Help withHeadlights

[reiobard]

Keira's Headlights are working when they feel like it...

Worked fine all the way from 2005 until last night, left bike night last night and they were on for about 50 yards out of the entrance and stayed off the entire way to chinese food last night, then would not come back on. Took the bike partially apart and checked fuses (they were fine) then fulled the bulbs and checked them (also fine), while the bike was apart they were working again and i thought (magically fixed = Great) put the bike back together and they were still on, so i went to park it and they shut off on the way to the parking spot and would not come back on for anything...

Went to leave after dinner and take the bike to a friends house to leave it there since we didn't want to ride 1.5 hours at night without headlights and low and behold they were working when we left so we decided to chance it and took the bike home and they stayed on the whole ride home and then they worked riding to manchester this morning.

When they are off there is no high beams, no low beams, and no high beam indicators and everything else works, the pod lights come on, directionals work, gauges work, brake lights work, even the heated grips (installed 2 years ago so no recent fiddling with the wires) even worked still.

Ideas? they are working now, but it would be bad if we lost them at night again.

Bike is an '05 SV650S

Thank you in advance

[klepsta]

Maybe the connection at the high beam switch? Take the switch assembly off, check the connections and use some dielectric grease when putting it all back together. Just a thought?

[bigred875]

pinched wire near the stem? Happened on a friends zx7r. turn it on and move the bars lock to lock...wiggle the wires in the area around a bit.

[slammp]

yeah I would agree. probably a loose connection or pinched wire. The other thing to do is check each snap connection and wrap them end to end with electric tape to keep them firmly together. Then just secure everything good when you put it back together - something is wiggling around and causing this.

[stoinkythepig]

Does this bike only turn on the headlights after the starter button has been pressed (like a Kawasaki)? If so, it's probably a bad relay.

[Hauptman]

headlights come on with key turn on the SV

[BostonSVkid]

First gen lights stayed on whether you hit the starter or not. The second gens are on if the keys on but not sure if it shuts off when you start the bike.

Well obvously the both lights are going out so I would check the upper wiring harness connectors and see if the wire has come loose or the connector is loose.

There is a connector that goes from the main harness to the headlights, blinkers, and running lights. My guess is your problem is right there. Or maybe some water got in there.

[akira700]

Funny you say this because I have the same exact issue only its not intermittent. I researched this and now have the hunch that its
your head light relay. Its on your harness somewhere under the
upper cowling.

I just spent about 2 hours futzing with stripped screws trying to
get to mine.

see this:
Headlight Probs : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net

my bet you replace it and your good.

[Hauptman]

headlight relay is probably right...those connectors just hand behind the plastic gauge cover.

[reiobard]

thanks, i am tearing into it (as little as possible tonight) is there a good way to test the relay? or just replace it and hope? Where as it it working it is going to be really hard to know when it is fixed...

I hate fixing things when they aren't acting broken...

[BostonSVkid]

Personally I think if its working off and on its not a relay. Relays tend to just go bad.

[mzdagrl]

hey thanks for all the insight into this, guys. for another update, i have been cruising around manchester all day (short hops and longer runs) and haven't had an issue.... we'll dig around in there tonight and see what's up. anyone have a cell# that they wouldn't mind giving out (via PM) if we run into problems?

btw, thanks jnm for helping rob light my way last night. i get a touch of night vision that's emphasized even more with no headlights. it was much appreciated.

[Jaynnus]

Personally I think if its working off and on its not a relay. Relays tend to just go bad.

they do tend to just go bad, but there is always an exception. I had one that worked intermittently on my fan for a while...


Good luck Rob (and Keira), I hate electrical problems.

[beet]

I like highbeamers

[akira700]

Man I'd be in a better mood to enjoy that post, if
all the work I just spent over the last 2 days, meant I'd have
working headlights to show for it.

FUCK

New headlight relay installed and still no low beams no highbeams
and no blue light on the dash. Maybe its the switch on my bar?

Man you have to take alot of stuff off to get to that relay.
Think my next bike will be a Naked! Maybe a bicycle!

[butcher bergs]

Have we checked the switch itself? I'd do that before I looked at a relay or fuse.

Contacts or wires in the switch are more prone to fail because they are directly exposed to the elements.

Light spray of contact cleaner and some dielectric grease should do the trick.

If it's a broken wire, hit me up and I'll solder it back in the right way.

[akira700]

Have we checked the switch itself? I'd do that before I looked at a relay or fuse.

Contacts or wires in the switch are more prone to fail because they are directly exposed to the elements.

Light spray of contact cleaner and some dielectric grease should do the trick.

If it's a broken wire, hit me up and I'll solder it back in the right way.

Cool man thanks... I think I'll check the switch out next. Just figured that
the switch would fail by giving either low or high only. Guess I figured wrong.

Hope you have better luck Rob.

[BostonSVkid]

Cool man thanks... I think I'll check the switch out next. Just figured that
the switch would fail by giving either low or high only. Guess I figured wrong.

Hope you have better luck Rob.

I believe if you look at a wiring diagram that the power all passes through the switch whether hig or low so if there is a bad contact there then yah it wont work.

[akira700]

One more thing you may want to look at is
the Starter Switch...

When pushed in, most are designed to cut power to the lights to
reserve all your juice for cranking the motor.
I have heard that starter button can get faulty and
not allow power back to the lights even after button is released.
That's what I am thinking on my CBR right now.

[akira700]

Fixed... It was the starter switch... solder wore out on one wire
to it. She's all good now!

[reiobard]

Fixed... It was the starter switch... solder wore out on one wire
to it. She's all good now!

thank you for something else to look at, i have been lazy and busy and have not had a chance to look at it yet, but i will be sure to check that out as one of my first things.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Not sure if there's still an issue with the SV, but I have a headlight switch from an 06 you are welcome to have. The plug was cut off, so you'd have to solder/splice the wires from this switch to the plug end of your old switch though. But, it's free...

[mzdagrl]

thanks, i'll let you know. right now we are in a sort of holding pattern. getting ready to move is eating up all of our work-on-the-bikes time

[KB]

Either the bulb is bad or the connector is melted. If you ride during the day with your high beams on so cars can see you the plastic after years of this will actuall melt. Happened on my Superhawk and Jb's gixxa.

Start with the bulbs.

KB

[ZX-12R]

If you are still having the issue after you have settled down from your move, I can find some time on a weekend to help you track it down and fix it.