| Author | Message | ||
     Elpanameno |
My tail light is stuck on. I have disconnected both the front and the rear brake switches and it stays lit. Any ideas? I'm wrecking my brain here. | ||
| Cuelbuell |
Wiggle your ignition switch with the key in it. Mine sticks sometimes on my 99 X1 causing the brake light and the odometer to stay on. | ||
| Elpanameno |
tried it. No luck. What is the reason that wiggling your ignition switch works? I am thinkng maybe it is because the bike came NAKED. Stripped of an speedometer/odometer and most plastic. Maybe there are some loose wires somewhere touching eachother? | ||
| Billetmetallic |
id check to make sure the bulb isnt in backwards (you know, those little nipples on the sides of the base of the bulb one low one high) spin the bulb 180 degrees and reinstall | ||
| Beachbuell |
Possible broken brake light switch. Your front brake lever and rear both have switches on them. One may have broke, thus leaving your brake light on. Have you installed new levers lately? | ||
| Oldog |
short circuit | ||
| Xodot |
is it your tail light or brake light that is on? | ||
| Elpanameno |
xdot: Both Tail and Brake light are always on. Beachbuell: I unplugged both light switches, one at a time and both together. still on. That should rule out broken brake switch. I pulled out each fuse and it was still on until i pulled the one that is for the tail lights. The brake and tail lamp both shut off. Billetmetallic: Bulb cannot be in backwards, there is only one way to put in the bulb and turn it. The new assembly doesnt allow any other way (btw i had the same problem with the old assembly). I also switched the 2 wires in the back of the assembly (just to test) they were both still on. Oldog: Very likely i think but how do you find the problem? I have wiggled every wire from the front all the way to the back. Where they weren't in a wrapping i would separate wires from each other as well. There are a couple adapters that connect wire harnesses that I wiggled the connections to as well. Any other suggestions? | ||
| Akbuell |
Given that you got the bike "naked", it would appear that the previous owner has either spliced the two taillight wires together and wired them straight to a 12v source, or wired each filament separately to a 12v source. And bypassed the brake switches entirely. Only solution I know is to start at the taillight and follow the wires through the bike, to find out where they are connected to the rest of the harness. They are now wired straight to the fuse, perhaps? Hope this/we have helped. And please let us know what you find. Dave | ||
| Elpanameno |
i did as much as i could without taking the whole bike apart. Couldnt find anything like that. This sounds like its going to be on permanently. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Mine did that once and my bulb was the problem. Tried a new bulb? | ||
| Malott442 |
+1, the filament in rare cases can come loose and "bridge"..... | ||
| Oldog |
El try the bulb thats cheap disclaimer data I am working with is X1 the circuit is quite simple IF no other changes were made except the bulb { AND IT WORKED BEFORE } go hunting a short, IF you have been modding or service work check the connector at the tail lamp / tail section for short / miswire power comes to the running light thru orange white { accessory } and goes to ground at the light, power goes to both switches from orange white, the SWITCHED wires meet at the back brake switch red/yellow and go to the stop lamp. (Message edited by oldog on August 15, 2008) | ||
| Oldog |
 a-SKETCH T{OOPS}to simplify | ||
| Elpanameno |
Oldog... thanks for the sketch and the insight. I understand what you are saying and if you check my second post I had guessed that it was probably a short. I have traced the wires as best as i can and am unable to find any section where this could be happening (unless it is within the harness). In your drawing the fusebox is missing. Should both of these wires be feeding into the same fuse? Pulling out one fuse affects both lights. All other fuses do nothing to the light. I am no electric guy... im just glad we're working with dc here.. | ||
| Oldog |
I understand what you are saying and if you check my second post I had guessed that it was probably a short. I have traced the wires as best as i can and am unable to find any section where this could be happening (unless it is within the harness). In your drawing the fusebox is missing. Should both of these wires be feeding into the same fuse? Yes, the drawing is to simplify the circuit IGN includes the fuse, the main switch, etc. you are going to want to check the red / yellow wire in any place it and the orange / white wires can get together, oh and this just popped into my head look closely at the socket internal you need a meter at this point I wouuld remove the tail light and check at the 3 pole connector for a short and inspect the socket, the harness on the X1 unplugs near the fuse block and the wiring / signals can be checked there. } the circuit is not that complex. (Message edited by oldog on August 15, 2008) | ||
| Oldog |
after you eliminate by absolute proof any possible fault what ever remains by default is the problem, or "Only Nixon could go to China" | ||
| Oldog |
Shawn If you get stuck get my # from the RAN and call me tonight I will try and see if I can help you.. Jim .. | ||
| Elpanameno |
socket internal? What is that? I unplugged most of the connections that were sockets and plugged them back in. Maybe one of the zip ties that holds the harness to the frame cut into something? I dont know because the harness doesnt show any cuts. I have replaced the tail light already and it is still a problem as it was with the last one. I also had previously taken the tail light off my other m2 and it was the same issue. Changed the bulb too. I also dont know what a RAN is but I wouldnt be able to call tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I certainly appreciate your help. I tore this bike apart and couldnt find any wires that looked like they were stripped or could be causing a short. In fact I separated them by hand almost everywhere and the light stayed on. I even plugged the speedometer back in (the guy gave it to me with the bike) and the light does stay on the gauges when i do a half turn of the key as well as the tail light. Im going crazy here. | ||
| Creature_x1 |
the front brake switch works opposite of that what you are thinking. the switch makes contact to turn off power to the bulb, so to speak. To unplug the front brake light switch is just like having a bad switch, the light stays on. the rear is a pressure switch, pressure in the brake line turns on the light. | ||
| Oldog |
the front brake switch works opposite of that what you are thinking. the switch makes contact to turn off power to the bulb, so to speak. To unplug the front brake light switch is just like having a bad switch, the light stays on. the rear is a pressure switch, pressure in the brake line turns on the light. ERR NO! JUST TO BE SURE I WENT OUT AND UN HOOKED MINE. (FRONT BRAKE SWITCH) IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY. If you took the switch off of the mount then yes. the switch is normaly closed open when actuated. ( lever against the pin ) Socket internal means inside the socket. this may not be it if you changed out the entire assembley for one that works and the problem still exists } I also had previously taken the tail light off my other m2 and it was the same issue. Bulb or entire assembley? RAN Rider Assistance Network (Message edited by oldog on August 16, 2008) | ||
| Oldog |
Hey Shawn do you have the front brake switch un bolted from the lever or the female disconnects pulled off? if you took the switch off leaving the wires attached. that could be it. | ||
| Skntpig |
Are you sure you don't have the "Parking" light on? Just a thought. Make sure you are turning the ignition all the way before you take the key out. Good luck | ||
| Elpanameno |
I have completely disconnected both the front and back brake switches seperately and at the same time. No issue there. Parking light? The light stays on when I am driving the bike. I never have a difference in brightness when I am braking on the road. Its just always super bright. | ||
| Oldog |
Then I go back to my original post Short either in the light socket or wiring or the wiring has been re worked as stated by AK buell and done so incorrectthis is most puzzling please get a meter and call me.. | ||
| Elpanameno |
I dont own a meter but will try to stop at sears in the next day or so. Thanks for the help. |
