Turn Signals - Brake Lamp Problem.

[elited]

Hi, I have a 1988 Honda Elite moped, with a couple of problems, I recently bought two new bulbs for the blinkers in the back and one for the brake light, when I press my brake the brake light doesn't go on, tho it stays on all the time, just no brake light. The signals do not blink consecutively, they only blink 2 - 3 times in a row if I do it manually, sometimes they do sometimes they don't (manually).

the high beam/low beam, horn all work, I don't have a battery in it right now, but was told I do not need one because the battery is only for the electric starter. Could this have something to do with a bad fuse or something? would just like to have the turn signals and brake light to operate correctly for safety reasons. Sorry for any confusion and thanks for any help.

[Videonut]

I have an 86 spree that will run without the battery but its turnsignals and break light wont work correctly. hook up the battery and everything works fine. The battery is being used by the lights to keep them constant and not put a heavy strain on the charging system. try using jumper cables and hook it up to the car and see if all your lights work good with a nice battery in line. I think that will help alot.

Videonut

[elited]

I have an 86 spree that will run without the battery but its turnsignals and break light wont work correctly. hook up the battery and everything works fine. The battery is being used by the lights to keep them constant and not put a heavy strain on the charging system. try using jumper cables and hook it up to the car and see if all your lights work good with a nice battery in line. I think that will help alot.

Videonut

Hi, that's exactly what mine was doing, I always thought a battery would help with the turn signals and brake light, but I was told otherwise (from an employee at a honda bike shop ) that I didn't need to have one, but anyways I put in a dead battery I used to have in there from a few years back, plugged the battery charger in, put the cables on the terminals, kick started the bike... pressed brake lever, brake light came on, flicked the turn signals to left and right both worked in the front and back! So im going to be purchasing a new battery tomorrow and im sure that will solve my brake/turn signal problems.

Thank you for your reply.

[Lunytune]

The battery acts somewhat like a capacitor. It may be sulphated but it still provides continuity. It helps unless you have a completely dead (open) cell and that's usually not the case. Usually sulphation causes a shorted cell, not an open cell.

[Videonut]

[/quote]
Hi, that's exactly what mine was doing, I always thought a battery would help with the turn signals and brake light, but I was told otherwise (from an employee at a honda bike shop ) that I didn't need to have one, but anyways I put in a dead battery I used to have in there from a few years back, plugged the battery charger in, put the cables on the terminals, kick started the bike... pressed brake lever, brake light came on, flicked the turn signals to left and right both worked in the front and back! So im going to be purchasing a new battery tomorrow and im sure that will solve my brake/turn signal problems.

Thank you for your reply.[/quote]

Yes your honda guy was correct it will work fine without a battery but it will have some crazy blinker problems and the tail light may not work as well everything is dim, the more you rev the engine it will get brighter. but if ya spring for a bat it wont do that. I got one at wallmart once for $20 but this is the place i have been getting all my batteries now. it rocks

https://www.pacificpowerbatteries.com/batteriesnew.cfm

Oops they are only in the westcoast. oh well i think they ship......

[elited]

The battery acts somewhat like a capacitor. It may be sulphated but it still provides continuity. It helps unless you have a completely dead (open) cell and that's usually not the case. Usually sulphation causes a shorted cell, not an open cell.

Hi, yes the battery I put in there to use as a tester with the battery charger was completely dead, It was not properly stored inside and charged during the winter seasons. I appreciate the info.

[elited]

Yes your honda guy was correct it will work fine without a battery but it will have some crazy blinker problems and the tail light may not work as well everything is dim, the more you rev the engine it will get brighter. but if ya spring for a bat it wont do that. I got one at wallmart once for $20 but this is the place i have been getting all my batteries now. it rocks

https://www.pacificpowerbatteries.com/batteriesnew.cfm

Oops they are only in the westcoast. oh well i think they ship...... :mrgreen

Thanks for the link, I checked on the local honda website around my neck of the woods and they wanted around $50 - $60 brand new, not to thrilled about that. Did some research and found out I could get one new for $25 and a core deposit from a local battery shop. I also seen some on eBay for $25.00 with free shipping.

Either one seems like a good bet tho.

[Lunytune]

I was told otherwise (from an employee at a honda bike shop ) that I didn't need to have one,

Yes your honda guy was correct it will work fine without a battery but...
...I got one at wallmart once for $20...

At first, I thought, yeah, the Honda guy lacked experience and training, but then I remembered the pre-starter/battery days. You younger guys won't relate to this but us ole gray headed farts remember when we didn't have batteries, and it was kickstart only, running around on Alstate Huskies and Cushmans. We did have headlights and taillight, but not signal lights. Brightness varied with RPM.

But systems have changed. We didn't have CDI then either, or some of the other components we now have.

Videonut, If you got a battery at Walmart for $20, you are dating yourself. I bought one last week at Walmart for $40, made in Taiwan, not China. That's another reason I bought there, and to be able to deal local, ease of return in case of failure. A few bucks more than eBay, but worth it.

[Kenny_McCormic]

You need a good battery to run the lights properly.

[Videonut]

Videonut, If you got a battery at Walmart for $20, you are dating yourself. I bought one last week at Walmart for $40, made in Taiwan, not China. That's another reason I bought there, and to be able to deal local, ease of return in case of failure. A few bucks more than eBay, but worth it.

thanks..... ya i swear it was last week......ok maybe it was 7 years ago.....well time flys when your having fun.....
Videonut

[elited]

Whelp. Finally went out and got my battery today, cost about $38.00 (honda shop wanted $55.00, ebay wanted $25.00, but I would of had to wait for shipping ) anyways everything works great. headlight, turn signals, horn, electric start (fires up with just one push )

Just giving an update, thanks to all who replied.