I've seen the newer supercars that have rapidly flashing brake lamps when they brake hard, thought it was very ingenious. When another thread about the automatic '3-blink turn signal' request in the x350 forums lead me to the KAHTEC International web site, where they make some unique, safety add-ons (and yes, they have the 3-blink module to that keeps you from having to flip the stalk up to cancel a lane change), but I wasn't interested in that.

I liked the Intelligent Blinking Smart Stop - Third Brake Light version. I've been rear-ended twice, maybe its because the xk8 is so low to the ground, I'm not sure. But at only $30 out of my pocket, and 15 minutes to install, its working just as described and I am very pleased.

On our cars, this is very easy to install.

Follow the one wiring loom leading from the boot lid down into the boot, disappearing behind the carpet covering the amplifier/CD changer/navigation rack.



Pull that carpet side out, removing the tail light cover on that side makes it MUCH easier, even the battery cover helps.

In that loop, there are three wires, two are identical (mine were black with a red stripe) that goes to each of the license plate bulbs. The other wire was solid blue, and went to the stop light.

The new module has three wires, a ground, and two others, that simply get put inline with the brake lamp lead. The kit comes with those 'over-the-top' splice connectors, but I had some posi-tap spares, and it made it much easier to latch onto that wire - there maybe was 2 inches of free wire to work with w/o getting deeper into that mess of wiring.

The ground I latched onto an existing one, probably used for either my signal process or the garmin, but any ground point there will work if you have to add you're own U-connector.





After a successful test, I finished with a little cable cleanup, and put the carpet back where it belonged.

 

nice job

 

Looks good!

 

Nice work, Matt. Did you also add the "delay" feature to reduce blinking in heavy traffic?


.

 

No delay feature, Its not that annoying with that nice slower flash sequence that is created after the first one finishes and that steady illumination period expires. It is, after all, just the high-mount light. Might be more apt to need that feature, however, if installed and flashing ALL three brake lamps.

 

Yeah I always thought those were so smart especially with people texting etc behind the wheel. I can't understand why more cars don't come with that standard. I do the manual version though with my foot!

 

You will notice that following drivers tend to leave you more distance after first seeing it, or go around. Either one is good

This is the one I use in 5 flash + steady mode:

Signal Dynamics | Signal Dynamics Corporation 1-800-785-1814 | Motorcycle Safety Lights | Break Light Signal Module | Motorcycle LED Lighting | Signal Dynamics - Creator of BackOFF

It can also be tied to the reverse lamp signal so that when you are waiting to back into a parking spot the high center light flashes. I have it rigged to the rear fog supply since the rear fogs are already modified to feed from the tail lamps. This lets the signal be generated by the rear fog lamp switch on the dash.

BTW, 5 flash + steady is legal according to FMVSS.

 

Looks like there is lots of options out there plums, and its simple enough you can choose ' whichever light(s) you want to be altered with this little module.

 

What I mean is that the Backoff XP has five wires dangling out of it. Three match what you have on the KAHTEC, and two more that control other features. One is flash mode, the other is the "reverse lamp/external" trigger.

Either way ... if it keeps following cars further back ... all is good

 

Great idea, but ever so slightly 21st century and therefore almost certainly illegal in Europe. Give us another 10 or 15 years to catch up with common sense

 

You might be surprised.

The first OEM use of the flashing centre mount brake light in the US was by Mercedes in some models some years ago. They had to obtain an exemption as an "experimental safety device".

So, it would be surprising if they did not push for approval in their home markets.

 

nice add on.

ive always been curious about this...i wonder if there is any data that shows the correlation between rear endings between cars with and without the active rear lights.

never the less, even if there is no hard evidence....its a no big deal extra safety measure

 

ASE has published some studies as have NHTSA on reaction time and attentiveness.

Biker forums swear by them for keeping "cagers" off their backends.

 

Hm... must be a different wire for the coupes - our brake lights are in the back window.

 

Ok, I have the exact same kit, but a slight problem.

I took the cover off the the third brake light from inside the car and found the wires (blue and black).

I hooked up the blue from the KAHTEC to the blue on the stop light, and the red from the KAHTEC to the black on the stop light.

I routed the black ground wire from the KAHTEC through the parcel shelf, into the trunk (took some serious swearing until I finally drilled a damn hole in the parcel shelf - much easier).

I spliced an extension wire to the black wire from the KAHTEC and hooked the end of that wire to the exact same place as the OP did, the stereo rack.

Started the car, now not only does the third brake light not work at all, the transmission is stuck in park! I suspect a mixed signal is being sent to the stop light switch which will not allow the transmission lever to move from park.

EDIT: Realized a mistake: kit is meant to have red and blue wires connect to ONE wire going to the third brake light, with the third wire, the black one, going to a ground.

I removed the kit entirely, but the car is still stuck in park and the brake light will not light. I may have blown a fuse, but I have no idea which fuse that would be. Anybody got a diagram for that? I think Lucas the Prince of Darkness is having his revenge on me right now....

Can you specify which wire from the KAHTEC went to which wire on the third brake light? Thanks!

FINAL EDIT: Replaced fuse (yep, it was blown - #8, 5 amp). After this the transmission worked as it should and the third brake light came on, but no flashing. Then I realized I needed to cut the line between the two splice points for the KAHTEC - it is a bypass operation after all. Guess I am so paranoid about cutting a wire on these cars.....

Now everything works as it should - a cheap and excellent safety measure. Thanks, H2Oboy!

 

Hi,
Nice installation.Looks great.

 

Hi,
In the 1st picture you have a trunk lid cargo net for the top cover. I really like that idea. Where did you find it? Have a Merry Christmas.
Regards,
Ed

 

H20boy made that himself and did an awesome job. Here is the write up: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-needed-47633/

 

I've been meaning to do this for some time. Screwed up my arm in July and haven't been able to do anything since. Projects are piling up but the good news is I've had surgery and should be able to begin again somewhere around April-May. When I get around to it I'll see if I can find a less expensive product - there's so many flashy light things around the shop it's a wonder I haven't developed a twitch...

 

Way cool, I bought one. Thanks for sharing!