No headlights

[redthunder]

Well I picked up my new bike last night and my mechanic gave it a once over today, overall I'm very happy with the purchase!!


When I was driving it home last night it got dark so I went to flick on the full beams only for my lights to go out. Turns out I had been riding with the full beams on for the first half of the journey, woops.


Long story short the full beams will work, and the two little sidelights also work. The main dipped headlights however will not work. Tried a brand new H4 bulb in both sides and still no success.


Now there is some form of HID bulb in there (very blue) but I don't know to what extent these are fitted.


My mechanic (on the side, from his home) took out a multimeter and tried to find the source of the problem. Problem being there is no electricity going to the bulbs when the dipped headlights are meant to be on.


We didn't have time to remove the fairings and start stripping wires back, is this my only option?


Has anyone experienced this? Could it be a fuse gone?


Thanks!!

[dBfazer600]

Hi Redthunder
 
Fuses are under the seat but you also have a box under the petrol tank full of conectors. That is where I would start in my falt finding befor going into the controls.
 
Daz

[Mark YPVS]

Try squirting some electrical contact cleaner in the light switch first as you have power to the side and high beam lights as it could just be a dirty contact in the switch, Halfords sell it, I don't think it will be a fuse.
Mark

[limax2]

I don't know much about HID bulbs other than they need something called a ballast in the circuit, so I can't help if the problem is with that side of things. What I do know is that if the main beams are working it is not the standard haedlamp 20 amp fuse, as the same fuse controls both dip and main beams. (but not the small pilot lights). Also, on the 2002-2003 model there are two relays in the headlamp circuit. One is triggered by the main light switch and sends light power to a second relay which is controlled by the dip switch. This second relay requires activating power, via the dip switch, for main beam.  But no activating power for dip beam.  The  problem could be in that second relay. Or it could be a break in the black/green wire or connections between the  relay and headlamp. (The black/yellow wire feeds the high beam).
I'm not sure exactly where that second relay is located but it will have five wires going to it and the first relay only has four.
Chances are it is just a bad connection or a sticking dip switch.
 

[redthunder]

Thanks for the replies guys, I will be getting this sorted this week whenever I can get at the bike.

Something else I  noticed which might give a clue to where the problem lies is that when I put on my full beams the blue dash light does not come on?

[limax2]

when I put on my full beams the blue dash light does not come on?

I think that is probably a separate issue like blown bulb or bad connection in that circuit. Do the other dash lights work? If so the earth connection must be o.k.
 Does the blue dash light and main beam come on when you press the headlight flasher button (known as the pass switch!) ? If it does the bulb and bulb  connection in the dash  is o.k.
Good luck with the search.

[redthunder]

When I got to work today I had another look at the lights.

When I put on full beams what actually lights up are my dips.

When I press the pass switch my fulls come on including blue dash light.

So what I am left with is no way to permanently keep my full beams on.

I'm going to guess that this has been previously modded so both bulbs come on for dips and was ballsed up somewhere.

[limax2]

Since you have your bike down as a 2002-2003 I am assuming it is a foxeye model. In which case both dip lights should come on together and both main beams on together as standard. If it is a box eye model the headlight wiring is a lot different and what I said before about relays etc. does not apply.
 
I take it the headlights go out when you flick the switch to the dip position, or do they just stay dipped irrespective of the dip switch positon ?
 
Does it look like the wiring has been messed obout with for those HID bulbs? or maybe they are just normal bulbs with a blue tinge to them  ?
 
Just realised all I have done is ask questions  ,  maybe answers next time, when I'm more awake  .
 

[redthunder]

Yes I have a foxeye model, good to know that about both dips - learn something new everyday!!


The wiring looks fairly clean, and I'm not 100% sure if they are actual HID bulbs or just cheap blue tinge jobbies. IF it has been rewired to accept HID bulbs will regular H4 bulbs still plug in and do the same job? (As in if I go get 2 new H4 bulbs and see if that is an automatic fix? Doubt it)

What happens to me is this:


Off - Off
Side lights - Side lights
Dip beams - Just side lights
Full beams - Side and Dip beams
Pass switch - Full beam, sides and dips.


So what I do know is that the bulbs themselves work - all aspects work. It's just to get them all on doesn't seem to add up properly. I've been working nights this week so haven't got near the bike really to take a proper look, I'm aiming for that on Monday!

[limax2]

I don't know much about HID bulbs (as in very little ) but if it is wired for them I wouldn't expect normal bulbs to work. I don't think HID bulbs have a filament like normal bulbs and require a very high voltage to get started.
With the lights switched off but the ignition on, when you press the pass switch just the main beams should light up, i.e. no dips and no side lights. With the dip on (and the side) the main should light up as well when you press the pass switch..
The fact that main lights when you press the pass switch would indicate that the main and dip wiring is the right way round at the headlamp.
I'm baffled as to what could be causing your symptoms but would be looking at dip switch connections, dimmer relay and connections for a start. Maybe check out the wiring diagram and see if it tallies with your bike for the lights.

[redthunder]

A month later and I haven't even looked at the lights again - mainly because they work. So I can live with it not being perfect.


Another thing I noticed today, once I turn the ignition to on my rear light comes on regardless of whether I have any form of lights switched on. Is that right?