Brake light failing
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
Brake light failing
Hey guys, I have a brake light question about my 95 fatboy. It seems it is not working and I already performed everything I found here, testing the switches, unpluggin the switches one by one,I even jumped the two wire in the front switch and nothing.The bulb is brand new but just one filament is lit and the other is in mint condition. What other problem could there be? I have some questions about some wire that end in nowhere and another wire that appeared out of nowher from the rear brake. Coming from the rear switch up to the relayI can see a green wire from the switch, but when it goes up near the relay I now see two green wires, one connected to the relay and the other one just there, unplugged. also,in the connecter close to the tank I see two wires that go into the plug but have no contact in the other half of the plug, is that normal? I'll try to get some pics as soon as possible for a better appreciation of what I'm saying.
thnx in advance for any input
thnx in advance for any input
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,271
Likes: 29
From: Green Country,Oklahoma
All I can suggest for now is to try another bulb,you never know,check that you have a good ground and that you have power going into the switch and out.Have you done any work to it lately?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
worklately? what kind? the brake has been like that for quite a while and the bulb got fried not too long ago and I had totake the bike tothe shop to fix a primary gasket and told them if they had bulbstochange it, they changed it and was working again, I also asked them if they could see what problem the brakelight had, and allhe could tell me was it probably was short circuited. After reading some therads I thought it was the brake switches and decided to try out them both, but none did the job and then I noticed that the bubl was lit in "running" mode and the brakes didn't activate the "brake filament", so I decided to see what might be going on, Itook off the fron brake switch and jumped the wires but nothing happened, the light still remained in "running mode" so my guess is there is something missing that's not giving it power, thought fuses... well..my bike doesn't have fuses (1995 model) then I decided to run the cables to see if something was cut or loose... but everything was ok, except for the wires mentioned before.
When I look to the rear switch,there are three wires exiting,one of them is green. I follow that wire and when it hits the exit to the relay I find 2 green wires! one ofthem goes into the relay and the other one is loose with a rubber cap on it! then I took apart a set of connectors wanting to see if the front switch wires where around...and I found that two wires where plugged in the plastic thingy but on female part there weren' any mates!what's up with that?is it normal?
I'm gonna take some pics of right now
When I look to the rear switch,there are three wires exiting,one of them is green. I follow that wire and when it hits the exit to the relay I find 2 green wires! one ofthem goes into the relay and the other one is loose with a rubber cap on it! then I took apart a set of connectors wanting to see if the front switch wires where around...and I found that two wires where plugged in the plastic thingy but on female part there weren' any mates!what's up with that?is it normal?
I'm gonna take some pics of right now
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
Here are the pics of the wires that have no connection that I talked about.After I took the pictures I decided to trytofollowe them, I could only do that with the orange and white, it seems it comes from the rear brake switch,goes throught the tank under the dash Ithink to somewhere,and comes back to the connector.
The other picture I posted is to visualize the green wires as they get to the relay.
Hope this helps u guys to help me.
The other picture I posted is to visualize the green wires as they get to the relay.
Hope this helps u guys to help me.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: United Socialist Republic of Massachusetts
Do you have a multi meter, check for voltage on BOTH contacts on the bottom of the light socket
Plus check for voltage at the switch.
If you don't have a multi meter you should pick one up, cheap and WAY HANDY for diagnosing electrical gremlins.
You said one filament works (tail light) so the ground should be ok.
You say you don't have fuses, so you must have breakers,check and make sure you have voltage coming out of the breakers(if you can't tell which is the output check both sides)
You might want to pick up a service manual, it will have a wiring diagram.
Good luck
Plus check for voltage at the switch.
If you don't have a multi meter you should pick one up, cheap and WAY HANDY for diagnosing electrical gremlins.
You said one filament works (tail light) so the ground should be ok.
You say you don't have fuses, so you must have breakers,check and make sure you have voltage coming out of the breakers(if you can't tell which is the output check both sides)
You might want to pick up a service manual, it will have a wiring diagram.
Good luck
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
thnx,I'll be getting a multi meter these days or at least borrow one and post on the results.
In the service manual part, it's hard to get one due to my location, and genuine h-d manuals are "in store purchase only" and it might take a month for it to get here if there's no problem with customs (lately there has been system issues) so I'm practically going with internet solutions, although I haven't found anywiring diagram for my bike :S
thnx again
In the service manual part, it's hard to get one due to my location, and genuine h-d manuals are "in store purchase only" and it might take a month for it to get here if there's no problem with customs (lately there has been system issues) so I'm practically going with internet solutions, although I haven't found anywiring diagram for my bike :S
thnx again
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
I don't seem to have voltage reaching the switch,couldn't get a multimeter so I made a test light myself but it didn't light up, so I get no voltage there. I'm pretty much starting to be sure in the part where those wires are the problem but I really can't see where they connect to
any ideas about those orange with white stripe wires and blue with white stripe?
any ideas about those orange with white stripe wires and blue with white stripe?
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: United Socialist Republic of Massachusetts
I don't seem to have voltage reaching the switch,couldn't get a multimeter so I made a test light myself but it didn't light up, so I get no voltage there. I'm pretty much starting to be sure in the part where those wires are the problem but I really can't see where they connect to
any ideas about those orange with white stripe wires and blue with white stripe?
any ideas about those orange with white stripe wires and blue with white stripe?
if both the front and back brakes don't turn it on and you don't have voltage at the front switch, try wiggling the ignition switch while holding the brake on.
did you check all the breakers ?
if you don't want to drive your self crazy, pick up a Factory service manual, it will be the best accessory you ever get!!!!!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
yea, it's already starting to be a pain in the ***, might as well leave them there for a while and once I get my primary gasket kit and take it to the shop ask them to seiously look at the problem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
