (brake lights back on top) but Im concerned of voiding my warranty or insurance declining coverage in the event of a rear end accident should they discover I modified the original Ferrari brake light design that meets federal requirements.

As you all know our cars attracts a lot of attention especially other drivers that come too close to take a closer look at our cars that we’re concerned we can get rear ended if we have to brake unexpectedly. With the brake lights way low on the bumper on a California T this is a major concern for me.

So for now, I decided the 2nd best approach is to install a 3rd brake light LED flasher.
Next I will try and figure out how to do a brake light rewire. I already purchased the WSM and Wiring Diagram.

I have done the same mod to my 360 and F430 so the approach is similar.

I like the 3rd brake light LED flasher modification as it really grabs the attention of drivers behind us whenever we have to step on our brakes. Hence, this mod.

Degree of difficulty of this mod from 1 to 10, one being very easy and 10 very difficult = 3.
Approximate mod time from start to finish = 2 hours.

Mod is simple:

1. Buy LED flasher: (Parts list on next page.)
2. Install flasher module in series with 3rd brake light power.
3. Done!

Short video below, complete DIY write up including parts I used on the attached document.

Hope this helps some of you.

Dan



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Hi Steve,

Yes, I too saw the post of the brake lights being rewired on a California.
No details provided on Cali T modification as it was done by an independent shop.

Keeping the current configuration and add the top lights as brake lights should be easy as all we need to do is to cap & stow wiring to the rear fog lights, then run a parallel wire from bottom brake lights to the top tail lights.

But that wont be a good design & wont comply with US law as I understand there is another US federal law that states a vehicle can only have a maximum of 3 separate lights on at the same time.....................

Dan

 

Thanks for chiming in.

Great question. I am not aware of any Federal or State law that makes flashing brake lights illegal.

I've installed flashing 3rd brake lights on all my cars and not once I was ever stopped by police.

And before they pull me over or issue me a ticket if flashing 3rd brake light is illegal they better first address the homeless camps in Seattle with massive trash and hypodermic needs spread all over downtown and those protesters destroying public & private property here in Seattle.