I have been looking online and reading reviews on aftermarket replacements for the 3rd brake light. My question is what have any of you members bought that you would recommend? Took my truck to the car wash today and was amazed at how much water comes in the cab when the lens is off this brake light! Mine cracked and blew off sometime over the weekend and with rain in the forecast this weekend, I need to find a replacement. Might stop by the local pick and pull and see if they have any as a quick fix. I really like the LED ones so I am looking into ordering one.
Thanks!

 

Some LED 3rd brake lights can cause problems with your cruise control, some will not. If it does cause problems you can always add a load resistor and that should take care of the cruise control.

 

I'm curious, how would a LED brake light mess up the cruise control?? How are they even close to related?

 

Cruise control uses the brake light electrical circuit to know when you've pressed the brakes and cancel the cruise control. If you use an LED the truck thinks you have a brake light burnt out and cancels the cruise setting. It is actually a very common problem. When someone says their cruise control isn't working the first thing we have them check is, 1) that they don't have a burnt out bulb and 2) that they dont have any LED bulbs in their brake lights.

 

CC circuit runs through the third brake light for engage and dis-engage, and like stated above will mess it's resistance up if you buy and install a cheap one. I bought my smoked LED TBL from recon.. had a great gasket and came plug and play. Never had a problem.

 

I never thought about that, makes sense I guess. I assumed cruise control was more computer controlled and not dependent on a light bulb.

 

I took my 3rd brake light bulb out because I have a topper and don't need it but my cruise control still works. Eventually I'll put one on the back of the topper.

 

UPDATE
I went to my local salvage yard and the had 1 truck there from 2004-2008 and was able to get that one. Cost me $22.47 and put it right on. Once taking my old one off i can definitely see how water gets in! Going to use RTV silicone caulk today to seal it. I bet thats why my drivers side cab corner rusted out from the threads I have read.

 

Put the rtv on and let it set before you reinstall. Otherwise you’ll epoxy the TBL to the truck and will probably break it if you need to remove and replace a bulb.

The cab corners on these trucks will all rust no matter what if you live in the north. They’re a bad design. 2004-2014 are all affected.

 

I used some Rope Caulk from the hardware store to seal mine. it's real thick and kinda squishy, works great when it's a hot day and you can squish the light right into it.

This time of year, it might take a day or two of working the screws down to get a really good 'set' into the caulk.

or use RTV.