License Plate Lighting Wire Color

Hello.  I just purchased a 2004 SWing and want to put a switched distribution block on it.  The instructions I found are for another bike, but it suggests I use the license plate wire to turn the block on and off (not use it for power, but just to power the relay).  I believe I found some wires that go back to the license plate, but there are several color wires in the bunch.  I do not want to tie into the wrong wire so I thought I'd come to you people to assist me.

Blue/Brown is hot. Green is ground.

If you remove the left side panel you'll have much easier access to the wire harness leading to the rear lights.

Cosmic_Jumper, is this the blue/brown wire that is hot?  (See picture)  It is the one on the top.

I don't need to worry about the ground, I am getting that directly from the battery for the distribution block.

Dunno, I can't really determine the colors in that photo. I got the license plate light wire(s) color code from the FSM Wiring diagram.

I suggest that you remove that left side body panel and check the 9 pin connector leading to the rear lights. It's the common point for all the wires leading to the rear lights. I'm sure that you'll notice that one of those wires is Green, and one of the others will be Blue with a Brown tracer --that'll be the hot wire.

Tim

Tim,

I took a picture with my camera this time on the "Macro" mode so I could get a close up shot and still retain the colors.  It is attached.

I tried this wire, but it didn't show any volts when I spliced into it and tried a reading on the new blue wire. It is light blue with tan squares going through it intermittently. I tried squeezing the splitter down very tight, and it still showed not voltage.

Please advise me what I should do next.

Thank You,

Mike

I figured I could just use liquid electrical tape to seal it up if it is not the right wire...

The wiring diagram in my '03 FSM shows the hot wire for the license plate light as Bu/Br. The wire in your photo (thanks for the macro shot) appears to be that color code. If you are not getting 12V on that wire --with the key ON-- then the only suggestion I have is to meter check the terminals on that disconnect block until you locate a 12V source.

That said, as long as you have that left side panel removed you could opt to run a hot wire from the battery or a keyed hot terminal on the (rubber covered) relay. The one to the left side of the ECM.

Couldn't you just unplug the block that goes to the rear and check which wire is hot with the key on? It's too late now but you could have accessed the block through the little door under the seat on the left side.