Brake lights stuck on *Fixed*
Brake lights stuck on *Fixed*
Sharing this issue I had and worked out in the chance that it helps someone else in the community. Bike is an 07 CVO Road King and my brake lights were stuck on. I found the culprit to be the front brake light switch which is in the front brake handle housing. There is a spring loaded plunger on the switch that pops out as you pull the brake handle in. The switch closes when this plunger is out and thus completes the circuit for brake light activation. I found that the rubber plunger had worn down and partially ripped off over use and so the switch was just flopping around in the housing and not deactivating properly. I replaced it with a switch I ordered online that was only $30 after shipping. Now it works perfectly. If you have this issue and have internal handlebar wires be ready to solder the connections because you won't have room for a butt connector.
Many people break the nub off the switch from not following install directions and using a piece of cardboard on the lever - that's also a very common reason it gets stuck on.
I just put on new handlebars so there's a good chance I did that while I was putting the controls back on and swearing at them.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 308
Likes: 39
From: So Cal Lower Desert
Now on to the problem. I got home and dove into the brake light deal and found when pulling the two connectors off the lower brake light switch it did turn the brake light off and left the running light on but when testing both the plug-in connectors both were Hot, taking a wild guess here its why the tail light was very bright,LOL. So I waited for morning and got back into it first running through what was done the night before (testing wise) but this time I pulled on the front brake handle and found its working now how it should. With my comment above about "Blowing Sand" maybe just maybe sand got into the control housing and F'ed with the inside switch somehow clogging it a little or just enough to cause a temporary problem. Also with now the lights working good I re tested the two plug-in connectors and found one of them lights my test light dim and pushing the lower brake peddle the other tights brighter. What do you think should I dive into the switch housing and prob around for any thing out of place and or giving it a good cleaning out?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 433
From: Arkansas
Now on to the problem. I got home and dove into the brake light deal and found when pulling the two connectors off the lower brake light switch it did turn the brake light off and left the running light on but when testing both the plug-in connectors both were Hot, taking a wild guess here its why the tail light was very bright,LOL. So I waited for morning and got back into it first running through what was done the night before (testing wise) but this time I pulled on the front brake handle and found its working now how it should. With my comment above about "Blowing Sand" maybe just maybe sand got into the control housing and F'ed with the inside switch somehow clogging it a little or just enough to cause a temporary problem. Also with now the lights working good I re tested the two plug-in connectors and found one of them lights my test light dim and pushing the lower brake peddle the other tights brighter. What do you think should I dive into the switch housing and prob around for any thing out of place and or giving it a good cleaning out?
Yesterday my wife noticed the taillight was always on and never going off "quite bright", bike is a 03 FLHRI/Road King injected (now for 2 yrs) past owner works for my bike/s Mechanic (Engine Joe's P.D.-CA) so you'd think he knows what hes doing (not beating him up- just saying the facts) lots of changes to this bike from stock to what it has now, some good & some bad. We live in the lower & upper deserts (Palm Springs & Yucca Valley,CA) area so we have our fair share of Blowing Sand that gets in every F'ing thing.
Now on to the problem. I got home and dove into the brake light deal and found when pulling the two connectors off the lower brake light switch it did turn the brake light off and left the running light on but when testing both the plug-in connectors both were Hot, taking a wild guess here its why the tail light was very bright,LOL. So I waited for morning and got back into it first running through what was done the night before (testing wise) but this time I pulled on the front brake handle and found its working now how it should. With my comment above about "Blowing Sand" maybe just maybe sand got into the control housing and F'ed with the inside switch somehow clogging it a little or just enough to cause a temporary problem. Also with now the lights working good I re tested the two plug-in connectors and found one of them lights my test light dim and pushing the lower brake peddle the other tights brighter. What do you think should I dive into the switch housing and prob around for any thing out of place and or giving it a good cleaning out?
Now on to the problem. I got home and dove into the brake light deal and found when pulling the two connectors off the lower brake light switch it did turn the brake light off and left the running light on but when testing both the plug-in connectors both were Hot, taking a wild guess here its why the tail light was very bright,LOL. So I waited for morning and got back into it first running through what was done the night before (testing wise) but this time I pulled on the front brake handle and found its working now how it should. With my comment above about "Blowing Sand" maybe just maybe sand got into the control housing and F'ed with the inside switch somehow clogging it a little or just enough to cause a temporary problem. Also with now the lights working good I re tested the two plug-in connectors and found one of them lights my test light dim and pushing the lower brake peddle the other tights brighter. What do you think should I dive into the switch housing and prob around for any thing out of place and or giving it a good cleaning out?
Right now if everything is working fine I wouldn't worry about it. Just check your brake light function every ride so you know if it stops working again. Then when it's acting up you can start trouble shooting again. When my front brake switch was bad I did have power at both wires going into the rear brake light switch though. I wouldn't imagine sand or anything getting in the front brake lever housing and causing that switch to stick but I guess it could happen.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 433
From: Arkansas
The one thing about the front brake switches is that you'll notice a folded piece of copper in between the back of the switch and the handlebar switch housing, this is to hold the switch in place, if it isn't there you'll need to ensure that it isn't sitting in the bottom of the switch housing or on the floor and if you cannot find it the you'll meet to get one and ensure that you put a dab of silicone RTV over it to keep it from falling out.
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