1st Gen Front lights issue.....

[hman]

I have an 84 1st Gen. One day I went to go riding and no headlight and my side markers/turn signals were lit???? Turn signal will flash but lights stay on but no Headlamp. Have no voltage to headlamp plug either? Short or something worse??

[Peder_y2k]

Sounds like a low voltage at the battery situation, or poor ground. Also the handlebar 'start' switch that disengages the headlight so the starter can get full power could be compromised somehow. Also, the fuse panel could be problematic as age has a way of weakening the glass fuse holding tangs. When these get weak, less current flows. Time to get the volmeter out, so begin at the battery terminals.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[wrnchjox]

probably start button sticking a little, headlight shuts off when start button is pushed and it probablly isnt coming back out all the way .try WD40 to lube the switch ,if that doesnt work you will have to disassemble and clean it.

[hman]

Battery voltage is up where it should be(?) 12V. Dash runs through the sequences it has for the last couple of years, except for showing the 'headlamp' icon. Start works properly, i believe. Would the start switch cause the turn signal/front marker lights to turn on and stay on while starting?? All the other lights work as they should. Rears come on with the light switch, brake/tail light works as it should as do the turns. This has me really baffled. And.... thank you for your response.

 

oops forgot to mention, the side front markers/turns come on with the Key.

Edited April 13, 2014 by hman

[bongobobny]

May be a bad Reserve Lighting Module located on the front fairing frame behind the relays, black box with about a half dozen wires coming out of the side to a connector...

[Flyinfool]

When you checked for power at the headlight plug did you have the Negative voltmeter lead to the battery Neg or to the ground wire of the plug?

 

Check for power on both sides of the headlight fuse. Do not check on the fuse its self, but do the check on the terminals that are on the wires going to the fuse.

[hman]

[ATTACH]83495[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]83496[/ATTACH]

 

Yep, grounded from the battery. I only find 3 relays behind the headlamp. The blue plug is the turn flasher, and I have no idea as to what the red plug is nor do I know what the thin black one could be in the upper left corner. Had power before the headlamp fuse none on the headlamp side. The fuses have all been switched over to euro style blade fuses from before I purchased the beast and whoever did it failed to label which went where. I only found the headlamp using the voltmeter. Haven't traced the rest as yet. Again, thank you gentlemen for your assistance.

[dingy]

The blue plug should be connected to a relay with a blue base on it. This is the side stand relay. Only relay on bike that is Normally Closed.

 

Turn signal relay will have 9 wires going into it. Also has starting circuit relay in same housing. Should have 41R printed on it.

 

Gary

[hman]

all righty then, one last question.....

IF the reserve lighting module has shorted or died, would it let the front markers turn on with the key? I found the module, right side fairing on this bike, haven't tested it yet, not an electrical person, nor would I know what would be the voltages or wires to test, just gonna spend the $27 plus shipping or call the locals to see if they have one in stock. Anxious to get on the darn thing and ride.

[bongobobny]

Man, if you were about 100 miles closer I would lend you mine to try out! The RLU is quite expensive!

 

Now, if you have voltage coming INTO the fuse, but nothing coming OUT, the fuse has to be defective!!!

[Flyinfool]

Man, if you were about 100 miles closer I would lend you mine to try out! The RLU is quite expensive!

 

Now, if you have voltage coming INTO the fuse, but nothing coming OUT, the fuse has to be defective!!!

 

Or the fuse holder.

 

I worked on one bike that had an upgraded fuse panel. One of the wires was crimped over the insulation so had no contact between the wire and the terminal.

[KIC]

I had the problem and it was just the starter switch was not returning all the out. It is a common issue with these bikes. Play and clean the starter switch to make sure it is working correctly.

 

I see that is was suggested earlier, but I didn't see that you had done that .

[Trader]

Battery voltage is up where it should be(?) 12V. Dash runs through the sequences it has for the last couple of years, except for showing the 'headlamp' icon. Start works properly, i believe. Would the start switch cause the turn signal/front marker lights to turn on and stay on while starting?? All the other lights work as they should. Rears come on with the light switch, brake/tail light works as it should as do the turns. This has me really baffled. And.... thank you for your response.

 

oops forgot to mention, the side front markers/turns come on with the Key.

 

The switch can be working properly for starting the bike...but not completely springing out enough to allow the headlight to work. DOUBLE CHECK THAT FIRST before spending money.

[bongobobny]

Once again with emotions this time, REPLACE THE FUSE!! EITHER IT OR THE HOLDER IS DEFECTIVE IF YOU HAVE 12 VOLTS ON ONE SIDE AND ZERO ON THE OTHER!!!!!