Headlights wont work!?

Forum rules
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
Shigsy
Settled in member
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:41 am

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Shigsy » Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:56 pm

Interesting... yeah, I can flick the switch to position 1 (driving lights) and its fine, flick to position 2 and nothing, so I can't drive at night :( If I press and hold the high beam button in (for flashing idiots who cut in front of me :P) it works just fine. Bulbs seem fine.

The indicators issue is most likely a separate as they've been getting progressively worse over time and went completely before the lights issue cropped up. Think I need a whole new switch to fix that issue, or could this purely be a relay problem?

I wish I knew how to use a multi-meter correctly to fault find these issues :(

Morespeedvicar
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 837
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 1:37 am
Bike owned: Fzr400, NC30, CB50J, SS50Z KLR
Location: Grimsby

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Morespeedvicar » Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:38 pm

Likes been said, strip the switch gear right down and clean the brass contacts up. Be very carefull cos theres usually some very small springs and ball bearings in there that love to fly out and disappear!
Cheers
Ian

Shigsy
Settled in member
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:41 am

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Shigsy » Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:54 pm

I did that already unfortunately, made no difference :/ Either the relay is knackered or the switch is.

magg
Senior Member
Posts: 1913
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:55 pm
Bike owned: VFR400
Location: Blue Mountain NSW Australia

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by magg » Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:56 pm

To determine if the turn relay is faulty, disconnect the turn relay and link the black/red wire to the grey wire. When you set the turn switch to left and right, the associsated lamps should illuminate. If they do, then the wiring and lamps are ok and the relay must be faulty. If the lamps do not illuminate then there is a wiring/lamp fault.

Regarding the headlight issue, low beam does not work but high beam and high beam flash do work.

Rrotz
Settled in member
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:23 pm
Bike owned: 96 MC22, 89 NC30, 96 NC35
Location: VIC, Australia

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Rrotz » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:05 pm

lutorm wrote:
Rrotz wrote:This is going to sound stupid but how do I get the Switchgear off? Do I need to pull off the grip or remove the clip on handle? I have a replacement SG I can try.
To try another switchgear, you just need to unplug it (on the left side of the front head) -- no need to remove it for that.
Sorry, another stupid question but can someone clarify "left side of the front head"? Do I need to take off the tank because the cable from the switchgear is going under the tank.

User avatar
Cammo
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 4505
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:35 am
Bike owned: NC30
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Cammo » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:33 pm

The connector should be on the left hand side of the bike near the frame.

If it's running under the tank then someone has routed it incorrectly, best to investigate and do what it takes to remove it.
"It's just a ride" Bill Hicks

Shigsy
Settled in member
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:41 am

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Shigsy » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:04 am

magg wrote:To determine if the turn relay is faulty, disconnect the turn relay and link the black/red wire to the grey wire. When you set the turn switch to left and right, the associsated lamps should illuminate. If they do, then the wiring and lamps are ok and the relay must be faulty. If the lamps do not illuminate then there is a wiring/lamp fault.

Regarding the headlight issue, low beam does not work but high beam and high beam flash do work.
Thanks for that magg, exactly the kind of info i needed; I'm pretty useless with electrics. I'll give that a go one of the evenings this week to get to the bottom of the issue once and for all.

magg
Senior Member
Posts: 1913
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:55 pm
Bike owned: VFR400
Location: Blue Mountain NSW Australia

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by magg » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:34 am

Shigsy, after rereading my last comment regarding your headlight problem it my not be clear that I am asking a question. I was trying to establish the exact nature of the problem.

Also with your turn indicator problem you should check that the green wire at the turn relay has zero resistance to chassis earth.

Shigsy
Settled in member
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:41 am

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by Shigsy » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:53 am

Yep, low beam does not work but high beam and high beam flash do. Any ideas?

magg
Senior Member
Posts: 1913
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:55 pm
Bike owned: VFR400
Location: Blue Mountain NSW Australia

Re: Headlights wont work!?

Post by magg » Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:14 am

Is your NC30 a UK model with a low beam relay?

Post Reply