Electrical/Lighting/Alarm Having electrical problems? Discussion on everything electrical and lighting systems.

No brake lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 20, 2022 | 10:35 PM
  #1  
fastsoup's Avatar
fastsoup
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 981
Likes: 134
From: Vancouver Canada
Default No brake lights

Howdy,

I have a 2009 Ultra Classic and tonight I noticed that my brake lights don't come on (or could be stuck on) Both the hand/foot brake engage the relay (hear it click), I checked the fuses and they are all good. With the bike in acc I pulled the brake relay & 15amp brake fuse and did not notice a difference in brightness (checking to make sure my brake lights aren't stuck on). I took out the brake light lens and checked the wires with a test light and everything is getting power.

There is a harness connector under the seat that I am not seeing it's male end...no clue has anything to do with this.





​​​​​Any ideas?
 

Last edited by fastsoup; Mar 21, 2022 at 12:03 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 12:12 AM
  #2  
Weeboy1's Avatar
Weeboy1
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 1,001
From: Winnipeg
Default

Had the same issue with my 2010 . Ended up being the pigtail at the rear light assembly.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 12:19 AM
  #3  
fastsoup's Avatar
fastsoup
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 981
Likes: 134
From: Vancouver Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Weeboy1
Had the same issue with my 2010 . Ended up being the pigtail at the rear light assembly.
The pigtail that comes out and connects to the light? What did you do to fix it?

​​​​​​
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 12:50 AM
  #4  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Default

You say you are getting power to the taillight. It's one side of the dual element bulb. If both wires to the tailight show power, it's stuck on also. The switch in the clamshell on the bars or the rear hydraulic switch on the rear hydraulic line is stuck on .

If stuck on, pull one wire off hydraulic switch too find out which switch is bad . If it doesn't go out, it's the front.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 21, 2022 at 12:59 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 05:10 AM
  #5  
Newharleylover's Avatar
Newharleylover
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 1,165
From: No where near you, OH
Default

I bought a 2009 RKC brand new and after a couple of years of riding it was having some trouble with the lights and my cruise wouldn't set. Turns out that there was a recall because of the rear brake light switch. Seeing as your bike is the same year as mine was it might be a possibility.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 06:12 AM
  #6  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,740
From: South Carolina
Default

Did you determine if the brake light is stuck on, or the brake light does not come on?
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 08:31 AM
  #7  
fastsoup's Avatar
fastsoup
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 981
Likes: 134
From: Vancouver Canada
Default

Originally Posted by RIPSAW
You say you are getting power to the taillight. It's one side of the dual element bulb. If both wires to the tailight show power, it's stuck on also. The switch in the clamshell on the bars or the rear hydraulic switch on the rear hydraulic line is stuck on .

If stuck on, pull one wire off hydraulic switch too find out which switch is bad . If it doesn't go out, it's the front.
It's an aftermarket LED tail light, but all the wires (except for the ground) light up on test light. Now I thought that was because it plays a role as dual light (tail & brake).

I will have to try your suggestion after work today...there is a switch on the brake line with 2 wires going to it (near the transmission) so just pull one of those connectors off? How about the one on the front brake lever? Do I need to dissemble the switch housing? If so, how do I test that? Just unplug it?
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 11:24 AM
  #8  
Weeboy1's Avatar
Weeboy1
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 1,001
From: Winnipeg
Default

Originally Posted by fastsoup
The pigtail that comes out and connects to the light? What did you do to fix it?

​​​​​​
Correct . I had power up to the pigtail connection (93A) but not at the pigtail end. My Indy had an extra kicking around and replaced it. Problem solved. You sound like you have power at the pigtail end so not the same issue.


 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 12:32 PM
  #9  
07UltraGuy's Avatar
07UltraGuy
Banned
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 4,027
Likes: 6,286
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by fastsoup
It's an aftermarket LED tail light, but all the wires (except for the ground) light up on test light. Now I thought that was because it plays a role as dual light (tail & brake).

I will have to try your suggestion after work today...there is a switch on the brake line with 2 wires going to it (near the transmission) so just pull one of those connectors off? How about the one on the front brake lever? Do I need to dissemble the switch housing? If so, how do I test that? Just unplug it?
Try to power the light by connecting it directly to the battery with a bit of wire, or with an aux power source on the workbench.
The LED lights that most end up with are made pretty poorly and the solder connections at the PCBA and/or pin connections inside the actual connector are not very reliable.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 03:16 PM
  #10  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Default

Originally Posted by fastsoup
It's an aftermarket LED tail light, but all the wires (except for the ground) light up on test light. Now I thought that was because it plays a role as dual light (tail & brake).

I will have to try your suggestion after work today...there is a switch on the brake line with 2 wires going to it (near the transmission) so just pull one of those connectors off? How about the one on the front brake lever? Do I need to dissemble the switch housing? If so, how do I test that? Just unplug it?
Since it's gone non OEM, is there a control that just uses the same LED for run and brake by just making it brighter?

Over the internet, things get totally confusing especially non OEM.

To answer you question, either wire on the hydraulic switch. But to test the actual switch, the one leading to the rear.

Use wire circuit above to break wire to check front one in clam shell but it pretty confusing. I 'm traveling, so dont have access. I just work with hydraulic one. Once its broken, and problem then points to front one bad.. Probably not both switches are bad.

I put a LED bulb in my syandard taillight. I have the brake,run diodes box. With regular bulb, I was on 3rd hydraulic switch and second clamshell one. AUTO ZONE has a lifetime hydraulic switch.

Yours in the clamshell is the whole modular unit. Mine is a $10. ebay micro switch.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 21, 2022 at 03:23 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:59 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE