Hey guys, I was wondering if someone can confirm for me whether or not the 1995 model year XJ SE model is supposed to have a "high-mount" (aka 3rd) brake light.

My 95 XJ does not currently have this brake light, and I recently passed the rather tough MA State inspection without my trusted shop saying anything about it, but I was looking at my Jeep today and noticed that there is a silhouette-ish thing going on where one would expect this light to be. I took a peek at the trim panel on the trunk door and sure enough there are 3 holes in it that appear to be factory cut (in other words, it did NOT look like a PO had made homemade holes in it).

Autozone does not list a bulb for the 3rd/High-mount brake light, they only list the 2057 which is a dual element bulb so not likely to be used for what would be a single element application. However I found an Omix-ada part (PN 3152723765) that is described as "OEM replacement". However the Omix-Ada has rounded edges and the silhouette on my rear window is definitely sharp 90 degree edges.
Link to Omix-Ada part: https://www.carid.com/omix-ada/repla...0#applications

I can't remember if my Dad's 94 had a high-mount brake light or not, but I feel like it did not, though I guess I wouldn't have given it any thought either way.

 

My moms 95 had one, but it wasnt an SE. It was on the inside at the bottom of the backglass, IIRC.

 

you know i was looking at an older jeep the other day at a stop light and noticed the 3rd light on the lower part of the back glass and not ontop of the hatch like other jeeps.

 

I have to think that there was one there originally as it would have been, as fb97xj1 indicated, at the bottom of the hatch glass on the inside. I'll take a look at it when I have it in my parents' garage this weekend and see what it looks like for wiring and the such. The "OEM replacement" assembly looks like it's a specific connector, so if I find an orphan connector there, there'll be no doubt.

I didn't need one to pass inspection, but if it's something I can pick up at the junkyard it -would- give me an excuse to go get a set of 97+ side view mirrors that I've been thinking about.. plus I REALLY don't want some idiot rear-ending me and screwing up my awesome XJ.

It is definitely strange that anyone would remove the assembly, it's not something that's in the way and the window is the original Chrysler branded glass. Heck, the license lights, rear defrost and even the rear wiper work perfectly, so I don't think there's an issue with the wiring to the hatch.

 

My guess would be country wide dot regulations and making it this way was easier and more cost efficient to pass exported jeeps. I kinda want to get an orvis jeep hatch with the led light and built in spoiler

 

Unless you are hell bent on keeping it 100% stock, I would just get an LED 3rd brake light and call it a day. Much brighter than factory and many are pretty slim so almost invisible when they aren't on




Or something like this;

 

Can i just mention everytime i see your picture it makes me crack up

 

My 94 has the center brake light.