Rear Bake Light Problem

[ghwerrig]

I've recently developed a problem with my brake lights. When the ignition is on there lit up like the brakes applied.
Recommended by a friend to remove F5 fuse and see if lights still light up. They do. So they're getting power from somewhere, I just don't know where from.
Has anyone experienced this problem and how did they rectify it please?
All and any assistance appreciated.
Regards

 

[spyderCodes]

What year RT?
If you pull up on the brake pedal, do the lights stop?

 

[Copperman]

I had that issue, somewhat.

Mine was just the right light (2016 F3 Limited). When the ignition was on it was lit like the brake was on. When the ignition was off and you pressed the brake pedal, it lit like a running light.

Dealer looked at it and fixed it. Two wires were crossed in the wiring harness for the right rear light. Changed the wires that were crossed and now it's fine.

 

[CapeSpyder]

Just went through this pm me and ill give some detail by phone

Sent From my Note 5

 

[CapeSpyder]

Mine was an accy harness

Sent From my Note 5

 

[ghwerrig]

It's a 2011 Can Am Spyder RT Ltd with 20k on the clock hyea:
Thanks all for your responses. I'll definitely try pulling up on the pedal. The idea of a crossed wire might be the answer.
Loads of stuff to investigate. Sorry I can't talk to you by phone CapeSpyder, but I'm in the UK.
Not sure what an "accy" harness is. DOH just twigged :roflblack:
Regards all :thumbup:

 

[CapeSpyder]

No problem
My trouble was an accessory add on that caused the problem.
It was allowing voltage to flow when it shound not have.
2 wire light being fed by 3 wires. Ground
Running
Brake
The brake power was feeding the running side

Sent From my Note 5

 

[CapeSpyder]

There was a diode that was bad causing the brake lights to light up even when the pedal was not being pushed

Sent From my Note 5

 

[Chupaca]

Curious. ....

Have you had/done any lighting modifications..?? there may be a problem in their installation...LED's can be a handful with the polarity and all. :dontknow:

 

[ghwerrig]

No problem
My trouble was an accessory add on that caused the problem.
It was allowing voltage to flow when it shound not have.
2 wire light being fed by 3 wires. Ground
Running
Brake
The brake power was feeding the running side

Sent From my Note 5

Yes I've added 6 pairs of leds. being wiser after the fact, I've seen a video saying don't do it and also spoken to someone who ran an extra loom to accommodate leds. Once this is sorted, that's my plan too.
How did you rectify the problem CapeSpyder?
I'm loosing the will to live here

 

[CapeSpyder]

I solved it by replacing the diode. once I had identified it. I had to take all the connections apart behind my right tail light, as that's where all the rear led connections were.
i started plugging things back together till i found my lights come on bright. then i knew what wire or light to work with.

most kits over here, to get 2 wire lights to go running/brake it takes a y cable that cable has 2 diodes and a resistor in it.
1 diode and resistor for the running
1 diode for the brake
these connect together into one wire to feed the + to the light

look at the last page of the document it has a diagram

http://www.customdynamics.com/instructions/spyder_rt_HMT_INTEGRATED.pdf

 

[ghwerrig]

Thanks CapeSpyder.
My problem is even with all the rear leds disconnected I still get the brake clusters fully illuminated when the ignition is on.
With ignition off, the clusters illuminate as normal.
So, brake switch is okay. That's been tested.
Brake clusters seem to work okay, that's been tested.
But now all of a sudden the cluster is fully on when ignition is on.
It could be a faulty rear harness and the bike is a 2011 so weather,
deterioration may have compromised the harness somewhere.
Regards

 

[CapeSpyder]

Then with your year i would find where the trailer connector plugs in and disconnect the 2 connectors as this will remove the rear from the system on the 2016 my connector is under the the seat on the left side

Sent From my Note 5

 

[ghwerrig]

It's gotten even more interesting now.
The state of the rear brake light was fully on with ignition in and I'd been usd to that for several days. Plan on disassembling the bike on Thursday (July 7th) to have a look at the harness.
Anyway. When I started the bike this morning to ride home, the brake light was operating at normal :shocked: Tested several times, then rode home. When I got home, checked the lights again, back to constant on :banghead:

Not really looking for answers, just venting my frustration :gaah:

have asked my friendly dealer if he can provide a brake light switch, but unsure if it's a do it yourself replacement job.
Hopefully Thursday will provide more answers than questions
:dontknow:

 

[billybovine]

It is either a cross connection in the wiring harness between the running lights and brake light circuit or a back feed from one of the tail/brake bulbs not connected to common ground.

I would first remove each of the tail/brake bulbs, one at a time, then both and see if the problem is fixed. If removing one bulb fixes the problem then that bulb is bad or that socket is not grounded. Also check the continuity of the ground at the rear sockets.

 

[ghwerrig]

Appreciate the response BillyBovine. I can remove the indicator bulb and reverse bulb, but the running/brake led group seems to be a sealed unit. There's 2 screws securing the cover, but when removed nothing. iu can appreciate my trepidation at applying too much pressure trying to remove the cover.

If there's a crossed connection in the wiring harness, couldn't that be damage of some kind along it's length. On Thursday I'll have a better idea. I'll certainly try removing the bulbs one at a time and see what happens.
Regards

 

[CapeSpyder]

It is either a cross connection in the wiring harness between the running lights and brake light circuit or a back feed from one of the tail/brake bulbs not connected to common ground.

I would first remove each of the tail/brake bulbs, one at a time, then both and see if the problem is fixed. If removing one bulb fixes the problem then that bulb is bad or that socket is not grounded. Also check the continuity of the ground at the rear sockets.

I have to second that, and to remove the bnrake light just unplug the connector behind the light since it is sealed it will then remove it from the circuit. of course have them all unplugged and then plug one in at a time and see what appears.
???

 

[billybovine]

It slipped my mind that the RT had LED brake/tail lights. Cannot remove the bulbs. But each side can be unplugged.