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I don't understand how the light switch works on my 2012 Heritage. If I click the upper setting on the light switch it is the high beam. If I move the switch to the middle setting it is still high beam. If I select the lower setting it goes to low beam. And it doesn't seem to matter whether the aux light switch is on or off.
It seems something is amiss with your light switch. This is how it should work in the stock configuration.
The upper setting is high beam on
The middle setting is low beam on
The lower setting is to "flash" the high beam. When pressed, the high beam illuminates. When released it returns to the middle setting (low beam)
When the high beam is turned on, the auxiliary lamps will turn off. In other words, the auxiliary lamps only work with the low beam. This can be changed so the auxiliary lamps work independently of the low/high beam by rewiring the circuit or using a HD harness, part number 69200442.
When you press the lower position and release it, does it automatically move back to the middle position? If not, the switch itself may be bad. The bad news is that you cannot replace only one switch, you have to replace the entire switch assembly. Was it working as I described at one time and now it isn't?
Other questions:
Are you the original owner? If not, did you just purchase this bike and noticed this or have you owned the bike for a while and this is something new? Have you done any repairs or changes requiring you to open the left switch housing or working with wires that control the left switch assembly? Have you opened the headlight bucket or worked with the wires behind the fork cowl?
It seems something is amiss with your light switch. This is how it should work in the stock configuration.
The upper setting is high beam on
The middle setting is low beam on
The lower setting is to "flash" the high beam. When pressed, the high beam illuminates. When released it returns to the middle setting (low beam)
When the high beam is turned on, the auxiliary lamps will turn off. In other words, the auxiliary lamps only work with the low beam. This can be changed so the auxiliary lamps work independently of the low/high beam by rewiring the circuit or using a HD harness, part number 69200442.
When you press the lower position and release it, does it automatically move back to the middle position? If not, the switch itself may be bad. The bad news is that you cannot replace only one switch, you have to replace the entire switch assembly. Was it working as I described at one time and now it isn't?
Other questions:
Are you the original owner? If not, did you just purchase this bike and noticed this or have you owned the bike for a while and this is something new? Have you done any repairs or changes requiring you to open the left switch housing or working with wires that control the left switch assembly? Have you opened the headlight bucket or worked with the wires behind the fork cowl?
Thanks Doc! That's how I thought it was supposed to work. Long story short, this bike is new to me (I'm the 2nd owner). I don't know if it ever worked before. I just installed 14" Apes using the plug in play wire extensions. So, either my wiring harness is faulty or my switch is bad. I think I'll test it by removing the wire extension and see if that changes anything. I'll let you know how everything goes. Again, thank you for helping me understand how the switch is supposed to work
I don't have a Softail. My 2018 Touring model has the same symbols on the switch to indicate high beam, low beam, flash to pass.
There is no physical detent to indicate the switch is in the middle between high and low. Press the top for high beam. Press the bottom for low beam. Press and hold the bottom for high beam. Release the bottom to return to low beam.
Ardy, if the auxiliary lights don't turn off when the high beam is on then the wiring to the lights is not stock regardless of the switch issue. Perhaps the function of your light switch changed at the time the wiring was changed.
Your upper position works as it should. It's the middle and lower position that are reversed. The middle should be low beam and the lower position the high beam. Before purchasing a switch assembly, it may be worth pulling the existing assembly and seeing if the wires to the middle and lower positions are crossed.
Should you resort to purchasing a new switch assembly, it is Harley part number 72949-12. HD price is $324.52. You cannot purchase it online from HD. It must be purchased from your dealer. You may be able to find it on eBay or other online vendors.
Keep us posted on the status of your situation. Good luck.
I'm still not sure you're grasping how the switches and circuits work.
That high/low beam switch does not directly control the auxiliary lights. It's a headlight switch that "clicks" into the up position for high beams. It "clicks" into the down position down for low beams. In the low beam position, if you push it it will flash on the high beams, for passing, as long as you are pushing it.
The auxiliary lights are controlled by the left turn signal switch. The right hand side of that switch turns the auxiliary lights on and off. Push it to turn them on, push again to turn them off. Whatever setting you use, it holds it in the computer and will do it however many times you turn the bike off and on.
However, the auxiliary lights normally only work when the headlight is in the low beam position. Just like how cars with factory fog lights only work when the headlights are in the low beam position. High beam turns them off.
I'm still not sure you're grasping how the switches and circuits work.
That high/low beam switch does not directly control the auxiliary lights. It's a headlight switch that "clicks" into the up position for high beams. It "clicks" into the down position down for low beams. In the low beam position, if you push it it will flash on the high beams, for passing, as long as you are pushing it.
The auxiliary lights are controlled by the left turn signal switch. The right hand side of that switch turns the auxiliary lights on and off. Push it to turn them on, push again to turn them off. Whatever setting you use, it holds it in the computer and will do it however many times you turn the bike off and on.
However, the auxiliary lights normally only work when the headlight is in the low beam position. Just like how cars with factory fog lights only work when the headlights are in the low beam position. High beam turns them off.
The auxiliary lights are not controlled by the left turn signal switch. It has its own SPST switch on the left fork cowl. Unless it has changed in recent years this is how it was in 2012.
This is mine. I changed the stock switch to a lighted one.
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2012 Heritage Light Switch
