Good day all,
I ve introduced myself at the "Introduction" forum. I'm on holidays in North Bay Ontario, Canada. Its SNOWING today.!!! But that is not why I come to you with "hat in hand". Per subj, Im having trouble with my lighting. Last night I went out to start the bike to go home. She fired up nicely but the headlight and instrument panel did not light up. I looked for and found the small fuse box next to the battery, all the fuses are good. I checked all the signal lights and they switch on fine. I checked the brake light works well, it stays on and brightens up when the brakes are used so its good. I dont have a manual with me yet as I just got the bike 4 days ago. So how do I fix this??
Your thoughts solicited and welcome.
Dan
Did I say ITS SNOWING? and expecting 15 - 20 cm!?!!?!?!?!!?
Is the starter button fully releasing?
Randy T
Indy
maybe a bad relay? or a bad ground?
That's something i didn't think of. I will have to check that when I get into town. The bike is at my sons home. I know the starter motor is disengaging once the engine starts. So you are implying that the switch can get stuck such that the starter motor releases but does not allow the relay or what ever to let the headlight return to on after starting? Is this a common fault?
Dan
Quote from: Signaller on April 20, 2011, 10:03:40 AM
That's something i didn't think of. I will have to check that when I get into town. The bike is at my sons home. I know the starter motor is disengaging once the engine starts. So you are implying that the switch can get stuck such that the starter motor releases but does not allow the relay or what ever to let the headlight return to on after starting? Is this a common fault?
Dan
it can and has happened..... you may just be able to pull the starter button back out with your fingernail and or it may need to be taken apart and cleaned.
KOokaloo!
Irishluck,
Where would the relay be for this symptom? Where would the ground fault be if all other lights work?
My money is on the starter button too. When in doubt, let Occam's Razor sort it out.
Dan
What about the obvious one first, that maybe the bulb has blown?
My 85 had a headlight stop working.On the 85 the headlight fuse is on the left inner fairing.I had a fuse that beeped when I did a continuity test but was bad anyway.Fuse checked good but when I changed it my hedlight and dash light came back.
I think its the fuse or fuse holder.
Dan,
What is "Occam's Razor"? and how do you use it? I have a feeling this is a joke and Ive missed it.
FJ111200,
The complete symptom is that the instrument lights don't come on either. Would a "blown" bulb lead to lack of instrument lights? Also its been my experience (read limited) that if the bulb has a failure then you would lose high or low beam but rarely both, But in your favour, this is an older bike so I guess that there could have been a power spike somewhere and perhaps over loaded something.
All,
So far I like the "Sticking Starter button" solution. I hope my wife gets back soon so I can go into town to check this out. Thanks for your input. I will follow up with results ASAP.
Dan.
Quote from: Signaller on April 20, 2011, 11:03:06 AM
Would a "blown" bulb lead to lack of instrument lights?
No. Starter button stuck is the problem - happens to most all of us.
Quote from: Signaller on April 20, 2011, 11:03:06 AM
Dan,
What is "Occam's Razor"? and how do you use it? I have a feeling this is a joke and Ive missed it.
No joke, Occam was a philosopher/ Minimalist want to be physicist.
Occam's Razor/ (also sometimes called 'Occam's Knife'): Basically states that the simplest explanation (least number of assumptions) is usually the correct/ best one -all things being equal. It is a fancy way of describing the KISS model.
If you have any more interest, read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%E2%80%99s_Razor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%E2%80%99s_Razor)
Dan
Bet a beer :drinks: that its the starter button. Quick fix is to spray some contact cleaner/carb cleaner in there and blow it out with some compressed air. When you get some time, take it apart and give it a good cleaning.
Cheers...Jake
ps: I am fond of Sleemans Draft....... :biggrin:
Meh. Take it apart, it's easy to get to and like two screws. Give it a good cleaning anyhow, it's certainly not going to hurt, and then you're assured that it isn't the problem when troubleshooting thereafter.
Occam's razor is only questioned by a mister Einstein: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
I had an FJ mostly disassembled for this very reason. Finally the light bulb went off in my head. It was a sticking starter button.
Start with the easy stuff and get complicated from there.
DavidR.
In case it's not the starter button, change the fuse. I've seen a lot of fuses that "looked" good and would light a test light/meter on both sides but were unable to flow enough current to operate the circuit. They blow 99% when overloaded and leave a minute bridge of material to fool you. Did your headlight bulb short internally and cripple the fuse or is it a wiring chafe somewhere?
Hey folks,
No news yet on the fault. My wife got back late from work (one car family) and I wasn't able to get into town. MTF tomorrow.
Dan
Randy T.,irishluck, racerman 27410, Dan Filetti, FJ111200, Flying Scotsman, Marsh White, Jake, andyb, SlowOldGuy(DavidR.), carsick,
I want to thank all of you for replies to my question. For all those who said that it was a "sticking starter button problem" I owe you a beer. I will be taking the start button apart for cleaning when it gets warmer. I feel much less panicked now.
See you on the wild side.
Dan
Good news Dan.. :good2:
not bragging but there aren't too many issues with the FJ that we haven't seen many times before. :hi:
KOokaloo!
Frank
Quote from: Signaller on April 21, 2011, 04:31:50 PM
For all those who said that it was a "sticking starter button problem" I owe you a beer.
Dan
Alright! :i_am_so_happy:
Mackeson XXX, please... heh.
Just kiddin... show up at a rally, and I'll get YOU one...
Randy T
Indy
Dan. Glad you got it sorted. :good2:
Went through the whole process last year on my buddy's 85. We had switches apart, different bulbs, ready to tear the whole harness apart until someone was reading the troubleshooting section of the shop manual and mentioned the starter switch. Then a light bulb went off in my head. I remember reading on here that the starter switch is prone to sticking and causing all kinds of headaches. Simple fix.
That is what makes this group so special. :yahoo:
Safe ride home Monday.........
And for the beer, we will have to sort that out this summer.... :drinks:
Cheers...Jake
Good stuff!
Glad to help.
Dan