Brake light issue troubleshooting

[Wounded Lobster]

Hellooo! Just got my new regulator so trying to get all my lights up and working.

I have running indicators, headlight, tail light even but my brake light will not light up!?

 

The globe is fine. I first tested at the plug under the seat and I do not get current on the brake light pin by pulling either brake lever.

 

I then tried bypassing the front switch altogether by running a wire across the terminal it plugs into behind the headlight but still no dice!? Surely that should have lit it up?

 

Any ideas? A ripped/cut wire along the way seems unlikely but its about all I can think of.

 

Seeing as neither lever works could the problem be located where they share the same wires?

 

Any and all help much appreciated, thanks!

[Thommo_400f]

What bike?

Check the actual switches. Put a multimeter across both wires to brake pressure switch and push brake lever to check continuity. Do same for front brake switch.

[Wounded Lobster]

Thanks for the reply!

Sorry, 04 WR450, they come road legal from factory here in aus I think it's different elsewhere?

I figured if the switch was the problem bypassing it at its plug would have fixed it? I will check anyway.

Gonna be out there all day with a multimeter.

[Wounded Lobster]

No continuity with lever pulled. Bypassing the switch by running a wire between the plug terminals does not create current. There is about half a volt between the two plug terminals. This means it must be a bad connection somewhere between the battery and that plug, right?

Thanks again.

[Thommo_400f]

The brake light circuit is a pretty simple one. Just gota get it sorted in your head so you can test it correctly.

 

 

Diagram shows a common relay, but yours might just be a common joint. "Basically" same for all bikes.

 

Work you way through, you'll get it eventually

 

 

[Wounded Lobster]

Thanks for the diagram. Haha yep I thought I might be testing wrong.

I'm thinking about just rewiring the front plug to the battery + on one side and brake light + on the other. That will 100% fix any problems unless it is a grounding issue.

[Wounded Lobster]

Fixed! Pulled some un-factory-looking elec tape off and found that some turkey had cut the brake light+ wire at the rear plug!?    Reconnected and its all working fine now on both levers. Thanks for the help, that diagram is actually different to what I had assumed it would be so im glad you posted it!

 

EDIT: and please excuse my shameless double posting habits

Edited July 17, 2014 by Wounded Lobster

[Thommo_400f]

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