JavaScript is disabled. #12. When the switch inside the brake system isnt working right, your lights cant turn off. Yes. This happens even when pedal switch removed. While its not usually a mechanical failure that prevents you from riding, a constantly flashing brake light can be a serious safety hazard as it signals other vehicles when youre slowing down. Consider two key facts: There is another element to all of this the rider or riders. The switch uses a ground trigger for the BCM, which turns the brake lights power on. Light was still on. Turned out to be a bad connection. no electric farks are on the bike yet any thoughts on the brake light staying on as if I am depressing the brake? Also make sure the brake light is really on and not just your running light, your brake lights may not be working at all, they fail pretty easily it seems. Click this article to find out why. This completes the brake lights circuit in your vehicles electrical system and needs to be replaced if found defective. You might get luck and squeak by using some electrical contact cleaner to flush out the switch. I unplugged the connector for front brake, brake light stayed on. JavaScript is disabled. A brake light that is stuck on can be a real annoyance and a potential safety hazard. The flanged part of the switch bumper should be pushed hard into the hole so that it snaps into place. This article applies to the Harley Davidson Touring. Putting on eye protection is highly recommended as you go about locating your brake pedal switch, disconnecting the wiring pigtail, and inspecting it for damage. We have a big role to play. Dont lose the mounting hardware, as you will need to reuse it when installing the new switch. Mar 15, 2005. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Depending on your vehicles make and model, you may need to remove pieces of the interior trim to access the fuse box, and you may need to inspect more than one fuse for your brake light. Lets look at each defective brake light symptom in-depth. (14 Reasons), 12 No Oil in Car Symptoms to Look Out For, 8 Water in Gas Tank Symptoms (How To Check & Fix), How to Know if Temp Gauge Is Bad (9 Symptoms), A test light, multi-meter, or volt ohm meter, like a. Unplug the brake light or stoplight switch. Below are the things you will need: Below are steps on how to determine whether a faulty brake light switch is what is causing your brake lights to stay on: Find the brake light switch under the dashboard near the top of the brake pedal. This might be the most complicated cause to troubleshoot and shouldnt be looked at until the other possible sources have been ruled out. When all else fails, you should take your car to a mechanic. Motorcycle. Brake light sensors are an inexpensive part that may need adjusted, as you may find out when your lights won't turn off. Figure 1. You might be able to see it, but if you cant see it or its not visible, the bubble of security can collapse at any moment. Brake lights warn other vehicles behind you when you are about to slow down or stop. I've never run into that situation: where a dealership or sales people know more about the product than the manufacturer or designers. problem. It also accounts for barometric pressure, altitude, and, Read More 10 Bad O2 Sensor Symptoms (What to Look Out For)Continue, Running errands in the cold cannot be helped and is not a big deal for most. Does the rear brake switch function the light correctly ? The pedal must come back to its original position for the switch to close and the lights to cease working. After all, we got our car heater to make, Read More Why Is My Car Heater Not Getting Hot Enough? Get some plastic safe electrical contact cleaner & spray up inside the rear brake switch while stepping on the pedal several times. Check the switches for the front and rear brakes. If the brake lever has been changed out or the master cylinder replaced, it is easy for the delicate switch to become damaged or misaligned and remain in the on position, even when the brakes are released, thus causing the brake light to stay on. Once done with the wires, inspect the switchs alignment and confirm that a depressed brake pedal activates the switchs plunger. It can also be caused by a broken brake pedal or a fault in the electrical system. 2007 R1200R. While some issues are simple to assess and fix, others occur due to unkempt car parts. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Welcome to Off-Roading Pro. If you recently replaced the rear light bulbs when this happened, you may have installed the wrong bulbs. Definately get into the rear brake setup - lube the pedal shaft & adjust the rear brake switch - easy to do. It is interesting that sometimes a micro switch can make it's normal click sound when actuating but be bad. I have a 2009 Harley Ultra Classic. I have a brake light - JustAnswer When possible, Off-Roading Pro uses affiliate links. Verify that the flat portion of the switch bumper is facing the rear of the vehicle. Some people choose to skip this testing process and choose to switch to a newer or better known transmission because it is simpler or cheaper. A missing bumper will do the same. If you see otherwise, adjust the brake switch so that it gets to open the connection. These switches provide ground to complete the brake light circuit. Step 2 - Bleed the brakes You could have air in the system. Unscrew the threaded brake light switch by hand. You can find and fix basic electrical problems at home. I was pulled over on I-95 in the wee morning hours the other night by a friendly NH state trooper who informed me that I had no running light at all. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your car brakes are meant to keep you from getting into an accident. Come join the discussion about performance, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! If you bend the rear brake petal too far it will move too far away from the switch, allowing the brake light to stay on regardless of brake lever or pedal condition. If you've replaced the brake line, proceed to Step 2. If we are not part of the visual solution ourselves, using PPE or high visibility PPE helmets or outers helps get people/vehicles off the road. It's free! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If no luck, then you may be dealing with a non-working spring, a faulty switch, or a short in the brake circuit wiring. Check brake lines and connections. I can't learn chit from silence. Yes. This is the most complicated option and should be looked at last. You can also try to adjust the brake pedal switch if it has an adjustment and if it looks like it is engaged, even if the brake pedal is released. Several cases have been reported where the brake light filament has shorted across to the tail light filament, causing the light to be overly bright as if the brake light was on. ABS light staying on | Victory Motorcycle Forum I inspected the rear brake switch and everything looks normal. Thank you folks for replies. Then replaced the relay. Notshy XRP 57K views 9 years ago How to Wire Motorcycle LED Lights Classic Octane 597K views 5 years ago Harley-Davidson Brake. So I'm guessing the controller went bad. I've managed to do that more than once when I had the 1997 M900. Almost all brake lights that stay on or flicker are caused by faulty or malfunctioning brake lights. Although this rarely happens, the cause of your problem may be as simple as an engaged parking brake. The housing is easily disassembled to inspect the brake switch. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I'm Kris and this is my blog where I talk about all things related to ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, Jeeps, snowmobiles, and more. If your brake light remains on, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. ABS Light Stays On | Yamaha FJR Motorcycle Forum It is illegal to drive with your brake lights stuck on. You should see a screw, this leads to the switch (and actuates it). But when stuck, these lights defeat their purpose as a safety feature and potentially put you and others in danger. Aug 1, 2004. If this spring has lost its tension and cant return back to normal, the brake system remains engaged, which causes the lights to illuminate. A busted Harley Davidson Sportster Rear Lights Not Working These switches provide ground to complete the brake light circuit. I pull the plunger. Troubleshooting Always On Brake Light (Motorcycle) - YouTube Actuation of the switch is achieved through the interaction of the brake lever / master cylinder assembly and the light switch. The brake lights turn on by means of applying +12 volts to the brake filaments, so there has to be an unintended voltage source connected to the brake lights. If you dont have an available service manual, revert to the manufacturers website for diagrams and steps. Lights not illuminating or returning a 12V reading would mean that the brake switch is not receiving power, signifying a wiring problem. If you recently replaced the rear light bulbs when this happened, you may have installed the wrong bulbs. A forum community dedicated to Ducati Monster owners and enthusiasts. 99 monster s: 41mm FCR's, dyna coils, some CC stuff, marchenisi rims After scrounging around the house trying to figure out what I can use, the thing that works the best for me is a nail that I cut down to size w/a wire cutter. If youre in traffic and your brake lights stay on, other drivers may not see you actually braking, which could cause a rear-end collision. This rail is located in the combo box behind the left saddlebag. Take some WD-40 and spray the switch plunger and . The brake light switch is a two-way mechanism near the brake pedal and is often marked. First, remove the Hazard Lighting fuse (10 amp) and see if the brake lights go off. Here are a few. Get some plastic safe electrical contact cleaner & spray up inside the rear brake switch while stepping on the pedal several times. Normally, the ECU turns on a relay letting the relay contacts supply the 12 volts. The brake lights are not on when I leave the vehicle but sometimes are on when I return. It's rare though. When the switch is NOT engaged, the light will come on when it is, the light is off. The service manual has the tests you can perform on the ABS system, need the ABS test coupler or can short out the wires to enable the test mode. There was no burning so they did #1. Have you noticed how hard it is to find a light off-road or ADV motorcycle in a showroom in some markets? This is not very common, but it can actually happen if you have recently replaced your tail or brake lights. If you're experiencing brake light problems, a quick overdrive of the brake circuit can often . If the brake light on your Harley Touring model is stuck on or flickering, this article will focus on several issues that could be causing the problem. Here's what could cause it and how to fix it. If this won't stop the rear brake light from coming on, disconnect the rear brake switch and see if the front brake switch is causing this problem. To do this, slip the cable off and tuck it to the side of the battery. If there is something wrong with the BCM, this could leave the brake lights stuck on. Are your rear lights malfunctioning? As with brake lights, changing the bulb is quick and easy and can fix the problem. Tech Tip Ep. 10 - My brake light is always on?! (How to Fix it) A hand or socket wrench can loosen the nut securing the ground cable to the battery terminal. On way back from hardware store my ABS light stayed on all the way home . This fuse powers the parking lights, license plate light, and turn signals. Establishing your presence, maintaining your space of course in collaboration and being aware is important to establishing and maintaining situational awareness and making a 360 security bubble viable. The switches and sensors in a braking system are responsible for telling the lights when the pedal is up or down. Plug the wiring harness into the new stoplight switch until the locking tab clicks into place. Pennzoil vs. Mobil 1 Oil: Differences & Which Is Better? Bad switch? It may be due to a defective rubber stopper or debris/corrosion between the brake switch and pedal. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Because the pedal doesnt return to its natural spot, the brake lights remain on. I have a 82 R100 and the brake light stays on all the time. On the older Monsters, at least, you can put the tail light bulb in backwards so that the brighter filament is connected to the tail light and the dimmer one to the brakes. Jun 23, 2015. When I want to read a really good Harley thread, I just turn to VolusiaRiders.com. Ensuring, Read More 12 No Oil in Car Symptoms to Look Out ForContinue, With the growing knowledge of engine oil products, their properties, and the like, it is no wonder comparing top brands, and pleasing choosy consumers have, Read More Castrol vs Mobil 1: Which is Better?Continue, Every vehicle owner can agree that dealing with water in the gas tank is troublesome. Click here to find out why. Troubleshooting Always On Brake Light (Motorcycle) - YouTube My brand new Honda Grom developed the problem when the brake light where would not turn off essentially we thought one of. You want to confirm that the switch is depressing completely. Harley owners occasionally find that their brake light is continuously illuminated even without applying the brakes. Of course, being sales people they may tell you anything, but I think that is more likely than not baloney. it's on the frame, aft of the transmission, behind the exhaust pipes. I've been to a couple of forums this morning and this seems to be pretty popular issue. When there is a fault in the electrical system, it can affect numerous components, including the brake lights. __Scott R. Nelson, 1998 ST2, 1993 888 SPO, Pleasanton, CA. Among the most common reasons your brake lights stay on are circuit errors, brake assembly problems, or a low brake fluid level. But hey, nobody knows everything, and if we all help each other we can move forward a step. Fortunately, this is a fairly common problem with various Harley models, so diagnosis and repair of the failed component(s) is well documented. 2012 ultra classic. Here are steps on how to replace it: In summary, here are 12 ways on how to fix stuck brake lights: The next time anyone asks you, Why are my brake lights stuck on? you should be able to assist them with where and what to inspect. Shine a flashlight on the switch stopper and check that it sits flush against the metal plate. brake light stays on! | Ducati Monster Motorcycle Forum He has been working as a car mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced car diagnostics and troubleshooting. Before doing any work on your vehicles electrical system, always disconnect the battery to avoid shock or damage. 1600 Kawasaki Classic. The rear switch is hydraulic pressure-operated and, being close to the exhaust system, can fail in a variety of ways. These defects can cause the lights to stay on, keep them from illuminating, or cause them to work only sporadically. Your ohm meter is your friend! If you install a light bulb with one circuit in a socket for two circuits, it can short the circuit, and it will cause the brake lights to come on. tell me what you find. If this won't stop the rear brake light from coming on, disconnect the rear brake switch and see if the front brake switch is causing this problem. This article Harley Davidson Touring Electrical Diagnostic Guide This switch is typically attached to the pedals arm via a bracket with two wires attached to it. Lets begin with the causes: The most common reason why your brake lights stay on is due to a faulty brake light switch or sensor. Check the rear brake sensor, it may be stuck. Tighten the adjustment nut and bolts with a ratchet and socket. ABS light on? Why Aren't My Rear Lights Working? Now that you are aware of the possible causes why your brake light gets stuck on, it will be easier to narrow down its origin and troubleshoot accordingly. Many motorcyclists, including those of us who have been involved in safety for a long time at all levels and across all disciplines, know that our presence is hard work. Materials Needed Digital multimeter Torx sockets 1/4" drive ratchet and extension Adjustable wrench Step 1 - Check brake light switch You are using an out of date browser. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Older cars do not use a BCM, though, as the switch directly connects power to the brake lights. With cooler nights and less heat and humidity during the day, bikers seem to be everywhere. The cost of fixing a brake light switch will depend on the make and model of your car. To find the brake light switch follow that wire, or just look around on the lever. Steve is online now Continue Related Motorcycle Questions Not only will this knowledge save you hundreds of dollars for professional servicing, but also keep you from incurring huge fines or being cited for not having brake lights that properly function. 2) Confirm rear caliper moves freely-system will detect brake drag, however slight it may be. If the brake light on your Harley Touring model is stuck on or flickering, this article will focus on several issues that could be causing the problem. Spotting these crumbs points to a deteriorated bumper due to heat and age, confirming it as the cause of the problem. Castrol Edge vs. Mobil 1 Oil: Differences & Which Is Better? Fully releasing the parking brake will get your brake light unstuck. How much does it cost to fix a brake light switch? Whats even worse than having a bad spring in the pedal is having a defective pedal itself. Please read the whole thing before jumping to conclusions. How to fix a motorcycle tail light that stays on for free. He lit the bike up with his flashlight as I fixed the light. The brake is a free smart brake light style hardened plastic housing with a little 3M VHB glue that sticks securely to the back of the hood. You also need to remove the brake switch from the brake pedal linkage. Went for a ride last night and seen that my rear brake light was staying on all the time. When anything in this system malfunctions, it could spell disaster. Make sure that the brake pedal does not stay abnormally locked in place either. In addition, it can cause your brake pads to remain engaged, which leads to additional pad and rotor wear. If that that wire finds ground anywhere along its path, the brake light will remain on. Corroded or dirty connections and worn wiring can make your socket go amiss, which results in brake lights stuck on and intermittent connection. Similarly, a stuck wire will keep the lights on. Fred, this NC relay looks like the thing. Motorcycle Mechanic: Chris If your brake fluid level is good, and you are sure the brake pedal is all the way up, then your switch may be bad, and causing the light to stay on. If you have a service manual, you can follow the steps to check the wiring and connections. Brake Light Stays On - BMW Motorcycle Owners of America