Head light Problem

i Have only a couple more things left of the RAD and im trying to figure this one out


the head lite works but only when it wants to

the head light does not come on when i start the bike

the battery has a full charge

when the head light does decide to come on its when i shut off the bike

when i try to turn the bike back on when the head light is on it turns off

i have another wire harness i think it might be the head light relay

 

I think you might be right.

 

certainly sounds like a bad relay to me

 

The headlight will come on when you turn the ignition key off or when you kill the engine with key on?

Sounds like it could be the relay. Worth a try if you have a spare.

 

when i kill the engine it comes on when it wants too not all the time it comes on

 

OK thought you might have bigger issues

Sounds like the relay. The relay coil is powered by the generator so it does not close until the engine spins enough to energize the coil. Once it closes it is "latched" by feeding the 12v to the coil through a diode.

So you could have a flaky relay or some wiring issues. Relay is the easiest first guess...

 

The XJ650s use a diode to trigger a relay. If the RAD works the same way it could be either of them.

 

First thing to check with an intermittent fault is the earth.

 

I looked outside wiz the earth looks fine to me :lol:

Sorry could not resist ....

 

Surprised you can see it under the snow, Bill. :wink:

 

c'mon Wiz, thats cold!

 

well im looking at the wiring diagram, and i dont see a relay for it. i see a diode, and that's it. ill try to up load the wiring diag, to see if you guys can show me some thing that i cant find hopefully.

its in a zip 8O

 

I don't see a relay either. Looks like it is supposed to go on and off with the ignition key best I can tell from a quick look.

I'd start checking connections including the "earth"

 

# 34 is the diode

 

ill also try to get the key for when these are on here if you dont already know

 

I took a closer look - yes 34 is the diode block but I don't see any usage in the headlight circuit. Looks like #6 is the head light. For some reason the Headlight fuse goes to the kill switch connector, the jpeg is a big blurry to really figure out what goes where.

#15 is the ignition switch 3 is the hi/low switch, 17 the kill switch, 18 the starter and 4 the horn

Can you get a clearer schematic?

 

it says under the allowed extension is unlimited but then i try to send it says file extension to big what gives?

 

PM'd you my email address

 

email sent

 

Steve when the key is on 12v goes though the headlight fuse - to the start switch - to the hi/low switch then to the headlight.

This means your headlight should go on when you turn on your key. It will go out when you depress the start switch to give you more cranking power and back on when you release it.

Given it's flaky nature I would be looking at the entire circuit but start with the starter switch. I'll bet the normally closed connection is corroded or something.

Another thing to look at is the fuse panel. You may have read here the originals get old and will give you a lot of strange issues. You should replace it if you have not already.

Let me know if you need some help. I can give you the wire colors off of the schematic and debug tips if you need them.

The one you emailed is much easier to read

 

Bill is now an earth child. :lol:

 

Well the problem is still there. i also now noticed that the instrument cluster like the RPM gauge light and the MPH light is not working. when the head light comes on they come on and when the head light goes off they go off hmmmm

 

Here are a couple of different wiring diagrams that may help:

http://members.tripod.com/dave_jack/wiringdiag/d2a.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/dave_jack/wiringdiag/d2b.jpg

From the looks of it, power comes out of the headlight fuse to the relay. When a sufficient voltage is sensed on the white wire at the relay, it will latch allowing power to continue on to the intrument lights and the headlight dimmer switch. The dimmer switch then directs the power to either the low beam filament or the high beam filement and the high beam indicator light on the dash.

Now, if the voltage on the white wire isn't sufficient to energize the latching coil inside the headlight relay (yes, you should have one), the headlight and dash lights won't light. This may also be caused by a worn out relay. The diode is contained within the headlight relay. It prevents power from going the wrong way out of the relay. In other words, it acts to hold the relay in the latched position once the relay has been latched. The relay allows power to flow from the headlight circuit through the latching coil, but only after the latching coil has pulled the latching circuit closed. This is why your headlight stays on after you shut the bike off with the kill switch. (Note: Turning the key off will kill both circuits and will let the headlight shut off.)

To test:
With the key on, check for battery voltage on the Red/Yellow wire at the headlight relay. If you have battery voltage, continue on. If you don't, you'll need to inspect the wiring, connections, fuse box, etc. for defects.

With the key on, apply 12v with a jumper wire to the white wire entering into the relay. This should cause the relay to latch and all the lights should now be lit and remain lit after the jumper wire is removed. If not, either the latching coil is no good, or the ground for the relay is bad. The ground wire is colored black. You should measure battery voltage between the battery positive terminal and the ground wire. If you don't inspect and clean all your grounds and connections and retest. If your voltage test passes, use a continuity tester and check the latching coil. You should have continuity between the terminals that go to the white and black terminals. If you don't, the relay is bad. As this is an intermittent problem, you may need to test this right sfter a failure to confirm a problem exists.

Good luck!

 

i found out the problem that the head light was not coming on it was the starter button pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff :twisted: ffffffff

 

Hmm didn't I suggest that a few days ago?

Glad you found it. The instrument lights are controlled the same way so them going on and off with headlight is no surprise