Red light on dash stays on now?

[acehosedme]

There is a light that USED to go off after engaging both brake levers. For a week now it stays on. What should I be looking for here?
Thanks.
Bob

[cuervo]

1. Burned out brake light.

2. Make sure each lever makes the brake light come on independently of the other. If one doesn't, bad switch making the computer think the brake light is burned out.

[DonHamblin]

If it still isn't "fixed" after checking the switches (cleaning their contacts has "fixed" that on my last "K") it might not hurt to also clean the tail light socket.

Don

[spikethebike]

It means the self destruct sequence has been initiated! RUN!!!!

[acehosedme]

Am I out if breath! Can't run too far.
I checked the front switch, it turns on and off the brake llight. Same for the rear switch.
Teh damn light stays on. I pulled off the lens cover for the tali/brake light and there are two bulbs, one of which is fried. It is not the brake light bulb that is fried, it is the running light. So I change the bulb and everyhtign seems fine except now there is a f'ing downpour & I can't take it out for a ride.
Anyone know why a burned out 10w running lamp would make the red self destruct sequence light stay on? Not aht it matters unless this may be an indication somehting else electrical is amiss.

Thanks for the replies.
Bob

[kioolt]

The so called self destruct light comes on to let you know your running light is blown so you can fix it before someone rear ends you at night.

[cuervo]

We're stretching my memory now since I upgraded my brake lights long ago and added running lights, but....

I seem to remember that the Ks have a single bulb with two filaments, one for running and one for brake. (An 1157?)

It could be that someone added a light to this one to have some type of enhanced system and wired wrong. Thus, the computer is sensing the burned out running light as a burned out brake light.

It is also possible that the bulb-tester applied to the running light as well as the brake light and everything is working like it is supposed to, even with the additional bulb. (I had thought that the tester was brake light only but could be wrong.)

[deilenberger]

Originally posted by Cuervo
We're stretching my memory now since I upgraded my brake lights long ago and added running lights, but....

I seem to remember that the Ks have a single bulb with two filaments, one for running and one for brake. (An 1157?)

It could be that someone added a light to this one to have some type of enhanced system and wired wrong. Thus, the computer is sensing the burned out running light as a burned out brake light.

It is also possible that the bulb-tester applied to the running light as well as the brake light and everything is working like it is supposed to, even with the additional bulb. (I had thought that the tester was brake light only but could be wrong.)

Correct except for the bulb number (1157 is a dual filament). Does sound like someone added Run-N-Lite to it.

The computer will react to either the brake light OR the running light being burned out. The Run-N-Lite adds an extra filament on the running light that is tied parallel to the brake light, so one being out will not trigger the warning module.

A FWIW - I have experienced failures of the warning module, twice actually. Haven't had it happen since I got hold of a spare to keep on my shefl. A new one was about $40 a few years ago.. not worth getting a used one. The diagnostics BMW gives for it is - if you've checked everything else (bulbs, switches, wiring) and the warning light still illuminates - replace the module.

Best,

[gstom]

I had exactly the same problem on my '88 LT, but had no idea what was causing the dash light to stay on. The brake light came on with both the pedal and the lever, so I was mystified and just tried to ignore the problem. After reading this thread I checked the tailight and, sure enough it was burned out. Thanks for the helpful advice offered by so many on this forum.

PS: In reply to Cuervo's post, My K has two bulbs, one for the brake light and a separate bulb for the tailight. It appears to be the factory set-up.