Really simple headlight question

I have a 1982 XJ 550 Seca. Should my headlight come on when I turn the key to run before I press the starter button?

 

The headlight should be off till the engine started. It will stay on till the ignition is turned off.

 

stays off until starter spins motor fast enough to close relay ( bike does not need to start)

 

Thanks guys. I was trying to diagnose what I thought was an electrical problem. In the end it was me just being a knucklehead!

JB

 

Hi, my question is where does one go once the engine is running and there's still no voltage going to the socket? Relay? And if so, what should I be looking for at the relay? 12v and?

 

Check the fuse first (original fuse clips can crack with age and look fine, but not conduct, so check those too), then relay, then wiring.

The headlight relay is in different places depending on which XJ you have.

From: http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-ultimate-relay-switch-sensor-and-diodes-guide.27543/
Headlight Relay:

Location:
- on all XJ550 models: under the gas tank, in-between the frame tubes, on a welded bracket just behind the flasher self-canceller relay.
- on all XJ650 Maxim/Midnight Maxim/RJ Seca models: behind left side cover, below the TCI and Regulator-Rectifier unit.
- on all 1981-83 XJ750 Seca models: behind the left side cover, below the TCI and Regulator-Rectifier unit.

All other models do not use a headlight relay.

Identification:
- small metal "cube" relay, inked 3H5-00 on the top face.
- has a yellow (yellow) paint mark on the bottom terminal connector block.
- normally open; has an internal diode.
- plugs into a connector shell which has the following set of wires going to it:


The relay can be bypassed for testing purposes: http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/electrical-gremlins-headlight-relay.63436/#post-460696
If the headlight works when the relay is bypassed, then the relay is faulty.

 

Should be "Modern" blade fuses under bezel between gauges, unless the kid butchered those too.

 

Not

Only on a Maxim-X or the '84-on XJ750/700 Maxim, with the main fuse under the seat in a seperate holder (for the 700 airhead anyway). The rest have glass fuses under the seat (or under the right sidecover in the case of the XJ1100).

 

No it shouldnt

 

Oops..... Just saw k-moe answered already.

The 85-86 has the blades up in the cluster, as he said......along with the '84-up viragos since they all share the same basic cluster (with little differences.....black faces/white faces, temp gauge/no temp gauge.....oval indicator lights/round indicator lights......redlines, etc.............)

 

Blades test fine, jumping the relay harness yielded no noticeable results. Still no voltage at socket with/without engine running. (Fyi: 1985 xj700 x with blue relay)

 

My initial reply was to Morgan who has an 85 XJ700 X. For some reason he posted a question on the original posters thread and Morgans bike (if it's the one in his Avatar) should have blade fuses under the cluster, no?

 

1. If we assume he is talking about it, then yes blade fuses in the gauge cluster

2. The bike was not stated in his question, though…

3. We were answering the original question for the forum

4. This is exactly why we don't like threads getting hijacked