Help! My brake light is stuck ON!!!

[AleksT]

Hi All,
So my 00 Monster 900ie was working perfectly fine until I had the displeasure of riding it through a deluge. The storm was so bad that by the time I got to my destination I was soaked to the bone. It was enough water to soak me neck to toe through my Aerostich suit. Anyway, it was at that point where my brake light is stuck in the ON position. At first it would stick and then go off to normal for a little while but then after I used the front brake again the stuck back on.

I thought it was the front brake lever microswitch as it seemed to go on and off if I played with that a bit. So I ended up replacing that switch and NO DIFFERENCE!!! So anyway, my brake light is always on and I'm not sure what else it could be. Has anyone had this happen to them? Or have any ideas what it might be?

HELP!!!!

Thanks everyone.

AleksT

[Howie]

Disconnect the front brake light switch at the bullet connectors.  If the brake light stays on the problem is with the rear switch or there is a short between hot and ground in the wires going to the light.  If the brake light goes out either you need to adjust the switch (loosen the screws that hold the switch in place) or you lost the dowel that activates the plunger on the switch.

[AleksT]

Ok, so I disconnected the front brake light switch at the bullet connectors and the light stayed in the on position. This is kind of weird because last week before I ordered the part when I did that the brake light would go OFF - which lead me to believe the front brake switch was the problem.

Anyway.... so it looks like it might be at the rear brake light switch. Oddly enough, last week when I was messing with it flicking the front brake lever would cause the light to go on and off (correctly) until I did it enough times and it would just stick in the on position. At the same time, whenever I depressed the rear brake pedal there would be no change.

Okay, so if it makes sense I will take a look at the rear brake switch. The PO hacked off the rear fender/beer tray and all so it doesn't look like the brake light assembly is in that great shape - but it was working fine before mother nature pissed on me.

I appreciate the input and if you (or anyone else) has any other ideas/thoughts I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!
Aleks

[Dave R]

have you had the bulb out recently ??   It can be installed wrong where it causes the bulb to stay on.. 

[AleksT]

I did have the bulb out to replace it (after the problem started) and I made sure it went back in the correct way. I even tried putting it in wrong and it wouldn't press in and turn so I figured that was wrong. BUT I made sure to match the replacement bulb orientation with the old bulb orientation when I pulled it out.

The problem started during the ride through the rainstorm.

[Grrrly]

the rear brake light switch getting stuck is pretty common... 

[KnightofNi]

i have noticed that after riding in the rain the brake light will do that. a couple of times it was the switch for the rear brake. most often though it is the connectors getting gunked up. pull the bulb and take off the seat. you can see that it is wide open to the elements. just clean the contacts a bit and make sure you don't bend them out. check the connectors for corrosion/gunk and replace everything. if that doesn't work, reach down to the sensor on your rear brake and unplug it. if the bake light goes out, there's your problem. that switch can get gunked up as well. try cleaning it with a toothbrush or something (you might have to remove the pedal)

[AleksT]

the rear brake light switch getting stuck is pretty common... 

Ah thank you for the info. By chance are most people able to clean it out and get it "unstuck"? Or should I just go ahead and replace it?

[Jethro]

You may be interested in my post in THIS thread where I showed how I replaced the mechanical rear brake switch with a hydraulic one.

[TAftonomos]

Ah thank you for the info. By chance are most people able to clean it out and get it "unstuck"? Or should I just go ahead and replace it?

CLick on the link in my sig, I've got what you need.

[AleksT]

THanks everyone. I got my brake light working again by replacing the front micro switch, cleaning out the rear brake switch (that's just going to have to be replaced since it doesn't work at all) and re routing the electrical wires from the brake light. The PO pretty much hacked up the tail light and the assembly will need to be replaced (waiting on the Supanovas to ship again). But now it seems to work reliably (crosses fingers) but I'll find out after I ride it tomorrow.

Again, thanks everyone. All of your tips helped.

[Jarvicious]

I would have just left it on all the time  .  It would have at least kept Captain Soccer Mom from riding your ass if she thought you were braking.