Bike stuck in work, headlights/indicators not working

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Just been riding about 50 odd miles in HEAVY fog.

Got into work, realised my headlights and indicators weren't working.

The indies work sometimess, I have to slide the switch a few times to get them to work but this has been an ongoing problem.

The headlight doesn't work at all on hi/dip/parking (I know why the parking doesnt work though, one of the wires has come out of the back of the bulb holder)

The headlight only lights up if I press the PASS button, nothing else.

Obviously it's REALLY dense fog tonight, and I'm stuck at work otherwise, so anyone got any suggestions?

Cheers,

T

Marci · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Karma :

Check fuses, check bulbs, check wiring. One wire hanging off the headlight cluster (eg: your parking light) could interrupt the earth for the entire circuit... thus resulting in no lights whatsoever.
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veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

Well, if the PASS works, then it seems to me like something has come apart/got grotty inside the actual switch cluster. You'll need to get hold of a meter and crack off the front of the headlight to be sure. Possibly not the kind of thing you want to take a look at in the work car park. Especially as i can almost guarentee that the screws holding the cluster together will melt like chocolate when you wave a screwdriver near them.

My suggestion would be a cable tie and hideous bodgery with the pass switch to get you home Smile

.

finpos.

krebsy · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

Sounds like a short somewhere. I don't supose you have a spare bulb and a length of wire you can use as an impromptu test probe?

Check your bank of relays (wherever they are on the bike) unplug, dry out, WD40 if you've got some and plug back in again. You may also have a worn wire at the headstock. I used to carry a spare length of wire, pliers and two cable joiners in the Divvy's underseat area after I had to re-wire the starter circuit following water damage.

K.
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veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

I'm a fucking idiot.

Headlight switch wasn't click onto "on" it was halfway on "sidelights".

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

I hadn't considered that as a diagnosis Smile

finpos.

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Just a quick point though. The PASS button is often wired on a completely different circuit to the headlamp switch, sometimes without even going through a fuse.

As such, just because the lights come on with the PASS button, doesn't automatically mean the fuse and wiring to/from the fusebox and switch are ok.

alone · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

I thought you said you'd tested it through the range? ^_^

Anyhow, nice mistake. I'll be sure to never make it myself...