Both of my brake light switches were working fine until last week. I regularly check them before moving off and I recently had an MOT too. Now neither the front or the rear brake light switches are making the brake light come on. All of my other electrics work perfectly. I've checked the bulb, it was fine. I've replaced the bulb. The brake light still does not work.
All of the fuses are fine and the wiring seems to be ok too. I have cleaned the front brake switch and found that it was locked up. I cleaned it and got it moving and now you can hear it clicking as I pull the brake lever. The brake light still does not work.
The rear sender thingy (round bugger, down on the right hand side below the starter motor, attached to the brake line) did have a dodgy connector, and I have just soldered it back in place. The brake light still does not work.
What ever I do - THE BRAKE LIGHT STILL DOES NOT WORK!
OK, question time:
Do you think it's possible that both switches have given up the ghost completely? It seems a bit of a coincidence that they have both gone at the same time. If your answer to this question is YES, then that will be the expensive answer, so if at all possible try to think of something else please.
If the rear sender is caput, would that somehow stop the front brake from lighting the brake light?
Before modern times there was walking, but not the perfection of walking, because there was no tea.
check the brake relay. It should be the same as the starter relay. switch them and see what happens. $4.95 fix.
JD Tennessee Squire 1999
#58 Lambert HOF "90
"Stupid and Ignorant"
We sell quite a few brake relays. Excellent suggestion. Let us know if it pans out.
A heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter, you'll become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrow.
-John Prine
OK, here's the next bit of the problem. I thought that one of the relays under the saddle and behind the battery was for the brake light. I phoned my local dealer last week to order one and they told me that the two relays under the saddle had nothing to do with my brake light.
My bike is a 2004 FLSTFI - Do I have a brake light relay under my saddle or not?
Before modern times there was walking, but not the perfection of walking, because there was no tea.
Ok. I just switched them over and they are not to do with the brake light. One is the 'system' relay and the other is the 'start' relay. They both appear to be working too.
I expect that both switches are broken, so I shall have to replace the rear one first and see what happens.
Thanks for the help!
Before modern times there was walking, but not the perfection of walking, because there was no tea.
This isn't the solution to your problem, but since we are talking electrical gremlins, I have two words... DIELECTRIC GREASE.
With the possible exception of high-voltage ignition components, I use dielectric grease on just about ever electrical connection on all of my vehicles. It goes a long way toward chasing moisture and gremlins away.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If you have a Volt/Ohm meter with continuity check you can check those switches quite easily. Hook your meter up to the switch leads and hit the brake, if the continuity makes/breaks whichever the case may be, then you don't have a bad switch.
R.O.R - I shall borrow a meter and check the switches tomorrow. I'll let you know how I got on.
FLH - I use a lot of WD40 as I ride every day in all weathers, and my wiring is in pretty good shape in general, but I'll certainly take your advice, thanks.
Kagan - Am I likely to have something else instead of a relay, or does my system manage without one?
Before modern times there was walking, but not the perfection of walking, because there was no tea.
My comment wasn't meant to be critical. Rather, by their very nature, electrical problems and component connections can be bedOriginally Posted by Dr.Bob
ing. On the wiring harnesses I've seen, H-D does use decent water-resistant connectors.
It turns out it was the brake light switches. Both caput! All working again now just in time for an expedition to Scotland in two days time. Should be covering 1500 miles, most of it through the most spectacular parts of Britain. Can't wait.
Before modern times there was walking, but not the perfection of walking, because there was no tea.
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