Yet another lighting problem - sorted

[LeeR]

I'm beginning to dislike this bike very much as it's causing me so much grief.

As I was leaving work last night my head-lights stopped working, I have side-lights and full beam but nothing in-between. I turned the lights on and they had worked, as we have a long unlit tree lined driveway I put my lights oh hi-beam as I usually do. When I turned the hi-beam off ready to join the main road, the lo-beam went off as well.

I changed the bulbs and fuses which did nothing (as they weren't blown) and called recovery.

The recovery checked all the obvious things but couldn't fix it so he took me home, I worked on tracing the fault until midnight and gave up, the bike is currently in bits and in need my attention.

I've circuit tested all the connections breaking them down as far back as I can go i.e. to the loom, and testing the fuse mounts, all good.

So if it's not the switch-gear, block connector, bulbs, or fuse wtf is the problem?

Thanks in advance, again.
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[hmmmnz]

a model might help
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I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[LeeR]

Yeah sorry, Suzuki DL-1000 K2 (V-Strom)

I've just re-read the wiring diagram and apart from the bulb, fuse, switch, and battery there is nothing else in the circuit.

The main beam circuit consists of 3 wires a common (B/W), lo (B/Bl), and hi (Y). Shorting these at the switch produces a consistent result that is, side-lights and hi-beam but no lo-beam.

What's doing my nut is the lo-beam circuit has to be complete for the hi-beam to work, so why does the hi-beam work but not the lo-beam?
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[Finglonga]

Check the switch and give it a good clean and lube.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[LeeR]

Yeah I have, I've even shorted the connectors on the back of the switch thereby by-passing the actual mechanism and still no good.
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[Davo]

Not too familiar with the DL1000, I'm guessing there is a relay for the headlight if so try swapping that out.

Have you put higher rated bulbs in at all? I used to have the same problem on an old Austin metro, turned out the previous owner had put some "rally" spec bulbs in, which was too much for the wiring/relay to handle.

Have you got access to a multimeter it'll make things so much easier to trace the fault.

[LeeR]

Yes I have higher rated bulbs in so much as I'm using Halfords Super Bright bulbs, however they are road-legal 55/60w.

I took them out last night and put the original bulbs back in, same symptoms, side and hi, but no lo.

I may be mistaken but there appears to not be a relay for the headlights, if there is it's hidden or not on the wiring diagram. I realise that sounds stupid because if there was a relay surely it'd be accessible and on the diagram.

I've used a multi-meter on the following points on the circuit and receive 12-16v: switch gear, block connector, fuse mounting.

Admittedly I haven't checked the head-light terminals, but I'm kind of deducing they're dead. I'm now wondering if there might be a small connector between the switch-gear and head-light plugs.

Thanks for the ideas, please keep them coming.
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[LeeR]

Found this on the VSRI forum: Headlights don't work it does not look promising, and may in fact be related to the indicator fault I had earlier in the month as it sounds like the L/H loom block connector is the culprit. All this means I've got to strip it all down again, and check the loom block connector...
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[LeeR]

Right I gave up and took it to the dealers, I'm now riding an '08 Suzuki GSF1250S Bandit courtesy bike.

They reckoned it'd be fixed within the hour, then I explained what I done and they said they'd ring me in an hour.

I rang them 2 hours later and they were still working on it, I'll ring them in the morning and see how it's going.
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[rotax81]

the way i do it is start from the bulb and check every connector back from there until find power and thats where your problem is.
hope it gets sorted, electrical problems are a pain

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[Ariel Badger]

It is the time of the year Lee. Joseph Lucas ( The Prince of Darkness) stirs in his grave and sucks all the light into his coffin for another year.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[LeeR]

Just got off the phone with the dealer they're still working on it, but have found the problem. It is as I thought the left-hand block connector, the female connection on the loom has burnt out.

They're going to try changing the block connector, but if it shorts again I'll need a new loom.
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[LeeR]

Right all sorted £105 lighter, and brighter
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