I have a 2003 Heritage Softail Classic. The brake lights and parking lights stopped working. The turn signals still work. I tried tracing down the wiring, but grew impatient. I had a blown bulb, and changed it. Still nothing. Weather is getting nice, and I'm getting antsy. Does anyone have any advice that would help, so I won't have to deal with the $100 per hour fee the mechanics charge. Thanks.

 

Check the fuses. It's rare but depending HOW the bulb blew it might have taken out the fuse.

 

I did that. Fuses are good. I was told it might be the relay. I was also told it might be the switch. All I know is I took off one night for a ride, everything worked. Came back a few hours later, they stopped working.

 

You live in Alabama, did the weather ever get bad?

 

Keithhu, you mean recently? Not too bad where I live, but it did about 30+ miles from me.

 

Sounds like you've got an electrical issue. I'd start there for sure.

 

Seems like you have a "gremlin" that may simply be a connector issue.
Trace the wiring under your seat and disconnect the connectors and apply a small amount of dialectic (electrical) grease then reconnect the connectors.
If you do this when it's dark, moving the wires around with the ignition turned to the "on" position may help you if you have a bad connection or possibly a loose ground or broken wire.

 

Mine was the brake switch on my 09 FXSTC they just go for reasons unknown. Cost me $45 and a can of brake fluid and about 30 minutes.

 

If the turn signals still work, that means that the wiring for the brake lights is intact since they use the same wiring and the same filament within the bulb. I would trace the wiring from the rear lights back to the connector under the seat and disconnect it. It is possible that the Electronic Control Module/Unit (ECU) cut the power to that circuit if there is a short to that circuit. You can also check the power within that connector with a T-Pin to see if you have power going to those wires. But disconnecting the connector and running a few on-off cycles should restore the ECU if that is the case.

As far as the running lights, that may also be part of the ECU not feeding that circuit. Run a resistance test between the lights and the connector under the seat and see if you have connectivity issues.