How to fix and diagnose a non-working third brake light on the Cadillac CTS V6 3.0L or V6 3.6L or V8, including the CTS-V.
The third brake light commonly fails. The problem and the fix isn’t always what it seems. The LED replacement fixture is costly to replace, so you want to be 100% certain that it has failed before you buy a replacement. A new after market LED replacement is over $200 and the GM part is considerably more. In this video, I cover the most common faults and the fix was surprising cheap and simple DIY that anyone can do.
The third brake light is also commonly referred to as a high level brake light, or safety brake lamp, or center high mount stop lamp.
Video applicable to all Cadillac CTS years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).
Tools Required:
– 7MM wrench or socket
– long flat screw driver
– micro flat screw driver
– trim removal kit
– crimp tool (optional) – Best solution to the fix shown in the video
– wire butt connectors (optional) – Best solution to the fix shown in the video
Extra advice (not shown in video) – check for other near-broken wires and repair those as well.
Car shown: 2011 Cadillac CTS4 with the V6 3.0L engine.
Cadillac DIY Handy Val Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFy7hN5F2BvLo4GuJDJcwDcrTrAxkybVb
Please see my other Cadillac videos on my Handy Val channel for other informative and easy to follow automobile how-to videos, including filter changes, battery changes, key fobs, and how to save on gas and others.
Disclaimer – The content of this video is available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. I do my best to provide accurate and complete information, however, I assume no liability for any property or personal damage that may arise from any of the information contained in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Handy Val, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Handy Val always recommends safe practices.
){kind=link}
Thank you very much for your video I was able to fix my CTS
Thanks, Handy Val. Your video just saved me a lot of money. I had two broken wires. Something you might have mentioned was to go ahead and inspect the other wires while you had it apart. I found two wires that were slightly cracked, so I went ahead and taped them up just in case. Thanks again, my friend.
Is the blue wire the same on every 09 Cadillac cts for the brake light ? Or it can be a different color?
Thanks, the exact same wire same place…
Thank you for the video.
We have a 2008 cts and it has a light issue with the taillights, license plate lights and the 3rd brake light if I remember right. That hard plastic harness where the wires come into the trunk is where every light issue with the car was. Because that hard plastic doesn't allow the wires to move enough and I had to splice and put back together 3 wires and everything was working again. So I just cut that hard plastic piece in half to allow the wires to have greater flexibility