Rear Center brake light replacement

[H3slate]

After a stop by my local Firestone for an alignment, they marked on the vehicle inspection sheet that my center brake light was out. Ok, no problem, run down to the parts store and get a new bulb. :whaa: No listing for that bulb. Got home and took the panels off the inside of the tailgate to find that the center brake light is led. No replaceable bulb, ran the part # online and it was $145. :whaa:

Anybody have a better price to replace this light or a DYI solution?

 

[SedonaBound]

One side of my brake LED array is out. I haven't opened it up for fear of breaking the plastic clips. Did you have any trouble pulling the upper panel off?
LEDs shouldn't go bad. I hope its just a loose connections; might have to do some soldering. Worst case; find replacement LEDs from an electronics supplier.

 

[H3slate]

The upper part of the tailgate was a pain to get off and a pain to put back on. There are little metal clips that bite into the plastic to keep it in place. Well, when you pull the panel off the metal clips stay in the door. Had to adjust some teeth and put them back on the panel to put it back together.

 

[alrock]

Along the lines of what was mentioned, make sure you are getting power. There are two halves and it is not uncommon for one side to fail. It may not be the LEDs that failed but it could be the board itself which would likely mean the repair won't be inexpensive.

 

[SedonaBound]

So long as I have half of it working, its not a high priority. But I'll try to rig std 12V bulbs before I spend $150 for LEDs.

 

[H3slate]

I have power going to the board, just haven't taken it apart to see what is wrong with the board.