Lights problems..

[sunnyj58]

Hi all,

Heres my problem..

Last night I start riding the bike after it sat idle for about 2 weeks. The lights come on at first, then the front light goes off after a few seconds. I turn the highbeams on and they are then ok for the next minute before they to go off.

Note, at this point I didnt check the backlights was working..

So today, I thought it was just the front light bulb, so I went got a new one put it in and put the 3 seperate wires back in and the front light works, just very dull.

Then tonight I get pulled over by police who say my backlights are not working..

So, I take the cover off the bike, and If I take one of the 3 wires out, the front light goes off, but the backlight now works. If I take all 3 wires out, backlight works fine. Ive found some combinations of putting wires where, the front light works on normal but backlight doesnt, then if I put highbeams on, the front goes off and the backlight comes on.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

[orac]

sounds like got a corroded terminal or something.

it may sound daft but try charging the battery, small bike (i dont know what your riding) depend heavily on the battery for the lights, and most even need input from the altenator too

[Teflon-Mike]

It sounds like a duff earth. Volts on headlamp earth being higher than volts on tail lamp, resitance of bulbs higher than resistance through corroded earth, so volts take line of least resistance.

BUT; would help to know what bike; and as suggested likely to not be aided by weak battery and low revs.
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[MickC]

[sunnyj58]

Thanks for advice.
Its on a piaggio zip 2t.

Just took another look, and noticed that.. When I turn the highbeams off and the light comes on, the backlight IS actaully on, just REALLY dim.

Also I did notice when the highbeams are on, so the backlight is working its flickering slightly like when the bike is running of the alternator and not battery. I checked the fuse near battery thats fine.

So im wondering is it possible that the new headlight bulb is taking to much power? Im not 100% sure its the right one for the bike.

[orac]

take the head light bulb out and then see what the the tail light does, if it does the same then its not headlight issue, if it fixes it then its the opposite.

if its not the headlight the wiring will need to be checked.