Brake light quit working

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Jul 17, 2015 | 02:28 PM

beary

Thread Starter

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

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From: Edmond Oklahoma

Brake light quit working

Well I broke something. I was was trying to get the luggage rack and tail light installed with a 3rd party cat eye tail light. I snip the wires to make the task easier and when I put it all back together, the brake light as well as the running light came on and would not go off. So I pulled the light off the bracket, turned on power and the brake light came on for a few seconds, then off. Now it just won't work at all. Turn signals work fine, just not the brake or brake running light.

I disconnected the wires, pulled off the Harley wire cover that covers the three wires up to the connecting plug to make sure there wasn't any damaged wires and they are fine. I replaced the bulb and still no joy.

What else can I check?

Beary

Jul 17, 2015 | 02:33 PM

beary

Thread Starter

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 285

From: Edmond Oklahoma

Forgot, it's a 1999 FXSTC Softail Custom.

Jul 17, 2015 | 07:11 PM

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,026

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From: South Carolina

Get out your voltmeter...

The blue wire supplies the running light, it is on the lights circuit.

The Red/Yellow wire supplies the brake light, it is powered by the accessory circuit.

The black wire is ground.

Check the fuses.

Jul 18, 2015 | 08:21 AM

beary

Thread Starter

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 285

From: Edmond Oklahoma

Thanks. I talked to our local Harley mechanic because he has a lot of evo experience. He told me check to the element the bulb sits in because they like to rotate enough to light both lights. As for it not working at all, you probably already guessed Dan that grounding was the problem there.

Thanks again for your help.

Beary