1987 Suzuki Lt300e reverse light issue

[Lafytafy]

When my quad is shifted into reverse, the light on the speedometer doesn't come on. I've dug into the wiring and can't find anything other than it being a faulty switch. How do I get to this switch, is there a way to take it off without tearing it apart? I see that it may be accessible if I take off the air box but I am unsure of this. Thanks!

[Mech]

No offense, but it's been overlooked before...  have you checked the bulb ?

The wires run up near the top right frame rail I think, under the seat..  I'd test the switch, there at the connector.

[Lafytafy]

22 hours ago, Lafytafy said:

When my quad is shifted into reverse, the light on the speedometer doesn't come on. I've dug into the wiring and can't find anything other than it being a faulty switch. How do I get to this switch, is there a way to take it off without tearing it apart? I see that it may be accessible if I take off the air box but I am unsure of this. Thanks!

I have checked the bulb and it is fine I just don't know if there are any other ways of making sure before I tear into my quad.

[Mech]

If you find the reverse switche's connector, disconnect it, and then either test the operation of the switch with an ohm gauge, or, use a wire to short the wiring connector on the loom which should make the light come on..  That's how to confirm or eliminate the switch as the culprit.

You should check the reverse lever is traveling full travel down on the case, perhaps disconnecting the cable and moving the lever by hand.

[Lafytafy]

On 5/2/2023 at 4:44 PM, Mech said:

If you find the reverse switche's connector, disconnect it, and then either test the operation of the switch with an ohm gauge, or, use a wire to short the wiring connector on the loom which should make the light come on..  That's how to confirm or eliminate the switch as the culprit.

You should check the reverse lever is traveling full travel down on the case, perhaps disconnecting the cable and moving the lever by hand.

Ah ok, I will try these when I get home today. Thanks!!

[Lafytafy]

On 5/2/2023 at 4:44 PM, Mech said:

If you find the reverse switche's connector, disconnect it, and then either test the operation of the switch with an ohm gauge, or, use a wire to short the wiring connector on the loom which should make the light come on..  That's how to confirm or eliminate the switch as the culprit.

You should check the reverse lever is traveling full travel down on the case, perhaps disconnecting the cable and moving the lever by hand.

I tried what you said and it didn't work. Could it be that the switch isn't getting power to it? I took a wire and touched it to the neutral switch connector and touched the other end to the reverse light wire and the light came on. So could it be that the reverse switch has a loose connection and is not getting power to it? Thanks!

[Gwbarm]

It does sound like. you are not getting power to the switch, you can trace the wire back to its source to find the problem.

[Mech]

Ok. Both the neutral light and the reverse light get power directly from the key switch, then, the switches(neutral and reverse) earth either bulb to make them glow when they need to be on They do that by being connected via the reverse switch, to the neutral switch. The reverse switch connects either the reverse or the neutral lights to the neutral switch, which then earths them if it's in neutral.  Both the neutral light and the reverse light use the reverse switch on their way to the neutral light switch to be earthed.

If you have a multi meter with an ohm gauge I think you should use that to test that the reverse switch is swapping the connection between the blue wire on the switch, and the blue and red wire, and blue and black wires.. The reverse switch should operate like a two way switch. The blue wire should get connected to either blue/red or blue/black depending on whether the bike is in reverse or not.

Since the neutral light is working we know that set of contacts in the reverse switch are ok, and that the neutral switch;s contacts are ok, so you just need to check the blue/red wire is getting a good connection to the blue wire oh the switch when it's in reverse.

If it isn't making contact, then either the switch is crook, or the reverse is not being fully engaged to operate the switch.

 

output.pdf