Headlight/Indicators Not working?

Alright, weird one (at least to me)

Drove to work, everything went fine. Finished my shift, started the bike, and noticed I had no headlight or light behind speedo/tach. Checked fuses, large visible wires, didn't see anything lose and/or blown.

Turn/tail/brake still work fine.



What's my next step? I haven't dealt with electrical on these beasts before, so I'm lost.

If it's something stupid like a bulb, I shall mock myself mercilessly. Mostly becuase I have no clue how to change the bulb on these headlights..

 

I have an 82 xj650rj and in the wiring diagram the one thing that looks common between the headlamp and the two dash bulbs is the headlight relay.
Could be something to look at.
Test the bulb with a multi meter first and make sure it is good.

 

Plug/socket inside the headlight bucket may need a good clean

 

What model bike?

 

I'd check the fuse with a meter as well. It's not common but a fuse may look ok but still bad.

 

Bikes is an 92 Xj650, stock headlight.

I'll pull it apart when I get home for the night from work, see if I can find anything.

I've never delved into the headlight before, as I've heard it's a mess of wires and sadness once you open it, so I don't know what to expect. Are these bulbs just a standard replacement I could pick up at my local Napa like a car headlight, or am I ordering a part?

If I'm ordering, I'd like to get the ball rolling to have a spare anyways, and I could do that here.

 

They didn't make xj650's in '92.

 

Bah, you're right. And I evidently shouldn't type a message before I've had my second cup of coffee.

82 XJ650.

 

On my X, when the starter button is pushed, the lights go out. If the button doesn't come all the way back out, the lights don't come back on even though the bike is running and the starter is not engaged. First time it happened to me was very puzzling indeed, solution was to clean and grease the button.

 

Mine don't even come on when the key is turned. I'll take a look at the button when I get home. Thanks!

 

I have an 82 xj650 and the head light as well as the dash lights will not come on until the engine is running.
Only the taillight comes on with the key turned.
The brake light (if actuated) will work and so will the signals with the key on and engine not running.

 

Good to know. I could have swore that the headlight came on with the key originally, but I could be mistaken.

I do know, however, that as she sits now, the headlight just doesn't work, regardless. I discovered that at 3 Am, when I needed to drive it home after work across approx 2 miles of busy streets full of drunks.

Luckily, I called dispatch, and they sent a patrol car that allowed me to follow them home. Otherwise, black bike + black coat + black helmet + night = sadness. no matter how many reflectors.

 

I show the headlight wiring as Black, Yellow, and Green. Black being the ground of course, which goes to a great many instrument lights and the Off/Run switch, and turn signals and tailight. So if any of those work your ground is probably ok. Yellow is high beam and goes into hi/lo switch and high beam indicator light. Green wire goes to hi/lo switch.
Blue wire from tailight goes into on/off (key) switch which in turn goes into a solid red wire to fuse and then direct to battery. There's actually two or three fuses that could cause a no headlight/tailight condition. Yep, check the continuity across each fuse. check harness ground under tank at ignition coils. check main ground from battery to engine block and then from engine block to chassis.
and have fun.

 

Perfect, I will do all that this evening.

Question though: is this headlight bulb a small halogen replacement I've seen on some other later model japanese cruisers, where I just pull of the basket, undo the small circle retainer, and replace like I would a car headlight bulb, or do I actually need to replace the entire front lense?

 

The ORIGINAL headlamp is a sealed-beam unit, like cars used to have.

Upgrading to a halogen lamp with a motorcycle-pattern reflector is a good idea; but unless somebody beat you to it, the stock lamp is a sealed beam. (Except for the 650 Seca which came with a "modular" light.)

 

I'm having this issue now but with the addition of the front turn signal not working when i have it selected to turn right, the rear turn signal turns on but stays on and doesn't flash. left turn signal functions properly. no dash lights, no headlight. i noticed in the previous few rides that i would start the bike and let it warm up and the dash/head lights wouldn't come on. id ride it around the parking lot and then they'd sputter on. also when id switch from regular to high beams they light would sometimes turn off completely but after a couple seconds switch to the high beam. haven't taken anything apart yet but getting ready to dive in. if anybody has come up with a solution id appreciate some direction.

thanks!

 

On the '82 650 maxim the dash and tail light will light with the key in the "on" position. The headlight will come on when the start button is pushed (control switch in the run position). Imo with a fully charged battery and a multimeter test power through fuse box (brown wire) through flasher relay through hl bucket to left control switch. If you have power throughout you can start to isolate components and test for power. Electricals can be a pita. Imo don't assume a component is bad without testing. Hope this helps.

Gary H.

 

took a look at it the other day, looked at the fuse block and it was pretty rough. went to an auto parts place and got a new fuse block and some fuses, rewired it and it worked like a dream.