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brake light will not work when I pull in the brake lever

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by gdb619, Mar 22, 2014.

  1. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    My name is Greg I'm new to this site and the xj650 I recently sold my Nighthawk and bought the xj650 I went to get it inspected it didn't pass because when u pull the brake lever in the brake light doesn't get brighter o would like to fix this myself but don't know to much about electrical I don't have the service manual I'm hoping it's a quick easy fix please help thank you
     
  2. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    It may be the brake light switch, which plugs into the master cylinder;

    or it could be the bulb. Does it light up with the rear brake?
     
  3. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    Yes the rear brake lever works how would I check to see if it was the switch
     
  4. wizard

    wizard Active Member

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    You can pull the switch out & check it manually, gently pull the wires as you depress the clip with a fine pin (underside)
     
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  6. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    Where is the switch located
     
  7. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    See pic above. That is the brake master cylinder, viewed from the front; the large round thing in the right foreground is the brake line in its boot; the bolt at the top of the pic is the lever pivot.

    The red dotted line circle indicates the location of the hole to release the tab.

    The switch plugs into the harness inside the headlight shell.
     
  8. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    Thank you and I just push the button in on the end if the light doesn't come on its a bad switch?
     
  9. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Not necessarily.

    You'll want to check the connection where it plugs in, inside the headlight shell; maybe throw a meter or continuity tester across the leads and confirm functionality.
     
  10. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    Thank you so much u have been very helpful I will get to it this week and let u know how it went thanks
     
  11. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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    Well I'm officially a idiot I should have checked to see if it was plugged in it wasn't lol
     
  12. BaldWonder

    BaldWonder Innocent Bystander

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    Don't feel too bad. I couldn't get mine to start with a normal idle for about a week because I accidentally switched the throttle and choke cables. Full choke with no throttle became no choke with full throttle and scared the bejesus outta me when it started.
     
  13. gdb619

    gdb619 Member

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