[mescalito]

Ok, replaced my lights with LED lights and they flashed, replaced them with the original lights and now my break light will not come on. Checked my fuses. Any suggestions?

 

[gillisfire20]

Check to make sure your front running/turn signal bulbs are good. A bad bulb WILL make your brake light not function. Trust me, I been there. I didn't learn this until I pulled my tank and traced wires and fuses. The front are dual element, one bad leg on a bulb will cause some headaches.

 

[Bear2123]

Check that you haven't swapped the single for the dual filament lamps in the front. I know they are keyed so as to not fit, but, I've seen it done. One can use a twin filament in a single filament application (by design) but the inverse won't fit/work.

 

[varrus999]

Check to make sure your front running/turn signal bulbs are good. A bad bulb WILL make your brake light not function. Trust me, I been there. I didn't learn this until I pulled my tank and traced wires and fuses. The front are dual element, one bad leg on a bulb will cause some headaches.

OK so I've had this same issue since late last season, tried changing the dual element bulb in the brake light housing and it didn't fix it. Was ready to trace the wires over the winter, but the garage was too crowded and too cold till this week. The timing of this post is very convenient! Anyway I read your reply here and just checked my running lights. All four turn signals work. The front 'running lights' (the bulbs inside the turn signal housing) light up when I turn the key. the bulbs in the rear turn signal bulbs do NOT light up when I turn the key - only when I use the signals. The brake running light lights up, but not the actual brake light. So, thinking about what you wrote above, should the rear turn signals also work as running lights - should these bulbs light up when I simply turn the key?

Also wondering if the brake light should light up when I turn the key but not power on the engine - other ones do but not sure if the brake light should. I don't mean to sound dumb, I know it's not working, I just want to know from a troubleshooting perpective so I don't have to fire it up in my garage everytime I try something!

Thanks!

 

[Bear2123]

I've only worked on a friends 900 but followed a few. I believe that the rears are turn signal only. Are the lenses amber in color? If so, then they are turn signal only. If not amber, we need to look further. Does the brake light come on when you use either brake? Have you checked those lamps (My 800 has 2 bulbs in the tail lamp. I do not know if the 900 does also.)? Post back.

 

[varrus999]

I've only worked on a friends 900 but followed a few. I believe that the rears are turn signal only. Are the lenses amber in color? If so, then they are turn signal only. If not amber, we need to look further. Does the brake light come on when you use either brake? Have you checked those lamps (My 800 has 2 bulbs in the tail lamp. I do not know if the 900 does also.)? Post back.

The lenses are clear, single filament...so I assume they are turn only. I checked after my post. The brake light won't work with either lever, hand or foot. The brake light on the 900 is a dual filament single bulb. I changed it, no luck. I was told to trace the wires and look for possibly a bad ground...I have a tester but I'm not good with this stuff...also need to start removing parts to get to the wires..

 

[HRH_Z]

What are break lights?

 

[rugbystar]

This happened to me today. No running light and no brake light when brake lever was pressed. Changed bulb, still nothing. What it turned out to be was the wire became slightly unplugged. When you take your seat off, in front of your tool holder, there are where the wires meet. They should be covered by a clear(ish) plastic. I looked in there and VOILA, all I had to do was push the ends together, tighter.

I hope this is all you need, too.

 

[varrus999]

This happened to me today. No running light and no brake light when brake lever was pressed. Changed bulb, still nothing. What it turned out to be was the wire became slightly unplugged. When you take your seat off, in front of your tool holder, there are where the wires meet. They should be covered by a clear(ish) plastic. I looked in there and VOILA, all I had to do was push the ends together, tighter.

I hope this is all you need, too.

Thanks for the tip. I checked, mine was connected, which I expected since I do have a running light, just no brake light. I fiddled with it and also jiggled the wire leading under the fender while pressing the brakes. No luck. Interesting, there are two wire leads with a bit of rubber insulation on them going towards the front of the bike. They are not connected and I don't see anything to connect them to. I wonder what these are for?

 

[Bear2123]

I've been told that the brake lamp has it's own fuse. Source has been reliable previously. Have you checked it?

 

[varrus999]

I've been told that the brake lamp has it's own fuse. Source has been reliable previously. Have you checked it?

I checked the fuse box on the left side under the black plastic cover..there is only a 10A fuse for 'tail'. The fuse is good, I checked it last year...and I checked again, when I pull it, the tail light goes out (which is also the brake light)...even though it's good I replaced it with the spare 10A, no difference. I don't see it having a different fuse, it's the same bulb..

Also if someone could chime in, the brake function should work with the engine off right? Just to help with my testing...

Thanks.

 

[varrus999]

FIXED!! I was digging around on the internet and found a post on another forumn that listed a systematic way of troubleshooting rear brake light issues. In my case, as I suspected, the brake light was ALWAYS on - you just don't know how bright it is with both lights on unless you know before hand. I noticed when I pulled the hand brake lever, nothing happened, but when I pressed and released the foot pedal there was the slightest glitch on the light...so I reached down and pulled the pedal up hard with my hand and the light went off...then the brake light worked as expected when pressing the lever or the foot brake. It still goes back to the stuck position..I probably just need to spray some WD40 in there somewhere...but at least I know where the problem is and I don't need to take the tank off or rear fender!

Hope this helps the OP too..

 

[ErnieC]

Can't you just adjust the switch?

 

[varrus999]

Can't you just adjust the switch?

I think it's more an issue of rust and corrosion, from what I've read I need to clean it with a wire brush, or replace it...

 

[mescalito]

Update

Thanks guys!!!

Found the problem! When I put the LED lights in I think it blew my front break switch under the lever. Not sure if I need to use a reducer with the new lights.

Lisa