2011 Toyota Avalon 3rd Brake light "FIX"

[@Kab61]

I have the same car/generation. Open the trunk, look at the subwoofer from underneath. There are two tabs on either side of the subwoofer from underneath. Push those tabs in, and the housing for the third brake light will pop up. It takes 10 minutes and new light bulb.

[@allabouthim03]

@Kab61 what year is your vehicle? That is not true for the 2011 model year.

[@joyace9674]

Wow very smart you did a awesome job 😬👏👏👏thank you so much for sharing your video 😬👌

[@teddysorrells2306]

did it pass inspection?

[@allabouthim03]

Yes, and passed this year also.

[@only4you876]

👏👏👏

[@julechaotic4138]

All you have to do is pull the 2 side panels, and pull the back panel up over the backseat sans headrests

[@allabouthim03]

@@julechaotic4138 Maybe it was less difficult than I thought. The video I watched on this model showed also removal of the back of the backseat to get the bottom panel out. Toyota could have made this a heck of a lot easier knowing that lights would have to be eventually replaced. I come to find out that this brake light suffers from a cold solder joint issue from the factory. It may need to have been a recall, but that never happened.

[@Seaweed777]

What's backseat sans? Thank you.

[@julechaotic4138]

You needn't touch the actual back seat. Sans means without - without back seat removal.

[@GuitarP0RN]

Any idea why the third/high-mount brake light wasn't working?

[@allabouthim03]

Yes, it is due to the failure of a solder joint, inside the brake light, that supplies lower to the LEDs. This is commonly referred to as a "cold solder joint", plainly put... bad workmanship by the factory that made the brake light. This is a common issue that Toyota should address IMO, but I guess the "minor safety hazard it creates does not justify the man hour expense it will take to replace it.

[@GuitarP0RN]

@@allabouthim03 Good to know. I had to resolder/reflow a newer Honda Civic's LED third brake light due to a cold solder joint. It only work as I was slapping the 3rd brake light housing. This is a common issue with the lead-free solder they have to use now.

[@billyvision1360]

It’s ridiculous how Toyota designed the 3rd brake light. There should have been 2 screws on either side of the brake light housing where you could have just lifted the housing and switched the light out. Very poor design!! I just spent $400 to have mine replaced at the dealership because I didn’t want to risk getting a ticket from a bored COP or failing inspection.

[@julechaotic4138]

I was pulled over this evening. That could turn to nightmare where i live. Not spending $400 though.