[BMNC]

Hi all,

I've been trying to figure out if there has been a thread for this yet, but so far no luck with my searching. My wife just pointed out that our 2013 D isn't lighting up the 3rd / center brake light when braking. Looking at the fuse panel I would have thought that either M1 or M18 would be the ones to scope out, since I'd hope the LED isn't shot, but both fuses are fine. Short of taking it in to get the wiring checked and possibly pay out the butt, are there any other trees I should be barking up?

 

[NumberThree]

Unfortunately, I think you've barked up all available trees prior to LED array and wiring. The brake light fuse protects the brake lights as a whole circuit. You might try jiggling the harness at the top of the hatch with it open, while someone applies the brakes to see if it broke. That bundle up there is it's weakest link. But generically-speaking, the usual culprit is the little regulator chip in the LED array. They fail far more often than the LEDs themselves do, but most people just change out the LED module when that happens and call it done, because that is "plug-n-play" -- much easier.
With some research and a youtube video or two to learn how the interior trim panel is removed, you might be able to check out the connectors, and remove/replace the LED module. There's "not much going on" underneath it.

 

[BMNC]

good enough, thanks!!