Mystery "Lamp" dashboard display

[Birkenfelder]

Hello all;

My '11 R1200R has run flawlessly...until recently when the dashboard display lit up showing "LAMP". I've traced the problem to the brake light (not the running light filament...just the brake light). When the dash "LAMP" display is present, indeed I have no brake light. However, after running a bit, the "LAMP" display disappears and once again I'm back to normal with full functioning brake light... and so it goes...sometimes off...sometimes on. I've checked the brake light bulb, which appears filament intact - but have not yet replaced the bulb, which I will do shortly.

My direct question is: Has anyone else witnessed this intermittent "LAMP" warning? My bike has less than 3K miles, and no aftermarket wiring, or wiring alterations. Thanks in advance!

[mogu83]

Seeing as the brake light bulb only costs a few bucks for two I think I would try that first. It's a good idea to carry a spare anyway.

If it isn't the bulb you could have an wiring issue and intermittent troubles are usually the worst to find. If you are still under warranty I would do the bulb (because you don't want to buy the bulb from the dealer) then I would give it to the dealer.

[Birkenfelder]

Thanks, Harry! I pulled the bulb (again)...and this time put the thing under a compound microscope to really view the filaments. Just before removing the bulb, I tried running and brake lights - both worked fine. However, upon truly close scrutiny (60 X magnification) saw that the brake filament was broken and just...by the Grace of God...being held in perfect alignment with it's other portion. In other words, outwardly the bulb looked perfect. When I shook the daylights out of the bulb, I got the filament to fall quite a bit out of alignment - proving a simple bad bulb.

Yep, Harry...its off to get a bulb replacement - and as per your suggestion, there will also be a second spare replacement bulb in my tool kit.

Even though I usually don't like "idiot lights"...this is a case where I may not have noticed the intermittent brake light failure in a timely manner, but instead got a heads up the literal instant the malfunction occurred.

[jkhomes]

I love this board. Who else but a BMW owner would examine light bulb filaments under a microscope!

[MTBeemer]

I surprised he didn't try to repair the filament.

[David R]

I love this board. Who else but a BMW owner would examine light bulb filaments under a microscope!

Ditto.

David

[atractaspis]

I want to know why you even have a compound microscope at home. Haha

[Birkenfelder]

Yep, anal as it sounds...I do have both a compound and monocular scopes. Both are remnants of my college days, but over the past 40 years both come in handy every now and then.

Nope, the thought of microbrazing, soldering, welding or otherwise repairing the filament never occurred to me. Ya know, that's a vacuum in there

[MTBeemer]

Yep, anal as it sounds...I do have both a compound and monocular scopes. Both are remnants of my college days, but over the past 40 years both come in handy every now and then.

Nope, the thought of microbrazing, soldering, welding or otherwise repairing the filament never occurred to me. Ya know, that's a vacuum in there

Ah ha!!!! It appears you did at least give the idea of repair a casual thought. A BMW rider heart and soul.

[Jed]

Yep, anal as it sounds...I do have both a compound and monocular scopes. Both are remnants of my college days, but over the past 40 years both come in handy every now and then.

Are you a recovering Chemistry major ??

[Birkenfelder]

Yep, recovering organic chemistry/biology major...but went tangential into silviculture (forestry) and wood technology...hence the compound scope. Yep, still horsing around in the woods - but had enough of that over the years, and now have to get down to real business...that is, R12R business!

[atractaspis]

Yep, recovering organic chemistry/biology major...but went tangential into silviculture (forestry) and wood technology...hence the compound scope. Yep, still horsing around in the woods - but had enough of that over the years, and now have to get down to real business...that is, R12R business!

well..as a biologist myself I have a fun dissecting microscope I use sometimes in my research.. next time you can just send me the bulb after you inspected it.. I'll take a picture of it and then everyone on here can see what it looked like..