Hey guys, new to The Forum and looking forward getting your cumulative insight and wisdom, and hopefully having the opportunity to share some of my own down the road. I have a 2010 wide glide and I'm currently experiencing an issue with my brake lights not working. What started out as the front brake lever not Illuminating the tail lights eventually became neither the front or back. I know sometimes there's an issue with the plunger on the front brake lever assembly, but I checked that and everything looked intact and functioning properly, so i spent the summer making sure to depress my rear break enough to illuminate the tail lights whenever breaking. A month later and the rear quit working as well. Ive sort of ruled out bulb replacement because running lights, turn signals and hazards all illuminate fine, not to mention the rear pedal was still lighting them for a time after the front quit. It seems am unlikely coincidence that the front switch would go out followed by the back a month later on a bike with 12k on it. I was thinking maybe a bad relay switch or something else systemic that i might be missing? Figured I'd throw it out there and see if anybody has had any similar experience or advice before I take it in and spend a bunch of money having somebody go over the electrical system.

thanks

 

Could you condense that to about two sentences?

 

Just trying to be thorough for anyone who's trying to diagnose the issue. Two sentences: brake lights aren't working, switches may or may not be at fault. Ideas?

 

Check voltage at the rear brake light switch, the orange/white wire.

Or disconnect the wires from the switch, and touch them together, the brake lamp should illuminate.

 

I'll give that a shot! Thanks

 

Could it be that the brake lights are ALWAYS ON? This is a common problem caused by a shorted switch, normally the rear switch.
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Locate the rear brake light switch and disconnect one of the wires from it and watch the lights. It should dim if the switch is faulty.

 

That's definitely a possibility, onthinking about it, the lights do seem to be a bit bright. I'llgive that a whirl first. But could a faulty rear switch cause the front relay not to work too? As it was the front that initially quit...

 

It should just be different paths to the lights. The two bikes that I have do not have relays, just wires and switches.