Anyone have an idea about why my Tail-Lights are Staying on?

[vito1943]

An odd occurrence today. After an hour's ride and the engine shut off, the tail-lights remained on. I tried several times turning the key to on and then off again, and each time the tail-lights stayed on. I waited several minutes and the tail-lights did not go off. So I re-started the bike (2021 RT) let it run several minutes then turned the engine off and this time the lights went out. Anyone have an idea of what the problem is?

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

If you have not had this recall done, it wasn’t your tail nights. It was your brake lights. Applies to all 2021 RTs.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCSB-23V175-2373.pdf

If you have had the recall done, some techs have messed up the adjustment with the two jam nuts. So, if that is the case and if it happens again, or you suspect it might be that, operate the brake pedal to ensure which light circuit it is - brake lights or tail lights - and check the switch operation.

 

[vito1943]

Thanks much for the info. I'll call the dealer tomorrow.

 

[broderp]

Hopefully it turns out to be the brake lights and the recall will take of that. If it's not the brake lights, then you are looking at a possible control circuit issue, relay, or short to 12V (bad!!).

I have a hunch that if it were not the brake lights, then you would have also noticed marker lights on, as well any other lights on your model that come on when the taillights come on.

Why Can Am didn't keep the brake circuit on a switched power source (like on a motorcycle ~ where they only come on after the bike is on or running) is beyond me. Good Luck.

 

[Deanna777]

Question,

Does anyone know if this taillight thing is happening on the F3 Spyder models?

Deanna

 

[Peter Aawen]

Question,

Does anyone know if this taillight thing is happening on the F3 Spyder models?

Deanna

That Recall ONLY applies to the specified years of RT's and some Rykers, so it SHOULDN'T be happening to F3's as well Deanna! :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

That Recall ONLY applies to the specified years of RT's and some Rykers, so it SHOULDN'T be happening to F3's as well Deanna! :thumbup:

HI Pete.

Thanks for the info.
Deanna

 

[BertRemington]

Why Can Am didn't keep the brake circuit on a switched power source...

Federal regulations require the brake and horn circuits to be operable at all times.

 

[broderp]

Federal regulations require the brake and horn circuits to be operable at all times.

The why does my 2020 Kawasaki Z900 NOT do this? :dontknow:

 

[Peter Aawen]

The why does my 2020 Kawasaki Z900 NOT do this? :dontknow:

AFAIK, it's certainly MEANT to, both in your country and mine!!

This has been an Internationally agreed for all road using vehicles since the early '70's that I'm personally aware of, possibly a lot longer!! nojoke

Maybe Kawasaki just aren't as universally 'safe & reliable' as we all thought!! :shocked: Or possibly someone's played with that on your Kawasaki at some stage after it left the factory?? :dontknow:

 

[RayBJ]

Very likely the brake switch. You may also experience the nanny butting in due to the dirty contacts. Mine made & broke contact a few times thru the full stroke of the switch and randomly woke the nanny. You can test by very slowly pressing foot pedal and watching the brake lights flicker.

 

[Navydad]

AFAIK, it's certainly MEANT to, both in your country and mine!!

This has been an Internationally agreed for all road using vehicles since the early '70's that I'm personally aware of, possibly a lot longer!! nojoke

Maybe Kawasaki just aren't as universally 'safe & reliable' as we all thought!! :shocked: Or possibly someone's played with that on your Kawasaki at some stage after it left the factory?? :dontknow:

I am in Ohio and been riding for 50 years. None of my two wheeled motorcycles, and there have been many, have brake lights or horns that operate with the key off. My Spyder does and my wife's cars do, but my bikes never have.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I am in Ohio and been riding for 50 years. None of my two wheeled motorcycles, and there have been many, have brake lights or horns that operate with the key off. My Spyder does and my wifes cars do, but my bikes never have.

Isn't that interesting - We've had the 'Horns & Brake lights' thing here in Oz for pretty much all of your riding life (& mine too! ) and while I've visited, lived, & worked in the US & a few other countries besides, riding (& driving ) whatever I could at every opportunity, I can't recall riding ANY motorcycle that didn't also have that feature?? I must admit that I haven't looked it up, but I'm pretty sure that the International Agreement that called for this was well & truly in place in the early '70s - well, I'm pretty sure that it was in place in 1974 when I first got involved in policing that sorta stuff; but if it wasn't then, it certainly was very soon after.

Mind you, if the US opted out of that particular part of that Agreement entirely, it wouldn't be the first thing that some country either never took it up or sought an exemption for something like that, so :dontknow:

Can you recall about when the bikes you rode got hazard lights?? Altho maybe that's not a good example either (I would've said 'indicator', but then... see the next bit! ) cos over there, you still don't have a 'requirement' for separate 'Turn Indicator Lights' &/or 'Reversing Lights', do you?! :dontknow:

Ps: You haven't caught up with the supposed 'need' for the dirty great clunky 'Reversing lights' that we juuust hafta have over here (& in Europe) either, have you?! :banghead:

 

[broderp]

It's certainly MEANT to, both in your country and mine!!

This has been an Internationally agreed for all road using vehicles since the early '70's that I'm personally aware of, possibly a lot longer!! nojoke

Maybe Kawasaki just aren't as universally 'safe & reliable' as we all thought!! :shocked: Or possibly someone's played with that on your Kawasaki at some stage after it left the factory?? :dontknow:

I'm thinking we are missing something. I bought my 2020 Kawasaki brand new with zero miles on it from a highly rated dealer, and it has never worked as you say it should. No one has messed with the circuit.

I also recall my Z400 also needing to be "ON" to light the tail lights....

 

[Navydad]

Isn't that interesting - We've had the 'Horns & Brake lights' thing here in Oz for pretty much all of your riding life (& mine too! ) and while I've visited, lived, & worked in the US & a few other countries besides, riding (& driving ) whatever I could at every opportunity, I can't recall riding ANY motorcycle that didn't also have that feature?? I must admit that I haven't looked it up, but I'm pretty sure that the International Agreement that called for this was well & truly in place in the early '70s - well, I'm pretty sure that it was in place in 1974 when I first got involved in policing that sorta stuff; but if it wasn't then, it certainly was very soon after.

Mind you, if the US opted out of that particular part of that Agreement entirely, it wouldn't be the first thing that some country either never took it up or sought an exemption for something like that, so :dontknow:

Can you recall about when the bikes you rode got hazard lights?? Altho maybe that's not a good example either (I would've said 'indicator', but then... see the next bit! ) cos over there, you still don't have a 'requirement' for separate 'Turn Indicator Lights' &/or 'Reversing Lights', do you?! :dontknow:

Ps: You haven't caught up with the supposed 'need' for the dirty great clunky 'Reversing lights' that we juuust hafta have over here (& in Europe) either, have you?! :banghead:

I believe it was around 1975 when controls went universal. Right foot brake, left foot shift, right hand brake, left hand clutch etc. My 74 Kawasaki Z1 had turn signals and a switch to turn the headlight off. My 81 Suzuki didn't have the switch to turn off the headlight, so it was always on. I have always taken care of my own maintenance including any big jobs such as engine rebuilds. I have never had a bike that would allow the horn or brake light to operate with the ignition off. None of the bikes in my garage will do so with the exception of the Spyder, which I don't consider to be a motorcycle and apparently the feds don't either. I do know that the switches for horns etc. must be clearly marked. Hazard flashers or four-way flashers as they are often called here won't work with the key off on my motorcycles either. I was curious so I checked my bikes and two of my buddies bikes, 18 bikes altogether, and they all work the same way. Obviously, we do have different regs for cars and bikes here and our Spyders follow the car regs. which may be universal regs for all vehicles outside of the U.S.