Brake Light Stays On

By Dennis Santopietro & filed under Harley Tips.

Q: I hope you can lead me in the right direction. I recently replace the throttle grip on my Heritage but now the brake light stays on and won’t disengage. It’s stays on constantly, I tore it down and tried to find the problem four times now with no luck. I hate to have to spend $100 for such a simple problem. Any advice? Thanks for your site, I’m sure it will be well worth the price. Ron C.

A: Hi Ron, Thank you for the email. Sounds like you broke the switch.

Ron’s Follow Up: Thank you so much, I was clueless. I’ll try it again using your instructions. wish me luck,,,thanks again…Those Kryakan grips are the reason I was changing them. This is actually a replacement grip, the first Kryakan grip stripped inside where the cables ran. After a year of use the inside channels were all broken and eaten away.

Related Videos:
Harley Brake Switch Diagnosis
How to Test a Harley Brake Light Switch
How to Fix a Motorcycle Brake Light Switch
How to Replace Brake Light Switch on a Harley
Electrical Systems
Switch Caps

We even have an article on it In The Shop – Read It Here

Have more questions? Check out our Q&A index page to find some answers.

Discussion
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13 Responses to “Brake Light Stays On”
  1. Jeff
    Jeff

    I had the same problem when I replaced my grips on a 2015 Street Glide. When I put the handles back together the Brake light switch was twisted. Removed and re added the grips with a much more gentle hand this time.

    Reply
  2. KEN
    KEN

    07 ROAD KING BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN YOU USE THE HAND BRAKE, THEN STAYS ON, THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON THE BRAKE LIGHT IS OFF AND IN THE NORMAL RUNNING LIGHT MODE. THE FOOT BRAKE LIGHT IS INOP. ANY HELP THANKS

    Reply
    • Customer Service Techs
      Customer Service Techs

      Hi Ken. Sounds like you have a bad rear brake switch. Remove the 2 wires from the switch. Use a jumper wire to link the wires together. If the brake light illuminates; the switch is bad.
      If the light stays off, with the wires together; you need to find a bad connection in your wiring harness.
      As for the front brake; check your alignment/fitment between your brake lever and the front brake switch.
      If the switch actuation is good; the front switch may also be bad.
      http://www.fixmyhog.com/video/how-to-fix-a-motorcycle-brake-light-switch-001634/

      Reply
  3. Adam Kinney
    Adam Kinney

    I’m having problems with my air shocks leaking and brake light staying on constantly

    Reply
    • Customer Service
      Customer Service

      Hello Adam,

      Could you please provide us with your year, make and model of your bike and we will look into your question for you?

      Thanks
      Becky FMH Video Membership

      Reply
  4. Linda Malkowski
    Linda Malkowski

    The brake light stays on …I have a 1978 Harley super glide..any suggestions

    Reply
  5. Rich
    Rich

    I have an 08 heritage that has a similar problem. I haven’t touched or replaced the throttle. When I first start the bike both hand/foot brakes work – but after a short ride the brake light stays on. I’ll checkout the videos.

    Reply
  6. Henry Kramer
    Henry Kramer

    I have a Harley Davidson repair shop. I run into this problem often. My advice, pull the brake lever in
    & push the actuator button in & out & see if that shuts the light out. Understand whats going on.
    If you find the lever is not pushing in the button far enough, you need to figure out why.
    Sometimes you can loosen up the throttle housing & or brake master & push them together tighter.
    Make sure the switch button isn’t broken off (easy to do). Switch is usually in the right place, but make sue inside the throttle housing. Sometimes I silicon or glue somehow a shim of some kind on the brake lever to push the button in further. I’ve used brass shim stock cut in little squares & sometimes have to stack them 2 or 3 high for a quick fix. Replacing Switch & or brake lever could be worn. Keep in mind, aftermarket parts may not fit as well as Official H-D parts. I hoped that helped

    Reply
  7. Phil Cowles
    Phil Cowles

    Brake light staying on continuously but have not done any work whatever to cause a problem. This started suddenly. Any input would be helpful. Thanks guys

    Reply
  8. Ronnie Rippy
    Ronnie Rippy

    I have a 2000 heritage soft tail I just had the throttle cables replaced and now I have no brake lights at all. It seams that everyone’s problem is the opposite of mine.

    Reply
  9. DAVID ELI GONZALEZ
    DAVID ELI GONZALEZ

    I have a 2008 ultra classic I troubleshooted both front and rear brake switches as instructed in the videos I replaced the front brake switch which was broken I welded, tube shrinked it and again the brake which is led light is still on I used wiring diagram and can’t find the problem around the rear brake path I know my front works well now but not the rear one I need your help please!!!!!

    Reply