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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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 Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject: Brake Light Question |
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My brakes work fine. However, once in a while the brake light stays on (red light with triangle in center). At other times the light turns off normally after both the front and rear brakes are used. The brake fluid level in both front/rear cylinders is correct. Any idea what might be causing the light to stay on?
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2000 R1100RT
2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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The function off your red light with the warning triangle is to monitor your bulbs for the tail light and brake light.
If that warning light stays on the reasons could be: bad ground connection or bad connection on positive side of one of the bulbs,
one of your brake light switches doesn`t function properly.
Faulty brake light switches is the most common reason, is my experience.
Inge K. |
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Jim
Site Admin
Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Geoff - the bulb monitor (triangle) indicator can light if your brake light bulb is failing. I always use BMW bulbs - had problems with some of the imported bulbs not turning the indicator light off.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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i have had some stange experiences with my red dash brake indicator lately.
Normally it goes off with both brake switches tested. but sometimes I can hit both brake switches but the light still stays on till I roll down the road about a block or so.
I don't understand it, but it does go off, just not allways right away when it's supposed to.
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Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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John Clauss
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 732
Location: Robesonia, PA
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Ah, the light stays solid until you test both brakes, it will blink until the ABS does its self check, which is at a low speed (5-6 mph). The order you do things matters. I will have it stay on because I do not use the rear brake until I get to the end of the block, then it goes off from solid.
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1975 R75/6
It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll check the brake light switches and tail light bulb.
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| John Clauss wrote: | | Ah, the light stays solid until you test both brakes, it will blink until the ABS does its self check, which is at a low speed (5-6 mph). |
Thank you, did forget that in my explanation of the function of the warning light.
This function is only on the first generation of ABS, on the second this was moved to the place where warning light for the choke was previously.
But I`m not shure if it`s like that in all markets, since I also have seen wiring diagrams of ABS 2 with the earlier type warning light layout.
Inge K. |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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One thing I'm going to look for is good electrical connections at the bulb and brake light switches. Is it possible to spray the switches with electrical contact cleaner?
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Check that the plungers on the switch(es) are clean and moves freely.
I`ve used a multipurpose spray like WD40 for these switches last 25 years,
usually some cleaning and lubricating is the only thing needed.
Inge K. |
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2xcelr8
Big Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Sep 2009
Posts: 71
Location: SE Wisconsin
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject: Check the bulbs |
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I was having issues on and off last summer and I couldn't figure it out. Within a week the tail light bulb was out. Just make sure you have spare bulbs with you.
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Doug
'96 K1100RS, '94 K1100LT, '84 Honda VF700F Interceptor (4 sale) |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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I replaced the tail light bulb. The bulb monitor (triangle) indicator still stays on all the time. The brake pedal turns the tail light on when depressed. The brake lever on the bars does not activate the tail light.
I sprayed the plunger on the brake light switch with WD40. The plunger moves freely. Do I have a bad switch? I tried to check the wiring connector for the switch, but couldn't determine where it's located. Any suggestions?
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Geoff!
You have found the reason to your problem. The connector for this switch is located under the gas tank.
Look for a small two pole connector with yellow wires, but don`t interchange with the clutch switch connector (it`s similar).
Inge K. |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Help!
Before I paid $39 for a replacement tail light switch, I decided to remove the gas tank and disconnect the tail light switch connector. Next, with the ignition switch turned on, I bypassed the switch and put a jumper across the two wires leading to the tail light. The tail light still didn't illuminate. This means the problem is not the switch at the hand brake lever.
The brake light switch at the pedal works fine. All fuses are okay, and the battery cables are clean and tight.
Before I take my bike to a dealer, are there any more suggestions?
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Geoff!
On the connector in the harness under the tank you have one green/black wire, on this one you should measure 12V+ with the ignition on.
The other wire (gray/red) ends at terminal E1 at the bulb monitoring relay in the relay box (black rectangular relay,left side, fixed with one screw), check connection between these two points.
If you got good connection all the way to the relay connector, you need a new relay.
Inge K. |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Inge, thanks for the reply. Is the bulb monitoring relay part #17 in the illustration below? Price is $75! If the relay is possibly bad, why does the tail light turn on when the pedal is depressed?
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Geoff wrote: | | If the relay is possibly bad, why does the tail light turn on when the pedal is depressed? |
I don't have internal schematic of the relay, but I would think that if it is looking for EACH input separately to turn off the dash indicator, it's possible that the input circuit for the front could be bad but still work for the rear input.
You can find them used on flea-bay, I pickup an extra one from there years ago to carry in my spare's kit.
_________________
Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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Geoff
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott_Anderson wrote: | | Geoff wrote: | | If the relay is possibly bad, why does the tail light turn on when the pedal is depressed? |
I don't have internal schematic of the relay, but I would think that if it is looking for EACH input separately to turn off the dash indicator, it's possible that the input circuit for the front could be bad but still work for the rear input.
You can find them used on flea-bay, I pickup an extra one from there years ago to carry in my spare's kit. |
I actually thought about the relay possibly having two separate circuits. I'll have to study the schematic. The bulb monitoring relay is an example of needless complexity. I'm going to study the schematic with a EE friend of mine and see if I can safely remove the relay from the circuit.
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2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic |
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old guy old bike
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 373
Location: Lisbon, OH
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Geoff wrote: | | The bulb monitoring relay is an example of needless complexity. I'm going to study the schematic with a EE friend of mine and see if I can safely remove the relay from the circuit. |
It did tell you something was wrong though.
Jeff
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1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Geoff wrote: | | ....I'm going to study the schematic with a EE friend of mine and see if I can safely remove the relay from the circuit. |
I think Drake removed his on one of his bikes and made something to replace it. I don't recall it being too complex, you might do a search for it.
_________________
Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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Inge K.
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 458
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Geoff wrote: | | I'm going to study the schematic with a EE friend of mine and see if I can safely remove the relay from the circuit. |
Hi Geoff!
This safety device can be removed from bike, then you must bridge following at the relay connector.
Brake light, 3 connections:
terminal E1 - grey/red - front brake switch.
terminal E2 - grey/green - rear brake switch.
terminal 54A - grey/yellow - brake light bulb.
Tail light, 2 connections:
terminal 58E - grey/white - tail light feed.
terminal 58A - grey/black - tail light bulb.
And you are lucky enough to have a friend who is familiar with this kind of work.........I`ll would suggest that you open the relay and check the soldering points on the reed switch that monitors the current from the front brake switch.
And if the relay ends in the bin, don`t forget to check your brake light switches before each ride (it hurts to be taken from behind).
Inge K. |
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