brake light not lighting when brakes are applied

Not sure whats wrong! The brake lights were working perfectly fine now both are just not lighting when the brakes are squeezed.

The tail light works, fuse is not blown, the bulbs look perfect, I have taken them out and reseated them.


Anyone ever have this issue? I guess I need to find out where along the lines the connection is not being made just wondered if anyone else had this issue and was able to rectify it before I take the damn thing apart!


James

Odd that both would fail simultaneously. Check the brake light fuse. If that's ok then you'll have to remove the switches at the brake levers. IIRC they are 'normally closed' switches --if that helps. It could be that you've had one switch previously fail and the opposite switch was the one that was giving you brake light operation. Eventually that 2nd switch failed as well and now you've got no brake lights at all. HTH

Tim

Bulbs ? Lil strange of couse for both at the same time

The switches get my vote also.

My switches would quit working at times, normally just the right side one though. Easy enough to take apart, clean up, and reassemble.

Not to be contrary but I think both brake light switches are normally open and when activated you have continuity through the switch.The shop manual (page 21-10) tells you can access the switch connector by removing the handlebar cover. Remove the connector and check for continuity across both terminals of the switch when you activate the switch. If you have. turn the key on and find the hot wire to the switch. Turn off the ignition switch and check the other wire for continuity through the various connectors back to the stop lights. I doubt that you would have both switches defective at the same time.But again you know what the word assume means.The other probability could me moisture.If you can spray WD40 (stands for water dispersant 40 test) into the switch and activate several times to clean up the contacts. The other probability would be if some one has removed various components and not properly assembled a connector. I'm a firm believer in relativity. :lol!:  Howard

I agree that to have both switches go bad at the same time would be odd. But as Tim said "It could be that you've had one switch previously fail and the opposite switch was the one that was giving you brake light operation." and now that one has gone bad too.

NWSSC wrote:

The other probability could me moisture.If you can spray WD40 (stands for water dispersant 40 test) into the switch and activate several times to clean up the contacts.  Howard

That would be my first course of action. The switches on the levers are pretty well exposed to the weather, so it could be as simple as some dirt on the contacts.

Graham

For what it's worth, my brake light switch failed after 18 months and had to be replaced.
My Silverwing is garage kept and though I ride year round, I try to avoid the wet stuff (rain, snow, sleet) if I can help it.
The dealer said they also see them fail on Goldwings .

Thanks guys the first thing I'm going to do is try WD 40

I bought my 2009 SW with a faulty right brake light switch. Even after applying lube very intermittent lighting. Ordered a new switch from Classic Cycle Parts in Hilliard,OH for $9.59 shipped and they worked perfect.