Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 1500 only => Topic started by: paulfuller12 on November 16, 2018, 16:21:51 PM

Title: Tail light not working
Post by: paulfuller12 on November 16, 2018, 16:21:51 PM
My 2000 has small turnsignals with no running lights can that cause no power to the tail light? I was looking at wiring diagram and the running light are in a circuit to the tail light. I have got parking light. Has thunder switch and tail light fuse is good. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: Troll on November 17, 2018, 04:03:14 AM
license plate light working? Brake light working?
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: greenbarn on November 17, 2018, 07:15:53 AM
The wiring for all of the rear lights cluster into the tail light housing.  I'd take off he cover there and see what you have and what you don't have.  Do you have a 12V test light? 

When you say you have a parking light, exactly what do you mean?
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: indue on November 17, 2018, 13:04:31 PM
Pull the light lense off and check the bulb. It should be an 1157 (dual filament). Put in a new one if the two filaments look separated or if there is a dark/smoke color to the bulb indicating they have burned out. Otherwise, it is in the connection above the drive shaft left side.
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: paulfuller12 on November 19, 2018, 15:47:04 PM
There was no power going to the tail light except when the thunder switch was in "park" position. I ended up connecting the red tail light wire to the blue switched power wire up at the Thunder switch harness. The OEM diagram shows when the OEM ignition switch is in the on position all wires are connected (hot). I spliced the red taillight wire to the blue wire so I would not interfere with the 100ohm resistor for the ignition. I disconnected the red spade connector from the switch terminal so now I don't have 'park" light but I would never use it anyway. Problem solved.
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: paulfuller12 on January 12, 2019, 09:57:53 AM
Quote from: greenbarn on November 17, 2018, 07:15:53 AM
The wiring for all of the rear lights cluster into the tail light housing.  I'd take off he cover there and see what you have and what you don't have.  Do you have a 12V test light? 

When you say you have a parking light, exactly what do you mean?

The stock ignition and thunder switch both have a parking light position when switch turned to the left. its a separate circuit to the tail light only so as not to run down the battery so fast. I heard in some European countries you have to leave the light on when leaving the bike parked. According to the wiring diagram current takes a long trip thru the harness then to the light. It wasn't getting current and I couldn't find where. So I just crossed the "parking light wire with the switched hot at the ignition switch and yea, viola light.
Title: Re: Tail light not working
Post by: greenbarn on January 15, 2019, 21:21:01 PM
Glad you got her fixed up.