I just bought a 2005 Sportster for my wife. While riding it home the tail lights went out. First the tail light was very bright as if the brakes were depressed, but when I depress the brakes nothing happened. By the time I got home the tail lights were completely out. I changed the bulb with the same type and the brake light works but the running light are still out. I checked the fuses and they are ok. I checked the wiring in the tail light housing and it also looks ok. Where do I go from here?

 

Get a test light, or a VOM and check the voltage on the terminals in the light fixture. Just looking won't always get you the answers you need. I'm not familiar with the wiring on the sporty, but just start at the light fixture, and work your way back from the end to the source. That's the best I can do for you for now.

 

there's a good chance you have a run-turn-brake module on it (part# 69463-06). If your rear turn signal lenses are red, chances are you have this unit. Look under your seat - if you do, you'll see a small plastic sealed box and wires with plugs coming out of each side of it. If you're savvy to this sort of thing, remove the item and you'll find that the 2 plugs remaining on the bikes wiring harnes will mate.
plug them together. you'll be without the brake and run light option in the turn signals but you should still have your blinkers.
If you find that this is the problem, you can get the entire kit, or just the module.
Roll on
-L

 

Ok. good idea to use a volt meter to see if the entire plug is working. Thanks. As for the turn signal lights our lens are yellow. I have such a module on my Ultra. By the way our rear signal light are off and only come on when actuated.

 

Could be a problem with the socket.
Mine was doing the same thing.Verified that the wiring was good by exchanging the socket with another from a different bike.Turned out the socket was not making good contact with the lamp.
I squeezed the socket with some pliers and this fixed it.

This was the newer push in bulb that has the flat lookin terminal.

 

Turn out that the plug that holds the bulb was the problem. I squeezed the plug and inserted the bulb and worked. Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

 

+1 on the test. But also check manual for correct type of bulb. May be as simple as wrong bulb number. i.e. 1057 won't work longif it should be a 2057 or 3057.

 

Thanks for the update. Always good to see a positive outcome.