No Headlights

[StinkyPete]

Electrical stuff is quite a mystery to me, and on my ST1300 both high and low beam on my headlights have suddenly disappeared.

Position lights still OK
Tail lights and blinkers still OK
If I use the headlight flash rocker, both high beams and my spotties light up as per normal, but headlights don't work under normal running.
Spots are wired up with a relay on the high beam circuit.

Any ideas where to start??     

[Shiney]

Fuse?

[Gadget]

Relays?

Cheers,
Gary

sent using another of Gadget's gadgets.

[Brock]

Try giving the start button a clean, on start it turns the headlights off (on a majority of bikes)

[StinkyPete]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.   I got home late after a good day in the saddle, and will start checking stuff tomorrow.

[winston66]

I would suspect that the Hi Low select switch has developed some internal dirty contacts. Probably mainly due to water ingress and general grime accumulation.
I would en-devour to open the switch block and apply some spray electrical cleaner that is formulated as suitable and that will not attack (corrode) the plastic componentry.
Could probably be easily obtained from  one of your local computer repair and servicing type shops.
I got my last spray can of suitably formulated cleaner from the local Dick Smith retailer, Unfortunately that chain of retailers has now closed down, but you should be able to get something suitable from a local computer type supply retailer.
Good luck, Let us know how you go.
Cheers , Winston66, Northampton, Western Australia

[StinkyPete]

I would en-devour to open the switch block and apply some spray electrical cleaner that is formulated as suitable and that will not attack (corrode) the plastic componentry.
Could probably be easily obtained from  one of your local computer repair and servicing type shops.

Something like this...  https://www.jaycar.com.au/electronic-circuit-board-cleaner-spray-can/p/NA1008
Or this perhaps ....  https://www.jaycar.com.au/contact-cleaner-lubricant-spray-can/p/NA1012

[ST2UP]

Have you given the back of the globe where the 3 pin plug connects to the bulb a wriggle ?? The plug with the weight of the loom gets a little lazy and losses contact sometimes.....just a thought and worth a try 


 

[winston66]

Hi,Stinkypete,
I would go for the second one , (the cleaner and lubricant) , it says on the can, safe for most plastics.
(Not the circuit board cleaner)
Try some on a non critical surface first.
Also , under the front upper faring just behind and adjacent (beside) to the headlight  (I think it is on the RHSide, ) there is a large yellow connector in which there are multiple earthing wires jointed. A bad  earthing connection there would have strange and  varied effects on the electrical operations and integrity of any associated circuits.
Happy hunting,
Cheers Winston66

[StinkyPete]

It's all sorted and was simply a blown 10A headlight fuse, which was the simplest and first thing I looked at.   The passing flasher is on a separate fuse which is why that still worked.   In the seven years and 160,000km that I've had the ST, this is the first time I have needed to access the fuse panels.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.   

[Biggles]

It's all sorted and was simply a blown 10A headlight fuse, which was the simplest and first thing I looked at.   The passing flasher is on a separate fuse which is why that still worked.   In the seven years and 160,000km that I've had the ST, this is the first time I have needed to access the fuse panels.

Now there's an interesting feature!
If one had a blown headlight fuse, you could ride holding down (or taping down) the passing switch.  Fine so long as the blown fuse wasn't cause by a short somewhere near the headlights, otherwise you'd blow the second fuse.

Now...  what caused your fuse to blow?  That's the annoying thing.

[Wild Rose]

  That was an easy one Pete
I'm pleased you worked it out and something to remember if it happens to the rest of us 

[DBfive]

Fortunately didn't happen after dusk (I hope!) and glad the fault finding system worked.  Blade fuses are a bit easier to tell when they've gone.  On my CB750, which only has four glass fuses, the fuse can come adrift from the end cap and still look like it's good.  Except the bike doesn't go!  Answer is to always carry spares, about 6-10!!!

Cheers
DB

[Gadget]

Fuses are always the first place to start if the battery is known to be good.

Cheers,
Gary

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