No brake light from brake pedal
- jsw005355
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:35 pm
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
No brake light from brake pedal
Greetings,
New to the forum as a recent Goldwing owner! Love the forum. I am hoping for some advice on the brake pedal switch/relay.
When using handbrake , lights work. When using brake pedal, no lights. But the weird thing is if I hold the handbreak, then press the foot brake, then release the hand brake the lights stay on until I release the foot brake!
Are there 2 seperate relays under the seat or is it combined? And is there a switch I can check somewhere near the pedal?
I apologize, I am new the wing and don't really know where some things are. And don't really want to take it "in" if its something as simple as a relay.
Thanks for any input.
2001 GL1800
New to the forum as a recent Goldwing owner! Love the forum. I am hoping for some advice on the brake pedal switch/relay.
When using handbrake , lights work. When using brake pedal, no lights. But the weird thing is if I hold the handbreak, then press the foot brake, then release the hand brake the lights stay on until I release the foot brake!
Are there 2 seperate relays under the seat or is it combined? And is there a switch I can check somewhere near the pedal?
I apologize, I am new the wing and don't really know where some things are. And don't really want to take it "in" if its something as simple as a relay.
Thanks for any input.
2001 GL1800
- Steve F
- Posts: 508
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:25 pm
- Location: Grand Canyon State!
- Motorcycle: 1976 Honda CB750F Cafe' (sold :>( )
'03 GL1800
DARKSIDE RIDER
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
My theory is that you have a weak contact on the foot lever switch, and it's not good enough to pull in the relay, but good enough to hold the relay after the hand lever activates the relay.
Replace the foot lever switch.
While you're at it, make sure that the cruise control activates and then deactivates properly when you tap the foot brake.
Replace the foot lever switch.
While you're at it, make sure that the cruise control activates and then deactivates properly when you tap the foot brake.
"To ride is the reason, the destination's the excuse."
- jsw005355
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:35 pm
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
Thanks Steve for the quick reply. Would you happen to know the location of the switches? Under the seat? Behind sidecovers?
I think I need to get a Clymer manual......
I think I need to get a Clymer manual......

- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer - Contact:
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
It's immediately in front of the rear master cylinder:jsw005355 wrote:Thanks Steve for the quick reply. Would you happen to know the location of the switches? Under the seat? Behind sidecovers?
I think I need to get a Clymer manual......
Oh, and you'd be far better off with the Honda service manual over the Clymer manual.
- jsw005355
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:35 pm
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
Very helpful. Thank you!
- jsw005355
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:35 pm
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
Thanks again Steve and WingAdmin!
The exploded view of the rear brake system helped greatly. I was able to locate the switch housing.
I blew out the gunk with some air, soaked the contact switches with some DeOxit contact cleaner, worked the tiny button manually a bunch of times and low and behold, brake lights and cruise kill!
Y'all saved me a bunch of "bring it in" money!
Thanks again
The exploded view of the rear brake system helped greatly. I was able to locate the switch housing.
I blew out the gunk with some air, soaked the contact switches with some DeOxit contact cleaner, worked the tiny button manually a bunch of times and low and behold, brake lights and cruise kill!
Y'all saved me a bunch of "bring it in" money!
Thanks again
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 22782
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer - Contact:
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
That DeOxit contact cleaner works like magic, it's a shame it's so expensive...jsw005355 wrote:Thanks again Steve and WingAdmin!
The exploded view of the rear brake system helped greatly. I was able to locate the switch housing.
I blew out the gunk with some air, soaked the contact switches with some DeOxit contact cleaner, worked the tiny button manually a bunch of times and low and behold, brake lights and cruise kill!
Y'all saved me a bunch of "bring it in" money!
Thanks again
- Steve F
- Posts: 508
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:25 pm
- Location: Grand Canyon State!
- Motorcycle: 1976 Honda CB750F Cafe' (sold :>( )
'03 GL1800
DARKSIDE RIDER
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
Where can you get it? I've never heard of it, but woyuld like to try sometime.WingAdmin wrote:That DeOxit contact cleaner works like magic, it's a shame it's so expensive...jsw005355 wrote:Thanks again Steve and WingAdmin!
The exploded view of the rear brake system helped greatly. I was able to locate the switch housing.
I blew out the gunk with some air, soaked the contact switches with some DeOxit contact cleaner, worked the tiny button manually a bunch of times and low and behold, brake lights and cruise kill!
Y'all saved me a bunch of "bring it in" money!
Thanks again
"To ride is the reason, the destination's the excuse."
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 22782
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer - Contact:
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
You can get it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... ingdocs-20Steve F wrote:Where can you get it? I've never heard of it, but woyuld like to try sometime.WingAdmin wrote:That DeOxit contact cleaner works like magic, it's a shame it's so expensive...jsw005355 wrote:Thanks again Steve and WingAdmin!
The exploded view of the rear brake system helped greatly. I was able to locate the switch housing.
I blew out the gunk with some air, soaked the contact switches with some DeOxit contact cleaner, worked the tiny button manually a bunch of times and low and behold, brake lights and cruise kill!
Y'all saved me a bunch of "bring it in" money!
Thanks again
- jsw005355
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:35 pm
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: No brake light from brake pedal
Amazon has it.
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-Deoxit ... ingdocs-20
Stuff is great. Not like a WD40. Designed for musical instrument contacts, I have used it on anything that needs a clean contact. Read the description and you'll be sold!
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-Deoxit ... ingdocs-20
Stuff is great. Not like a WD40. Designed for musical instrument contacts, I have used it on anything that needs a clean contact. Read the description and you'll be sold!