SOLVED - brake lights not lighting By trailheadmike (Read 24,188 times)

[speedracer]

The only lights which come on the Linhai are the running lights and the license plate light. By pressing the brake on the brake lights would light up without the engine running. It is easy to access the rear brake bulbs on the Linhai. Under the seat in the back there are two 10 mm bolts which you remove and a handle at the top of that panel. Just pull it out and you are looking at the signal lights and brake light sockets.

[imnts2]

I did not notice if you have a VOM and know how to use it. Most shorts let you know pretty quick where they are. They often send up smoke signals. I would start by going to where you spliced in and disconnecting that and taping all bare wires carefully. Of course, I would check that the charging voltage was not much more than 13.4 Volts. Then I would ask you to spend sometime in a basic book on electicity. I used to have a little simple book that had an introductory chapter on DC electicity that also taught a bit on using a VOM. But that was near a lifetime ago. Bet there are some Utube videos or a dvd's that are a lot better and faster and more fun to get you a good start in learning to trouble shoot. Chinascoots tend to have electrical problems so you really do need to get a little basic training on DV circuits. You will need a wiring diagram for your scoot. Start researching for it now too.

I am sorry, If your scoot was in my carport I would probably troubleshoot it for you and make you provide the first beer later, but it isn't. so you have to do that for us.

Good luck
Cheers
lefty2

[trailheadmike]

I was riding home tonight, and it occurred to me - what if the lights are stuck in the "brake" position instead of the brake lights not lighting?? Simple test - see if it will start without depressing the brake lever. It did. This was also a cheapo brake switch from ebay that I put in just a few months ago, so that shouldn't surprise me either. I'll have to replace the switch to see, but I think it makes sense.

[tvnacman]

your bulbs may have burned out because they were on too long .

John

[trailheadmike]

I took off the right brake switch today, and sure enough, the little push pin was stuck in solid. I opened the switch to see what was hanging it up, and the plastic push pin had melted onto the rocker part of the switch and jammed it in the on position. I just ordered another switch. Thanks to all for your suggestions and insight.

[trailheadmike]

I'm just going to wrap this up in case someone else needs the answer in the future. The scooter is a Vog 260, and the tail lights do not come on with the key. In fact, the tail lights are not tail lights at all, but only brake lights -- the tail light function is taken care of by the horizontal led array. Thus it makes sense that the brake lights on this scoot are 1156's, not 1157's, since they have only the one function. If the lights are on without pressing the brake, its the switch or a short. Got my new switch in the mail yesterday, and all things are as they should be.

[tvnacman]

nice