Headlight and brake light not working

[Jenneverett1]

On my GL1500 I am also having no headlight and no foot brake light... the hand brake activates the brake light fine.
I checked the fuse for the headlight in the fuse box, but it was fine. I am looking for a solution.

[MikeB]

On my GL1500 I am also having no headlight and no foot brake light... the hand brake activates the brake light fine.
I checked the fuse for the headlight in the fuse box, but it was fine. I am looking for a solution.

A stuck, dirty or otherwise malfunctioning start switch can keep the headlight from working. Try flipping/snapping the start switch a few times.

The brake light may be due to the foot brake switch. Remove the right side engine cover above the right foot rest and see if you can locate the brake switch. It should be easy to find. Operate the brake lever and see if the switch is operating. You will see the spring that is attached to the switch moving as you press the lever down.

[Jenneverett1]

I have started the bike possibly 60 to 80 times in the last week alone.
I did adjust the foot pedal switch so that it would activate sooner, but no light when pressed. I Bled the brakes recently and got them from dry to working correctly they are holding so well, That a 45 pound weight would not push it all the way down.

[MikeB]

If the brake light works with the brake lever and does not work with the brake pedal, then either the brake pedal switch or the wiring to the brake pedal switch is defective. The hydraulic pressure does not effect the brake light operation.

[MikeB]

I have started the bike possibly 60 to 80 times in the last week alone.
I did adjust the foot pedal switch so that it would activate sooner, but no light when pressed. I Bled the brakes recently and got them from dry to working correctly they are holding so well, That a 45 pound weight would not push it all the way down.

On every start, did the headlight fail to work?

[MikeB]

On my GL1500 I am also having no headlight and no foot brake light... the hand brake activates the brake light fine.
I checked the fuse for the headlight in the fuse box, but it was fine. I am looking for a solution.

There are two separate headlight relays that operate the Hi Beams and the Low Beams.
Relay #8 is for the Low Beams and Relay #4 is for the Hi Beams.

Do either the Hi Or Lo Beams not work or do both of them not work?

Fuse #5 is the headlight fuse.

[Jenneverett1]

Neither light works... that tells me that the bulbs are probably ok because having both go out at the same time I would think is rare.

[Jenneverett1]

I did try adjusting the switch to the foot pedal... no luck

[MikeB]

Neither light works... that tells me that the bulbs are probably ok because having both go out at the same time I would think is rare.

Then either the #5 fuse or associated circuitry or the Start Switch is causing the problem.

[Jenneverett1]

I purchased fuses and checked everything in the small fuse circuit box everything was in good shape no burnt fuses, I then ordered new relays from here and they should arrive today or tomorrow

[MikeB]

Also, take a look at Fuse #12. Remove it and test it. It is the power feed for the Headlight Relays. If that fuse is open, there will be no headlights

[Jenneverett1]

I just reviewed some of the videos I made from the repairs I did to make it road ready, in some of the first videos the headlight was on then later when I had it tore down I fixed some lights such as my right curb light, and now the headlight is not working.
It has full lighting in the fairings, saddlebags and additional lighting such as the ring of fire.
I may just pull the seat back off and look for additional fuses that may have been spliced

[MikeB]

You may have blown a fuse while doing your light work.

[Jenneverett1]

I agree that I probably blew a fuse while working on the other lights, when I get home today hopefully the relays will be in the mailbox and I will close down the garage and check everything with the lights off as I have better visibility to see if they had light comes on when I try something otherwise I’m turning switches and then getting up to walk around the bike, if I’m in the dark I can just push the switch and watch for the light

[Jenneverett1]

Ok... at home, removed tha left bag to access the relay box better... everything is showing up good. All fuses are green.. there is a new fuse block next to the battery, but it is good also...
I put it into reverse and still no headlight
Swapped relays around with no effect

[MikeB]

Neither light works... that tells me that the bulbs are probably ok because having both go out at the same time I would think is rare.

Do you mean that neither bulb works or neither HI or LO beam woks. It is possible and not rare for both bulbs to go bad without it being noticed but it is extremely rare for all the filaments, LO and HI, to be bad for both bulbs.

[Jenneverett1]

Neither the high or the low beams work
The horn works all the exhilarate lights work the reverse indicator light comes on when I put it into reverse the CB radio works just regular radio works everything is working except for the headlights and the brake light when used with the pedal

[MikeB]

Does the blue HI BEAM indicator work when you switch to HI BEAM?
The voltage to the indicator is fed from the same source as the HI BEAM. If it works, then you can be sure that the voltage for the HI BEAM bulbs is present.

At this point, I would remove the headlight assembly and troubleshoot that. Everything else seems to be okay.

[Jenneverett1]

OK removed the headlight, both bulbs are in fine condition
I turn on the highbeam switch and there is no indicator on my panel so that may be the source of the problem?

[Jenneverett1]

Talking to a Honda mechanic on YouTube...

[MikeB]

OK removed the headlight, both bulbs are in fine condition
I turn on the highbeam switch and there is no indicator on my panel so that may be the source of the problem?

If the HI beam blue indicator does not come on with the headlight assembly installed and the HI beams are selected, it not a source of the problem, only an indication that voltage is not getting to the headlight bulbs.
The RED traces are for the HI beam and the pink traces are for the low beam.
the green traces are ground.

[Jenneverett1]

Cody Richards ( the motorcycle MD) said that it is possible that the hi/ low switch could be the problem... I think it is the most likely one... I removed the switch assembly to clean up the hazard button and turn switch they were sticking... I may have messed up the hi / low switch

[MikeB]

Cody Richards ( the motorcycle MD) said that it is possible that the hi/ low switch could be the problem... I think it is the most likely one... I removed the switch assembly to clean up the hazard button and turn switch they were sticking... I may have messed up the hi / low switch

Yes, a faulty HI/LO switch is a good possibility. Not a usual one, but possible. Somehow I missed it where you said that you removed the switch assembly to clean up the hazard button and turn switch that was sticking. Did you pass that on earlier?

[Jenneverett1]

Yes I didn’t initially think about that being the issue... the hi/ low switch is a unit that I didn’t disassemble... I only removed the screws holding it in place so that I could clean the other parts inside the assembly like the hazard switch.

[MikeB]

I guess you need to start troubleshooting the switch.