Tail lights stopped working with rear brake

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by nitroheadz28, Mar 23, 2016.

  1. nitroheadz28

    nitroheadz28 New Member

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    Fixed! Was the brake switch

    Last week I was removing my rear fairing and I had done it the lazy way with the grab handles still on. Meaning that the fairing was snagging on some of the wiring. Since then I started having this issue, the front works normally.

    I checked the brake switch for continuity, its fine. Fuses are all good. I went over the harness playing with each part of it while stepping on the pedal and it still wouldn't light up. Anything else I can test short of pulling the entire harness and possibly having to unwrap it all?
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2016


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  2. redwing750

    redwing750 New Member

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    If you know the bulb is good, then a wire probably got yanked out of the crimped tab that contacts the bulb base.
     


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  3. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Put a jumper wire on the plug connector and check again, eliminating the switch from the circuit.

    Last thing you ever want to do is fuck with a harness. You can almost always wire around any problem.
     


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  4. nitroheadz28

    nitroheadz28 New Member

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    I'm sorry, I really suck with electrical and haven't had the pleasure of having to chase many gremlins yet. Which connectors should I jump? I agree, I don't want to mess with that.


    redwing- I fiddled with every single connector, and every inch of all the harness I could access with my fingers. The bulbs are 100% good because they light up when I hit the front brakes.
     


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  5. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    you checked continuity of the switch, did you check if there's actually power available to it?
     


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  6. redwing750

    redwing750 New Member

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    That would be the next thing to check.
     


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  7. RobVG

    RobVG Member

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    What year
     


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  8. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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  9. nitroheadz28

    nitroheadz28 New Member

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    Its a 2000

    There is power going to it, I jumped the connector coming from the switch and the brake lights lit up. Looks like I need a new brake switch. Thanks guys!
     


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  10. nitroheadz28

    nitroheadz28 New Member

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    Wanted to update in case anyone has the same issue, it was in fact the brake switch

    Lights work again, my bike has hilarious timing with things going wrong when I'm servicing other unrelated shit :chaingun:
     


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  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I discovered mine stopped working just the other day. My issue was the heat shrink on a wire unxer the seat appeared to have worn a bare patch and it was likely grounding out. New shrink wrap and issue seems to have been dispatched like a unwanted stray cat.
     


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