Both my tail light and gauge cluster lights went out at the same time. I've checked the fuse box, the wiring, and all connections, but I can't find anything that may be responsible.
I did blow a fuse that caused everything to go out (horn, brake and tail light, headlight, blinkers, speedometer, etc.), so that may be a contributing factor. But that fuse has since been replaced.
Any ideas on what I can check? I'm not above double or triple checking.
When you say you checked the fuses...with a meter?
I did, indeed, check the fuses with a meter.
When this happened to me, there was a barely noticeable flaw in the insulation on one of the brake light wires... blows the fuse and kills the cluster. No start on an immobilizer bike.
It had rubbed on something long enough to wear through.
And your bike is a?
S2r800...
This is a 2002 M750.
If everything works on that fuse except for the tail light, instrument lights and possibly the parking light all three are powered from the yellow wire from your ignition switch. No easy answer, but if you did a tail chop look in that area.
I lost my headlight and something else a while back, turns out the fuel sensor it something else under the tank was in the same circuit, and there was a tiny wear in insulation, causing an intermittent short when it rubbed on something under the tank hinge.
Check your wiring diagram, and see what else is in the relevant circuit, and check out all the wires for them too.
Was this ever resolved? I have a problem with the same lights and have the exact same model bike. My gauge back lights are out no matter the situation and my running tail light and plate light are only working when the key is in the park position. If I switch it to the on position they go out. The fact that the gauge lights aren't illuminated when the bike is in park could indicate something directly wrong with them since the other two lights are ok in that position. The common factor between these lights is the same yellow wire but I'm at a loss as to how to find the problem and think it might be with the ignition switch itself since turning the key from park to on is an instant kill result for the rear lights. The wiring diagram shows how the key position engages these three light circuits in both park and on.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
In park only the tail light and pilot (small bulb) in the headlight should be illuminated.
I've never noticed a pilot bulb inside my head lamp but I know what you're talking about. It always looked to me like the full head lamp was on whenever (not often) I had the key in park. This explains what "side light" means in the wiring diagram then.
That helps some, you letting me know the gauge backlights are not illuminated when the key is turned to park. Do you think it's worth opening the cluster to see if any or all of those backlight bulbs are dead?
Yes. If the bike is an '01 or newer they are conventional bulbs. Do note the number so you get the correct wattage. Later are LED, so not so easy.
Awesome. I'll mess with it later this week and update.
After taking apart the cluster I was able to confirm they're all LED. None of the lights in this cluster are conventional. Which means the issue is most likely wiring somewhere. I would be cool to know if it's possible to send current to each of the points in the gauge harness with exception to the speed and tach, and see if each light turns on.
Doh [bang] I meant 2001 or older.
LOL [laugh]
It's all good. I learned some cool stuff breaking that cluster down.