Vengeance

998 American Hotrod Motorcycles

  • Home
  • About
  • Friends
  • Owners Forum
  • Press
  • Ride on JDO
  • Runaway American Dream
  • Shop
  • The 998
  • Timeline
  • Tribute
  • vTube
Home » Topics » Brake lights stay on

Brake lights stay on

Home › Forums › Parts & Technical Info › Brake lights stay on

  • This topic has 11 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 11 months ago by Charlie.
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • February 21, 2014 at 1:21 am #3084

    @headjanitor
    Editor

    Check your brake switch wire in the handlebars and the hot wire going to the hydraulic brake switch. Sounds like you’ve got a wire that’s grounded somewhere. Have you tested the hydraulic switch to see if it’s bad? Also, check all your turn signal sockets for corrosion or burned/melted spots. Sometimes they overheat and short out causing the running light circuit to back feed into the brake circuit. Kinda hard to diagnose without having the bike in front of me.

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 1:24 am #3085

    @headjanitor
    Editor

    Is the bike all stock as it was when it left the factory or have the lights been upgraded or switched to LED’s or has the harness been spliced into anywhere? Has there been an alarm added? Also, has there been any recent repairs done to the bike?

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 4:06 am #3087

    @venmc
    Administrator

    All is stock when I got it had only been used in Bike Shows for 3 years had 83 miles on it
    All I added was a Battery Tender when I purchased it
    I did have starter issues 3 years ago and that was the starter relay had rotted in the wire box
    Nothing has been done lately, (last 3 years) this started this last season with only intermittent times
    It’s the 9.36v and then full 12.87v when pedal/handle engaged that puzzles me. It apparently only takes a small amount of voltage to the smart flash unit to let it know you want brake lights on
    I have disconnected all the wires from both switches and checked them and they work perfect
    I would think if it shorted to the frame it would blow a fuse
    This would mean a hot wire has rubbed against the brake wires somewhere and is bleeding power into the brake wires
    I believe if anything was grounding out fuses would blow at least when I hit the lever or foot pedal and it made full power 12.87v
    I have been careful not to let anyone touch this bike because of the issues others have had with mechanics
    It is something a little electric tape or heat shrink will fix but finding the problem is the problem
    All the wiring is like a girl in tight jeans looks like it was melted and poured in no slack in the wires at all

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 6:34 am #3088

    @venmc
    Administrator

    >All the wiring is like a girl in tight jeans looks like it was melted and poured in

    True. 🙂

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 12:01 pm #3090

    @venmc
    Administrator

    FOUND IT
    Switch in the right hand front brake lever is bad! Kaput! pressing and releasing creates different voltages at the SmartFlash module RED wire every time I press and release after several press and release it will even go to 0 volts (off)
    Now where do I find a replacement for this little $2.00 bastard?
    See attached photo
    And Thank You Guys

    Attachments:
    • BrakeSwitch.jpg
    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 12:19 pm #3091

    @headjanitor
    Editor

    Any HD shop can order it for you from the Drag Specialties 2014 Fat Book. Should be around page 876.

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 21, 2014 at 11:12 pm #3092

    @venmc
    Administrator

    Thank You

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 22, 2014 at 1:59 am #3093

    @venmc
    Administrator

    Nice find. The little gremlins are the worst. (and if you have someone else find it the most expensive.)

    loop-single-reply.php
    February 22, 2014 at 3:49 am #3094

    @venmc
    Administrator

    Yes, I spent 7-8 hours, a real mechanic with experience could have found sooner but we don’t have any of those in Atlanta,,, and when I checked this switch with tester I worked, because when I determined it really was the problem every 4 or 5 press and release it would work fine
    I shot a little WD40 around the button and now it is working perfect every time, but I have ordered a new one because had to take throttle completely apart to get to this switch
    The great thing is with whatever problems I have had with this Bike You still don’t have enough money to get me to part with it.

    loop-single-reply.php
    March 20, 2014 at 2:33 pm #3107

    @jeffrey935
    Subscriber

    appreciate the topic. workin on a short with my 05 banshee now, but i feel the same way you do. dont care what happens with it, my bike is stayin with me!

    loop-single-reply.php
    June 13, 2014 at 12:31 pm #3164

    @bluesman
    Subscriber

    I found the switch you need at my local harley dealer.

    loop-single-reply.php
  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Log In

Runaway American Dream

The Runaway American Dream is based on the roller coaster ride of the amazing startup and eventual implosion of Vengeance Motorcycles during the Chopper Boom at the turn of the 21st century.   In … more

Contact Us

  • Vengeance Motorcycles
  • P.O. Box 506
  • Newport Beach, CA 92661
  • info@venmc.com

Owners Login

Lost your password?

Copyright © 2025 VengeanceMotorcycles.com · Log in