Electrical problem - Headlight and instrumentation lights are out

Signaller · April 20, 2011, 09:44:58 AM

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!?!!?!?!?!!?

rktmanfj · April 20, 2011, 09:50:33 AM

Is the starter button fully releasing?

Randy T
Indy

irishluck · April 20, 2011, 09:57:40 AM

maybe a bad relay? or a bad ground?

Signaller · 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

racerman_27410 · April 20, 2011, 10:06:13 AM

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!

Signaller · April 20, 2011, 10:07:52 AM

Irishluck,
Where would the relay be for this symptom? Where would the ground fault be if all other lights work?

Dan Filetti · April 20, 2011, 10:29:17 AM

My money is on the starter button too. When in doubt, let Occam's Razor sort it out.

Dan

FJ111200 · April 20, 2011, 10:31:22 AM

What about the obvious one first, that maybe the bulb has blown?

Flying Scotsman · April 20, 2011, 10:49:46 AM

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.

Signaller · 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.

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.

Marsh White · April 20, 2011, 11:25:08 AM

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.

Dan Filetti · April 20, 2011, 12:56:57 PM

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

Dan

jvb_ca · April 20, 2011, 01:53:39 PM

Bet a beer

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.......

andyb · April 20, 2011, 04:11:50 PM

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.

SlowOldGuy · April 20, 2011, 06:35:27 PM

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.

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Electrical problem - Headlight and instrumentation lights are out

rktmanfj

SlowOldGuy