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Brake light always on - 1979 GS850

  • Thread starter Thread starter natejelovich
  • Start date Start date
Steve said:
Very true, mrbill, but not everybody is as savvy about taming all the mysterious smoke that travels through those wires. :D

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Click to expand...

Guess I'm gifted:p But when it comes to painting my bike I'm :confused::eek: I could use a volunteer, I have all the stuff ready lol.
 
That is a great tool. :clap:
icon_thumbsup.gif


There are times that you will need a voltmeter, too, but in this case, you really only need to know if you have power or not, so a light coming ON (or not) is really much quicker and easier. I probably use my test light much more often than my meter. :D

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Steve said:
Do you have a test light or a voltmeter? Either will work, but a test light is easier and quicker. Clip the ground wire for the test light to the battery negative or a good chassis ground. Put the point of the probe in the white connector's brown wire. Turn the ignition key ON, you should have power. If not, check your other lights to see if they are working. If they are, your fuse is OK, so the problem will be between the ignition key and the tail light.

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Click to expand...

Ok... so tested the connector coming from the bike (not the tail light) and, not too surprisingly I guess, the tail light lit the test light up, and the brake (white) did not...

148730_10101625164833548_1134504323_n.jpg


Just for kicks, I also tested the turn signal bullet connectors, and no power there:

59045_10101625164968278_899319374_n.jpg


Not sure if that means anything in this same situation or not, or if it's completely separate. Similar to the brake light though, it was working not too long ago, and, from no conceivable changes from me, no longer works...

I also tested the front brake connector at the front (near the headlight) and rear connectors and no power there either.

So... does this mean the next thing is just pulling the tape from the wires and re-wiring??
 
No, the next thing is to check the source. :o

Use your new handy-dandy test light to check the fuses. Looking at a wiring diagram for your bike, it appears that there are four fuses in the block. One will have power even when the key is OFF, that is your MAIN fuse. The one next to it will be the LIGHTS fuse, then the SIGNALS fuse, then the IGNITION fuse. Turn the key ON, check both sides of each fuse to make sure there is power.

With your brake light not working and your turn signals not working, there is a possibility that your horn does not work, either, and all of them are powered by the SIGNALS fuse.

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Steve said:
No, the next thing is to check the source. :o

Use your new handy-dandy test light to check the fuses. Looking at a wiring diagram for your bike, it appears that there are four fuses in the block. One will have power even when the key is OFF, that is your MAIN fuse. The one next to it will be the LIGHTS fuse, then the SIGNALS fuse, then the IGNITION fuse. Turn the key ON, check both sides of each fuse to make sure there is power.

With your brake light not working and your turn signals not working, there is a possibility that your horn does not work, either, and all of them are powered by the SIGNALS fuse.

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Click to expand...

Yes, horn hasn't worked for quite some time actually...

But, I just tested the fuses and all of them lit up, both sides, except for the third one down labeled signal... only one side lit up, the other did not.

So, replace the fuse and see if we're good??
 
natejelovich said:
Yes, horn hasn't worked for quite some time actually...

But, I just tested the fuses and all of them lit up, both sides, except for the third one down labeled signal... only one side lit up, the other did not.

So, replace the fuse and see if we're good??
Click to expand...
Sounds good to me. :-\\\

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Since your bike is a 79, chances are the fuse block is original? I had to install a new one on my bike about mmmm 12 years ago. 3 of the fuse connections had gotten so loose they would not make contact at times when riding. You can imagine the problems that caused. Found it by using that handy dandy lite circuit tester.
 
mrbill5491 said:
Since your bike is a 79, chances are the fuse block is original? I had to install a new one on my bike about mmmm 12 years ago. 3 of the fuse connections had gotten so loose they would not make contact at times when riding. You can imagine the problems that caused. Found it by using that handy dandy lite circuit tester.
Click to expand...

Good to know! I think it is original. The clips seem to be in good shape (holding the fuses very tightly) but will check the back as well if the fuse replacement doesn't solve the problem.

Thanks Steve, Cowyboyup, and Mr. Bill for all your help!! Will keep you posted on how the fuse replacement goes.
 
Well, well...

After all your guys' help, I can say that changing out the fuse fixed the problem!

THANK YOU!!

So, for now, all is good and I think it's ready to ride again (had to fix the front brakes - whole other issue in another thread) and then this, so it's been out of commission for awhile.

Now I just gotta wait for the rain to quit!

Thanks again Steve and everyone else
 
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

All it usually takes is the proper tools and a systematic approach. :D

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