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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through December 20, 2005 » LIGHTS OUT! ack its dark « Previous Next »

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Buelltroll
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 06:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

6:00am still dark,second day on the job so I cant be late.
Half way around the block BOTH lights go out!!
Spun around real quick thinkin meh just a fuse.
NOPE headlight fuse still good.
HAD to ride it to work with no lights (got 2 flashes from 2 different cops)
Lunch break I check ALL the fuses except the ECM.
All fuses good but now the high beam indicator isn't even working (it was before even with no lights)
I'm GUESSING some kind of groundout or mabye a relay.
Anyone got anything better than my halfassed guesses?
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Buellin_ri
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 07:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Check the connection between the bulb and the headlight housing (ground). I have run into trouble there in the past. You may need to bend the little spring clips that hold the bulb in so the are a little tighter.
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Fullpower
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 07:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

before i start randomly troubleshooting; please tell us if anything ELSE is also not working, and also, if you will, what is the last service-modification-mainteance performed prior to the headlamp failure.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 07:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Heh oddly enough the last thing I did was replace the bulbs with Silverstars.
And like RI said my little wire dealies were a little slopped out and I noticed on the old bulbs a little burn mark were it was grounding out on the bulb housing.
So I bent em up a little bit n made sure the bulbs were nice n snug up against the housing.
The only other things that dont seem to be working are when I checked all the fuses the ignition one made all the trip counters n my clock reset.
Other than that the only thing is the highbeam indicator.
Oh and it seems to stumble a little when i go to fire it up(never did that before either)

(Message edited by buelltroll on December 07, 2005)
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Buelltroll
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Bump^
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Buelltroll
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 02:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Cmon guys I managed to weasle the truck for tomorrow but I have to take the bike friday n REALLY dont wanna push my luck with the cops on base.
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Cataract2
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 09:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You didn't by chance touch the bulb did you?

Also, check your ground line. I don't have the service manual in front of me but I'm guessing that your lights (all front ones) probably run along the same ground line. That or your switch housing for your low/high beams maybe for a small amount of corrosion inside of it. Check that too.
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Xb9
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 09:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Check the white connector for the headlights at he main harness by the steering head.
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Perry
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Stick a voltmeter into the headlight bulb socket positive connection to see if you actually have 12v positive. Then check the negative contact to battery ground to see if it is indeed grounded.

That will tell you if the problem is that you're not getting power to the bulb, or the ground, or the bulb itself.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 07:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well after removing the fairing so I'd have better access to all the goings on behind it.
Pulled the bulbs n wala BOTH blown.(Guess I shoulda checked the obvious first eh)
DAMNIT 36$ well spent!!!
No idea what blew em about to go slap in an old set n see what happens.
Don't really feel like putting the fairing back on tonight so if it works ima be riding it nekkid.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 07:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Low beam works.
Still no highbeam and no highbeam indicator.
It didnt pop the highbeam bulb it just didnt work.
Any ideas?
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Ezblast
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 07:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

check your switch housing for good wire contact - sometimes when you run both at once the switch contact wears too much on one or the other -
GT - JBOTDS! EZ
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Xb9
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 08:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Did you check that white connector! - Mine got hot and shorted out
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Buelltroll
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 09:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well halfway traced it anyway.
Got the low beam to work and switched the connector TO the bulb over to the higbeam and it worked.
So the highbeam side is not getting power also the highbeam indicator isn't working either so it has to be somewere down the higbeam power side.
pulled the housing apart and everything looked felt and smelled fine,nothing obviously fried or disconnected.
Its dark out now so I just slapped the mirrors and blinkers back on n will ride it to work with no fairing.
This weekend a buddy offered to come over with his 300$ multimeter and help me trace it back.
If that don't workout I guess I'll have to wait till I get the 10k service n let the stealership finger it out.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 03:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Any more ideas?
Not real sure were or how to start tracking a short.
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Cataract2
Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 10:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Do you have a service manual?
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Buelltroll
Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 05:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yes but the only electrical trouble shooting it has is for the starter.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 12:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So were would be a good place to start tracking down a problem like this.
No power to the higbeam side and no higbeam indicator.
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New12r
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 07:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

White wire coming out of the ecm, that is what I was
told by my dealer who called Buell to find out why
I kept blowing relays. Check your etm in the manual
though.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 01:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

etm?
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Buellin_ri
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 04:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"etm?"

Wire Diagram is what I think New12r means.

(Message edited by buellin_ri on December 10, 2005)
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Buelltroll
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 09:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Bah hell if I know.
The service manual says the highbeam is on the right side of the vehicle.
Could someone with an R go see?
If it is that means I've had my connectors backwards for a while now n thats probably what caused the short.
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Buellin_ri
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 11:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just ran out to the bike to see which one is the highbeam. It is the right side, however I don't think it would make a difference because it get its ground through the housing. The worst thing that should happen if you have the wrong one plugged in is it would be on the wrong side. I could be wrong though so try putting every thing where it belongs. My best advice is not to over think these kind of problems. 90% of the time it is something staring you right in the face.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 11:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've checked everything obvious n tried using my elcheapo voltmeter but don't have a clue how to use it.
The guy with the 300$ multimeter was busy today so I guess I'm assed out at least until tomorrow n if after that I'm guessing its stealership time.
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Buellistic
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 01:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Donnie(AKA Buelltroll):

When something terribly wrong, it was the last thing you touched and then to USAF(U Sure Are F***ed) with all the help and guidence everyone
gives you trying to help ... As we all have good
ideas, "BUT" we are not standing next to your
bike to see things as they are ... Is the problem still the same ???


Remember this: The problem is always SIMPLE and DUMB when you find it !!!

If you do not have a "ELECTRONIC VOM" you will
cause more TROUBLE than you can ever imagine ...

Do you have a FACTORY MOTORS MANUAL for your year and model ???

What does "HVLP" stand for(ex Air FORCE 462 60-65) ???

In BUELLing
LaFayette
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Buelltroll
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 01:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The last thing I did was change the bulbs.
I didn't touch the glass,And they were the same wattage.
They worked fine for about a month.
I have a service manual and it doesn't have anything like this for troubleshooting.
HVLP is a High Volume Low Pressure paint gun.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 06:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

well we traced it as far as we can without dropping the engine and tearing into the main wire harness.
Theres no power going to the high low switch and the ignition fuse was loose in the holder that probably had something to do with the short too.
Guess Ima just have to wing it till I can afford a stealership visit.
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Dbird29
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 06:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

How much higher wattage were the new lights? Did you put a bigger fuse in?
Maybe the wires got melted in the harness.
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Buellin_ri
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 08:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ohm out the wire see if you have a good wire.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 06:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I DID get the extended warranty.
Think this would be covered under it?
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Dbird29
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 07:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ohm out the wires.
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Buelltroll
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 07:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Bike is already back together we know theres no power going FROM the switch and the el cheepo meter I got doesn't read ohms.
So the question stands.
Think its covered under warranty?
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Buelltroll
Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 11:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

zzzzzz
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Diablobrian
Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 11:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you have power to the switch since the high beams work, and no power out to the low beams It seems logical you have a dirty, burned out, or just plain broken light switch. It is hard to get warranty coverage on electrical parts unless it is obviously faulty workmanship or a factory defect in question. That help?
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