third brake light questions???

Ok so I want to put led's in the light. So I took the lens off and realized there where no lights in there from the previous owner. So should I replace with white or red led's? Also Is the light supposed to stay on all the time with the headlights turned on or just when I hit the brakes? I tested the sockets with a extra blue 194 I had laying around and they only work when I hit the brakes. Just wondering if that's normal or if they should come on with the headlights.

 

For best results, match your LED color to the lens color so, I recommend RED LEDs.
The third/upper brake light should come on only when you hit the brakes.

 

"Also Is the light supposed to stay on all the time with the headlights turned on or just when I hit the brakes?"
"..... they only work when I hit the brakes...."

That's kinda why it's called a "brake light...."
Hope this clears up any confusion.....

 

Thanks, I thought maybe it was like the tail lights and might run all the time and get brighter when you hit the brakes. Sorry noob here.

 

Thanks you sir...

 

That's not how brake lights work.

The tail and brake lights are separate circuits, usually with a dual filament bulb. The brake filament is heavier, thus brighter, than the taillight.

For your third brake light, I'd test it out with a DVM before sticking LEDs in it. The PO may have been lazy and just not replaced bulbs, or there may be a problem with the fixture that needs attention.

It's plenty bright with conventional bulbs.

 

Thanks...ya I am a total beginner with lights and electrical. I have spyder tailights which are led so I was just wanting to match the light output to those. I had some extra blue 194 led's I stuck in there from my dash mod just to see if the sockets worked and they did. I was thinking it was like my girls subaru third brake light...her subaru light is a constant running light and just gets brighter when you hit the brakes, so it made me think maybe mine had an issue. Thanks for spreading the knowledge though.

 

If your girl's 3rd brake light is a "constant running light and just gets brighter when you hit the brakes" she has some kind of a electrical issue goin on. All 3rd brake lights only light when the brake pedal is applied.

 

for reference. the brake lights don't need to light up anything more than the lense in the daytime so people behind you can understand your braking. don't need to get a crazy bright bulb