Brakelight Stays On

[smoothy74]

My brakelight on my 04 500 Ninja stays ON all the time(even when I'm not using the brakes).If my bike is running,my brakelight is ON.Any ideas on what would cause this or how to fix it? Smoothy74

[4Given-Squid]

behind your rear brake pedal is a brake light switch. It has a return spring on it. make sure the spring is pulling the switch back 'open'

it sounds like it is stuck.

things to do:

1) without the bike running, pull the front brake, and release holding your ear next to the lever. Listen for a clicking. that click is the switch opening and closing. If you hear it, good. If you do not, then it is stuck closed. You may be able to use WD-40 to brake it loose and make it work again.

2) sitting next to the right side of the bike, push the rear brake lever up and down. Watch the brake light switch piston, does it go in and out? if it does, good, if it does not, then try to move it with your fingers. Is it stuck or just out of adjustment? If stuck, try the WD-40, if it's out of sdjustment, then make the needed adjustments.

I never had a ninja, so I do not know exacly how they are designed, but, they all work the same. During normal opperation, the switches are to be 'closed' no currnet passing through them. When braking, they are open, and it makes contact causing the light to light up.

(i may have mey 'open's' and 'closed' backwards)

If they are both working fine, then give us more information/history.

Did this just start doing this, has the bike been down, did you buy buy it this way> Wiring issues get expencive, and fixing someones elses mistakes is a heart ache. Chances are, you just have a switch stuck.

[smoothy74]

Thanks for the help.The problem was in the back switch.Thanks again,sorry for the slow reply. Smoothy 74

[extremesanity]

Originally posted by 4Given-Squid
(i may have mey 'open's' and 'closed' backwards) Yeah, a switch with no current passing through it is open, a switch with current passing through it is closed:

open -------------| |-----------------

closed -----------------------------------

[4Given-Squid]

Originally posted by smoothy74
Thanks for the help.The problem was in the back switch.Thanks again,sorry for the slow reply. Smoothy 74 GLad to have been able to help. Now, lets get riding...:D