QuestionDear Bob:
I know this is related to a bike one year past your expertise but were wondering if you would know the answer. The brake light, insturment panel lights and the running lights won't light up. But the blinkers and brake light work when you step on the brake pedal or the turning signals work when pressed. We have checked the fuses and replaced the bulbs which all are okay. Can you help?
AnswerThe problem isn't the year - I can't find a schematic for an '86 Magna online. But I will try to help anyway. Just remember that I'm working blind so some of what I say may not be relevant to your bike.
Please clear up a bit of confusion for me: You say "The brake light, insturment panel lights and the running lights won't light up." and then you say "But the blinkers and brake light work when you step on the brake pedal or the turning signals work when pressed." Did you mean that the tail light doesn't work but the brake light does?
Some other models have the running lights, tail light and instrument lights all on the same fuse, so it is possible that they are on yours. If they are, the problem is either the fuse, the ignition switch or one of the wiring connections.
The brake light and turn signals are usually on a different fuse, so them working when the tail light and running lights don't is consistent with a bad fuse on the tail light/running lights/instrument lights circuit.
Did you remove the fuses and check them with an ohm meter or continuity checker or did you just look at them? Glass cartridge fuses often fail due to the weld between an end cap and the link breaking because of normal vibration. When this happens, they look perfect but do not conduct. If you don't have an ohm meter or continuity checker you can sometimes detect a fuse that has failed in this way by holding one end between your thumb & forefinger while "finger flicking" the other end. If you see the link vibrating after you flick the fuse it is no good.
Try replacing that fuse and let me know if it helps.
