One of the major problems that Harley Davidson bike owners face is the brake light switch that gets turned off during emergency braking. Having a defective brake light switch can lead to the brake lights not turning on, which could result in an accident. Resulting in putting you in the middle of a lawsuit you might not have wanted to get involved in.
In the event that a brake stop light switch on your vehicle fails, it could trigger the ABS system, as well as the other necessary warning lights on the dashboard, resulting in a faulty transmission.
There is no doubt that this brake lamp switch is one of the most critical components of not only the Harley Davidson but any other vehicle, and if it fails, a serious accident could occur.
Brake Light Switch
It is a small switch that is connected to the pedal mechanism that controls the brake light. Even though the brake light switch has small in size, it plays a critical part in the operation of a modern car, regardless of its size.
When the brake light switch doesn’t work properly, many vehicle features cannot operate, such as push-button start, antilock brakes, and other safety features.
As long as your brake light is not functioning properly, you are susceptible to a rear-end collision because the driver behind you won’t be able to tell when you are slowing down. It is also possible that you will get ticketed and have to pay fines if you do this. Whenever you drive on a public road with your brake lights not working properly, you are held liable for any damages you may incur as you have a responsibility to make sure they are working properly before driving.
Functions of the Brake Lamp Switch
The brake lamp switch of a Harley Davidson has two of its major functionalities as mentioned below:-
- When a motorist steps on the brakes, the brake lamp switch lights on the brake light.
- It informs the car’s sensor board that the brakes are being used and it needs to warn the following vehicles.
Symptoms of a faulty brake light switch in Harley Davidson
Below mentioned some of the symptoms of a faulty brake light switch in Harley Davidson:
Brake lights won’t respond
There may be a fault in the electrical circuit inside the rear brake light switch if your brake lights remain on even when you are not pressing the brake pedal.
Drivers behind you may become confused if your brake lights are constantly on because, even though you may be driving regularly, your taillight may give them the idea that you are about to slow down.
Additionally, if your rear brake light is left on all the time, it can quickly deplete your car’s battery and harm the brake lamp or bulb.
Sudden fault in cruise control
If your Harley Davidson has cruise control, a broken or misplaced brake light switch might turn it off. This does not imply that the brake light switch issue is the only reason the cruise control malfunctions. A blown fuse in the electronic control module or a malfunctioning speed sensor might also cause it to occur.
The next time you have a malfunction with your cruise control, make sure your brake light switch is also inspected by your mechanic.
Suddenly the warning light turns on
There may be a problem with the anti-lock braking system or the brake light switch of your Harley Davidson if you notice the ABS light on your dashboard going on.
As soon as your car’s ABS module detects that you’ve applied the brakes, the brake light switch sensor starts up the ABS hydraulic pump and sends the signal to the ABS module that the brakes have been applied. Your faulty brake light switch is likely responsible for the ABS warning light appearing if your ABS light comes on.
Starting issue
Oftentimes, when your vehicle does not start, it could be because your brake light switch is not sending a signal to the computer that confirms that the brakes are engaged, resulting in the vehicle not being able to start.
The simple solution for you is to get in touch with a car service or mechanic as soon as possible to have your brake light switch replaced.
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Brake Light Switch Fails in Harley Davidson
Issues
Almost 300,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles which have been manufactured between 2008-10 have recently been recalled by the company in order to solve a problem with the switch that can cause the failure of the brake lights and possibly even cause brake failure themselves on some models.
Some of Harley’s famous motorcycle models lost the ability to use the rear brakes of their famous bikes due to a problem with the brake switch on their rear brakes, and Harley started investigating the issue.
Apparently, officials believe that the exhaust system may be exposing the rear brake switch to excessive heat that causes it to malfunction. It is possible that the rear brake light will not illuminate if this occurs. Moreover, there is also the possibility that the rear brake system could leak fluid, which could lead to the failure of the brakes.
Solutions
The Harley-Davidson company has agreed to replace the brake light switch in the affected models free of charge, but it is unclear what measures will be taken to prevent the same problem from occurring again in the future.
You can check the price on the internet.
Examining the faulty brake light switch
Checking the brake light switch with a voltmeter is the most convenient method. The following steps will show you how to check the brake light switch.
- Disassemble every wire that is attached to the switch.
- Now, pay particular attention to the switch’s circuits, the circuit schematic is also written on certain switches.
- By connecting the voltmeter to each circuit and applying and releasing the brake pedal, you can track the current’s passage. The absence of any current on the voltmeter indicates a broken brake light switch.
Replacing the Brake Lamp switch
At the point where the brake pedal connects with the brake switch, the brake switch is mounted on the underside, in contact with the bottom of the brake pedal. The brake sensor can be found under the brake pedal, which is located above the floor mat if you lean over the mat.
Brake switches can be clipped into their housings or screwed into place. After removing the brake switch from its place, the socket is removed, and then a new brake switch is seated in the socket with the appropriate specifications.
