Can anybody tell me why my brake light doesn't light on my 2005 Harley Sportster when I depress the foot brake

Question

CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHY MY REAR BRAKE LIGHT WON'T LIGHT UP WHEN I DEPRESS THE FOOT BRAKE ON MY 2005 HARLEY??

HOWEVER, IT DOES LIGHT UP WHEN I DEPRESS THE HAND LEVER ??

I RECENTLY REPLACED THE FOOT BRAKE CONTROLS AND IT WORKS FINE, BUT DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHY IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Check all your connections. Make sure everything isn't exposed, you could have washed the bike and short curcuited something by getting it wet perhaps?

If that doesn't work go to your Suzuki dealer and buy a GSXR600

Answer 2

if you just switched to fwd controls, does it clear your front pipe?  some aftermarket controls, or even pipes just don't work well together

Answer 3

Same thing happened on my Suzuki when I replaced the tail light. They problem was actually in the ignition switch. There was not continuity between the two wires controlling the flow of power from the brake switch the light. Bust out a multimeter and test continuity of the circuit following the wires until you find a spot that doesn't have continuity between the two ends of the wire any more. There's the problem. If it's at the brake switch then there's your problem, at the ignition switch there's the problem. Make sure you refer to the service manual and double check what wires are supposed to be "hot" when each switch is in the on and the off positon so that you don't misdiagnose a problem. With my bike we had continuity between the wires for the tail light, but not between the brake light wires when the key was in the run position.

Just to make sure you know: to test continuity, set your multimeter to the continuity setting, then place one lead on one end of the wire and one lead on the other end, there should be an audible beep from the meter if there is continuity and no beep if there is no continuity. If you don't have a meter run down to Sears and get an Auto-ranging meter. They are about $50.

Answer 4

there is a control module behind the foot operated brake lever by the master cylinder.  The brake lever has a place for a small spring to lift up the signal actuator.  Look closely for it because it's beside the swing arm.  it's either came out of the lever or the spring has broken

Answer 5

Check the switch. The front and rear have separate switches to turn on the light.

Answer 6

Probably it does.  The question you need to answer, is how does a motorcycle "KNOW" you pressed/stepped-on the rear brake?  The switch may have been damaged or it may require adjustment. Or you may just have mis-installed the part.

Answer 7

its a harley, what do you expect?,

Answer 8

Broken light bulb

broken fuse

broken switch.

Bad wires

have you check all three?

Good Luck...

Answer 9

broken wire/switch,would be my first guess.

could also be your linkage is too tight (forward controls?)