Headlight and speedometer troubles

Hey guys!

So just the other day my headlight, and lights to my speedometer stopped working. No big deal thought it was just a simple fuse. However I changed all of my fuses, and yet im still not getting any light! Bike starts and runs great so I know its not the battery..

Has anyone had an issue like this? Or does anyone know what the cause may be..?

Thanks in advance!

- Ben

 

I've been through this, too. I was restoring the bike and remodeling it, and in the process I did two things I'd suggest:

1. Clean up all the electrical connections everywhere, to get rid of all the corrosion. Even if it looks "ok," sand it down until it's shiny, or just replace the connection entirely. They're old enough to warrant it.
2. Replace the stock fuse box with a water-tight, sealed case fuse box for blade style fuses (ATC?). The reason being that the clips for the stock glass tube fuses have a tendency to fatigue and break without completely breaking off. I recommend one with 6 or more slots, so you can put spares in the un-used slots.

 

Something like this:

 

I went through this recently with my 750 Maxim. High beam light would come on, and would pulse in time with the engine revs, but no light... sometimes. Sometimes it would work perfectly. You'd think it was something in the "Atari" but no it was (drum roll please)...

Bad wiring/connector where the harness connects to the left handlebar controls (the set of controls with the high/low beam switch). If I start the bike and then reach under the tank and monkey with that connector, I can make the problem come and go.

Like BW says, DO replace the fuse block (if you haven't already) and DO check and clean your electrical connections. Check for voltage at the headlight terminals. Check for continuity across the high/low beam switch under the expected conditions. Use jumper cables to connect the battery directly to the headlight and make sure it works... *carefully!* (I have smaller moto jumpers that make this sort of goofy testing safer.)

And if all else fails, start the bike and wiggle and jiggle your wiring until you find the bad spot. :/

 

Third for replacing the fuse box, and here's a product link for you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VU9D1G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_

I just installed this myself. I'm glad I did, half the old fuse holders broke as I was taking them off. Darn thing was a time bomb!

Take your time with the placement if you go with that fusebox. I'm sure there are shorter ones there and while I was able to find a spot where the seat didn't mess with it, it might take some doing to get it placed properly. I can take a picture of my placement if you like.

Not that this will definitely fix your issue... but so long as you are messing with the wiring may as well take care of it.

 

What everyone is trying to say is, go slow, be thorough, and you will not have to keep chasing your tail to solve problems.

 

I have replaced the fuse box just recently.. thats why im afraid of this happening! I hate dealing with wiring. But it seems my best bet is going to be going through and cleaning all the connections..

Thank you all! I will keep updates on what I find the problem to be, for now it seems im only going to be day riding!

 

Any luck yet? I have the same problem.

 

Start your own thread please. You have the same symptoms, but that does not mean you have the same cause.

 

I still have original fuse boxes in all the Xj's that I have on the road

 

So I found the problem! It seems one of the connection to the fuse box had become loose. All it took was a pair of pliers to tighten the connection!

 

Good deal. You may want to go ahead and inspect the fuse clips and replace them if any that feel brittle or have hairline cracks.