Headlight help

My headlight died while i was warming up my bike yesterday-everything else works fine-have power across headlight fuse-no power to headlight though-put in brand new bulb just to be sure-is there a headlignt unit or diode that could have died?Please help i still want to ride.I ran jumpers to the light and bulb does work.I ride a 85 maxim-x xj 750.Thanks for any help.

 

Check your left controls and see if you have power going through the wires. If you have power going to the switch, then check to see if you have power after the switch. Narrow it down.

If you don't have power going to the switch, then check the wires in the headlight bucket and make sure that you haven't gotten a wire that's gone bare.

dave F

 

Thanks Dave-i did check power at the switch and have none.I also checked the wiring behind the headlight and nothing looks bad.Could it be the ignition switch?Or maybe the wiring behind the fuse box?I do have the bladed type fuses.I also saw on a wiring diagram that there was a reserve light unit under the left side cover-could this be at fault?I tried wiggling the ignition and nothing happened.There is power across the fuse but not to the headlight or the left control.Thanks again for any help.John.

 

Do you have a wiring diagram? Just work back from the switch,. A sudden failure indicates an obvious problem. Visibly broken wire, or faulty component. Whenever you go from uice to no juice, that's your problem.

 

When you are sorting-out an electrical problem; it's best to have a 12V Test light to enable detecting if the circuit has current or not.

For a measly 10-Bucks, ... this one, made by CalVan is worth its weight in diamonds.

http://www.rjtool.com/automotive-tools/ ... an-72.html

 

Thanks folks-i do have a test light-thanks for all your help.When i get time i will test her out.Seems to me the problem is betweem the fuse panel and or ignition.I have to remove the guages and stuff to get at the wires and rear of fuse panel.Thanks again-will post when i figure it out.

 

Begin by replacing the Fuse Panel.
That might be the problem.

 

Rick, it's an X so should have the blade fuses already? That said, its still worth checking the contacts are clean.

Hope you're getting on OK by the way Rick, good to see you around here still

 

It's very helpful to have a wiring diagram. Another X owner had a similar issue and I'm not sure if you know that the Start Switch momentarily cuts the power to the Headlight and Meter lights when pushed. Go to Page 5 on the site link below, and read through what he found.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=3 ... rt=60.html

Here's an over view of the power flow: The circuit for the Headlight power is from the Battery to the Fuse Panel. With the key on it then goes through the "Headlight" fuse, then on to the Start switch, from there to the Dimmer Switch, then out to the Headlight (Low or High Beam).

If your Turn Signals and Horn work then you can eliminate a fault with the ground circuit for the Headlight because they use the same ground.

You don't have to be an electrical wiz to figure this out, just know how it works to see what component or connection is at fault.

Tony

 

Oh, yeah.
X-Bike.
Lucky you!!!

As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, ....

"Never mind!"

 

lol, I managed to miss an X in another thread last night too... I think we need to get more waterhead owners on here so they're not such a shock to the system when they do pop up

 

Thanks guys-it is an x-and does have the blade fuses-just need to find time this weekend to fix it-thanks again guys you are awesome-fyi snow here tomorrow-crap.

 

On this side of the lake, we just duct tape a three-cell Maglite to the handlebars and keep riding. :wink:

 

Thought about it-but it dont matter now we have a foot of snow now.