SuzukiSavage.com - tail light only does brake light!!

Rocco

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tail light only does brake light!!
05/24/10 at 20:15:31

we got rid of that huge and ugly license plate bracket and running light thing, made my own bracket and bought license plate bolts with lights in them, we spliced the old wires to the bolt lights no problem

did this about 4 days ago, not sure if my tail light has been out the whole time, probably. but it doesn't act as a "running" light, only a brake light.

is there something that makes it stay on constant, like a relay or did i do somethig wrong.

in theory we matched up the wires from the old running lights to the new, why would it mess with the tail light?

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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #1 - 05/24/10 at 21:24:14 Armed w/ a 12v test lite, check if there is juice there, if not, it has to be a connection or the bulb. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- On edit, ....if there is, it has to be a connection or the bulb
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Rocco Serious Thumper Offline addicted 2 riding TcB Posts: 1049 south florida Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #2 - 05/24/10 at 21:27:21 i don't have a 12v checker thing lol and by connection u mean the things the wires connect into? would it still be the bulb if it works when u press the brake? so i'll get a new bulb first and see how that goes, if not it doesn't fix it i'll try reconnecting all of the connections..i guess lol
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #3 - 05/24/10 at 22:01:56 the bulb has 2 figments a bright one for stoppin' a dim one for go, go, go
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Routy

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Re: tail light only does brake light!!
Reply #4 - 05/25/10 at 05:30:59

Routy wrote on 05/24/10 at 21:24:14:

Armed w/ a 12v test lite, check if there is juice there, if not, it has to be a connection or the bulb.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On edit, correction made
....if there is, it has to be a connection or the bulb

And yes, if you don't have a $1.98 12v test light, I'd start w/ the bulb.

Note:
Everyone really should have a 12v test light, only because it will do so many things, like probe into a wire or cable to check for the presence of 12v electricity, and will also check light bulbs and fuses,.......if used in series w/ the battery. An inexpensive little multimeter will do it all too, but is more difficult to use.

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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PipJones

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Re: tail light only does brake light!!
Reply #5 - 05/25/10 at 06:27:44

[quote author=7E716B706C6A797B737D6A180 link=1274757331/0#4 date=1274790659]Routy wrote on 05/24/10 at 21:24:14:

Armed w/ a 12v test lite, check if there is juice there, if not, it has to be a connection or the bulb.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
An inexpensive little multimeter will do it all too, but is more difficult to use.

But the multimeter will tell you exactly what you are looking for. a test light will illuminate. However testlights can be misleading... you will see the light illuminate with LOW or HI voltage, not just @ 12v. also, multimeters can tell you AMPS which in some cases is MUCH more important than the actual voltage, and Ohms which I use almost on a daily basis for broken wires and what not.

Multimeters take a little getting used to, but if you take the time to learn what ur doin.... you'll be FAR better off than using a test light.

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Rocco

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Re: tail light only does brake light!!
Reply #6 - 05/25/10 at 07:26:09

i just realized i have a multimeter lol it's a cheap one, but i guess it doesn't matter lol

i'm gonna attempt to find it(just moved in with my woman & getting ready for school, hence not being on here as often)

so either way, new bulb 2day then i'll let u guys know, and i'm really glad it's a dual bulb, i was worried i'd have to cut out the connectors and just wrap and heat shrink...is that what u do when a connector is bad?

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Rocco Serious Thumper Offline addicted 2 riding TcB Posts: 1049 south florida Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #7 - 05/25/10 at 10:32:57 it was the bulb, thank goodness! a trip to bennet and 3 bucks got me 2 long life bulbs, and this one seems to shine a little brighter then the old.....thanks guys, what would i do without you?
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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #8 - 05/25/10 at 11:14:03 verslagen1 wrote on 05/24/10 at 22:01:56: the bulb has 2 figments a bright one for stoppin' a dim one for go, go, go Hahahahaha, Vers, I don't know why, but this made me laugh so hard.
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babyhog Serious Thumper Offline Find a Cure for Breast Cancer! NOW!! Posts: 3802 WV Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #9 - 05/25/10 at 11:52:20 Glad you got her fixed Rocco. And inexpensively! Soooo.... you moved in with the woman, huh? This must mean the engagement is still in tact? Have ya'll set a wedding date?
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #10 - 05/25/10 at 12:04:40 You never buy a cow if you can get the milk free.
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Routy

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Re: tail light only does brake light!!
Reply #11 - 05/25/10 at 12:44:40

Pip,
Try probing into a wire w/ multimeter
Try grounding your multimeter w/o a ground clip, and w/o using 2 hands.
Try reading your multimeter under a dash or anywhere light is minimal.
My post was for those that don't know how to use a meter, much less those that don't have anything at all. 12v test lights are,....and always will be a basic tool that is still used more for basic circuit testing,...connecting trailers, blown fuses, etc etc, than any other testing tool.

But then, if you are here just to be argumentive of other posts, then so be it !

[quote author=437A63597C7D7660130 link=1274757331/0#5 date=1274794064]Routy wrote on 05/25/10 at 05:30:59:

Routy wrote on 05/24/10 at 21:24:14:

Armed w/ a 12v test lite, check if there is juice there, if not, it has to be a connection or the bulb.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
An inexpensive little multimeter will do it all too, but is more difficult to use.

But the multimeter will tell you exactly what you are looking for. a test light will illuminate. However testlights can be misleading... you will see the light illuminate with LOW or HI voltage, not just @ 12v. also, multimeters can tell you AMPS which in some cases is MUCH more important than the actual voltage, and Ohms which I use almost on a daily basis for broken wires and what not.

Multimeters take a little getting used to, but if you take the time to learn what ur doin.... you'll be FAR better off than using a test light.

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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Rocco Serious Thumper Offline addicted 2 riding TcB Posts: 1049 south florida Gender:	Re: tail light only does brake light!! Reply #12 - 05/25/10 at 20:43:37 glad it's fixed too! i didn't want a ticket! and we're doing great! goin to orlando for the weekend to celebrate our bdays, and i love waking up to her every morning! no official date, dependin on school and a few other things will decide when for us, u know how that is!
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