G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » XBoard » Archive through September 08, 2012 » Xb12r headlight gremlins... « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xmetalchrisx
Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 11:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Picked up as of 2 weeks ago 2004 firebolt. runs fine, has been down probably more than once but nothing I can't fix.

Took fairing support bracket off to see how bad the damage is/was.

I noticed the p/o had a ground wire going from the head light to the ground on the directional.

I took that ground off.
I go to put it back together and no lights, everything else works.

I know I have a bad ground. If I plug the headlight pigtail in like it's supposed to be I can't get the lights to work unless I run a jumper from the headlight to a chassis ground.

Anyone ever experience this problem? What was the solution?

BTW this is my first post!!

Any help? Bueller? Bueller?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gunut75
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 09:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sounds to me like the p.o. had the ground strap fail, and put a band-aid on it. There should be a ground strap in that area. If not, it may be missing. Maybe someone here can post a pic of the ground strap to compare it to your bike.

OH........WELCOME!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xmetalchrisx
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 10:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I thought there should be a ground strap there! probably got broken off when the bike went down? I'm going to head out there later and see what's up. I'm guessing if would ground to one of the bolts on the fairing support bracket?
I know when I put the jumper on it the grounds on the back of the headlight we getting warm indicating resistance somewhere..

Thanks man, good to be here!!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Natexlh1000
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 02:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have had exactly the same thing happen to me.
I wasted time trying to find WHERE the break in the ground path was before I realized that it didn't matter!
I put a huge wire between the ground lug on the front of the frame and the cast aluminum instrument housing.

So in my harness, there is still a broken ground wire sleeping.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xmetalchrisx
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 03:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I took off all the grounds and cleaned them up. even the ones in battery tray. Nothing. I took the headlight pig tail off, replaced the ground wire on it, re-pinned it and then ran a jumper from the headlight to the ground on the front of the frame with a ring terminal.
Everything works better than before, now i have hi/low beams and the flash to psss.

So my best assumption is that there is a broken ground in the wiring harness. if I can find a harness, i'll just replace it this winter along with a seeping lower rocker box leak....
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mtnmason
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 06:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My headlight connector has been giving me trouble since I've had it. It was to the point where if the connector was fully plugged in - no lights. I would have to leave it partially pushed in to work. Half a tube of dielectric grease and some pin-bending later and it seemed fixed until a recent trip when they went out again. When I tried to pull the connector apart it was as if the ground had soldered itself together (coincidentally, I had been running my hi beam most of that trip which is something I normally dont do). I had to pretty much destroy the connector to pull it apart. I have no clue what I'm gonna do now seeing as how I cant find one to replace. I did discover that the wires were totally chaffed on the male side of the connector. Still looking for options at this point.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xmetalchrisx
Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 07:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Man, that sucks. this one was kind of like that. I mean worst case scenario I would go to a car junkyard and find a 4 pin weather pack connector and cut/solder/heat shrink them. It was weird how the ground in the connector was black(burned)
Some people I guess want a quick fix and don't seem to care what cause the problem to begin with. Just as well, they had no business owning the bike anyway, right?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mtnmason
Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeah, i dunno why the ground was burnt up. That was kinda weird. Ive thought about just hard wiring everything and see how that works but its time to stop bs-ing around with the quick fixes and nip this in the bud once and for all. Its just a matter of being able to find a new connector.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Greg_e
Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 02:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would just go to the auto store and buy male/female spade connectors with insulation and start cutting and crimping. Shouldn't cost too much to fix except the time to pull the headlights off so you can get the the wires more easily. You could also go find a 4 pin Deutsch connector if you want to make it look nice, but I don't think it is needed.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Absolutezerofun
Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2012 - 08:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had the same problem on my 04 xb12r. I found out that I wasn't getting any power but had a good ground... My running light wouldn't work but my high beam would. So i ran a new power wire off the running light fuse and have had no problems since then... Hope this helps. any other questions feel free to P.M. me.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Andymnelson
Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 05:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mtnmason, are you looking to replace the headlight connector?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Andymnelson
Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 07:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Like this? : )

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mtnmason
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 01:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That would be the one. I'll admit I havent searched too hard for it. I was certainly gonna avoid calling HD, but did find something similar online. However, OEM works for me. While we're at it - what is the dead plug for? Three wires on the headlight side and four on the harness side, correct? Thanks, btw!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Andymnelson
Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 02:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I did a bunch of research to find the appropriate AMP connector previously. I'm a bit of a geek about leaving stuff stock, stock looking, or able to be returned to stock. I used a set of them to make a jumper harness to go in the middle so that I could make the double headlight on high beam mod, as well as use the high beam to trigger a relay to turn on my fog lights. I bought a few extra sets. Shoot me a PM with you address info.

The 4 wires are: ground, low beam, high beam, accessory. The accessory wire powers a parking light bulb on EU models.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mtnmason
Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2012 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"I'm a bit of a geek about leaving stuff stock, stock looking, or able to be returned to stock."

You'd get along well with the car nuts in my fam. If it sports any aftermarket components they lose interest quickly.

PM on way
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Danylos
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2012 - 01:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ive been having this issue intermittently over the last two seasons and finally no amount of wire jiggling or reconnecting that white connector (seems to be quite stuck together now) will re-engage the failing ground.

By any chance does anyone have a picture of where on the headlight and where on the frame a new ground has been wired?? (would make things much easier to fix up as opposed to trying to decipher the wiring diagram (i'm not an EE, these things lose me)

Many Thanks!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Greg_e
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2012 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ground point is a Torx screw on the frame right next to the steering bearings. Should be black wires on the headlights.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Danylos
Posted on Monday, July 23, 2012 - 11:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Greg, Thanks a million! I finally got a chance to finish up the new ground wires and everything works perfectly. Would have never found the ground point without your post.
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Password:
E-mail:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration