HID light stopped working

[Ajeman]

Morning all,

I have a small issue with the lights on my 06 'Bird.

Went out last night and as it was getting dark I noticed that there wasn't much light in front of me. Sure enough I only had sidelights and my dipped beam was not working. I flicked to high beam and that wasn't working either.

Strangely, if I use the 'flash' switch the main beam works??

I have a HID dipped beam (Fitted when I brought the bike) and I've just swapped the high beam for a Phillips ultra-bright bulb (Don't know if this would do anything to the dipped beam)

Any idea's as to what's gone? My first guess is obviously the bulb has gone but wondered, as its a HID bulb, if there is something else I should look at first?

Also, why would this affect my high beam? could it be a relay that's gone? or something else?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to be randomly replacing parts hoping that it fixes the issue.

Regards,

Alex

 

[CBRDEAN0]

Morning all,

I have a small issue with the lights on my 06 'Bird.

Went out last night and as it was getting dark I noticed that there wasn't much light in front of me. Sure enough I only had sidelights and my dipped beam was not working. I flicked to high beam and that wasn't working either.

Strangely, if I use the 'flash' switch the main beam works??

I have a HID dipped beam (Fitted when I brought the bike) and I've just swapped the high beam for a Phillips ultra-bright bulb (Don't know if this would do anything to the dipped beam)

Any idea's as to what's gone? My first guess is obviously the bulb has gone but wondered, as its a HID bulb, if there is something else I should look at first?

Also, why would this affect my high beam? could it be a relay that's gone? or something else?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to be randomly replacing parts hoping that it fixes the issue.

Regards,

Alex

I would guess that the right hand switchgear is the problem.
I know you don't have a headlight switch on the 06 bikes but there are still contacts in there.
Usual trick is to open the switchgear and use electrical contact cleaner.

Also popular to scrap the 06 switchgear and swap to an earlier one with a switch ( kinder to the HID and electrical system cos you switch lights on AFTER starting the engine )

 

[andyBeaker]

That is exactly the symptoms I had many years ago.......

The first thing I would do is check the charging circuit - may sound bizarre but that was the root of my problems. Instructions are at the top of the Help section, it is all pretty straightforward but just shout if this is uncharted territory.

Has the loom fix been done? If not get that sorted, avian instructions in the same place and pretty straightforward. While this may not solve your immediate problem it is a common source of electrical problems on the Bird - the worst it can do is avoid A problem in the future.

The bulb is easy to check with a multimeter - just set to 'circuit/continuity' and put a probe on each of the spade terminals on the bulb. A circuit should complete.

Don't mess with the HID with the ignition on as there is the possibility of a large jolt if there are any dodgy connections. The HID should just unplug from the original light bulb holder - replace it with a bulb and see what happens. If it lights your HID may have fried itself, but it could be that the HID is not receiving a big enough jolt to fire it up initially; hence the possibility of a charging problem.

Presumably your Bird does not have an on/off switch for the lights? If so then the HIDWill only fire when you start the bike.. At which point the starter is taking tons of juice.... Hence the possibility of a weak charging circuit which, sadly, is all too common on Birds.

Might be worth giving the battery a good charge and see if the HID fires on start up......... Which should work, but only if the battery is in good health......which it probably won't be if it is a charging issue.

Don't panic if it is a charging issue, it is pretty straightforward to replace the generator and/or reg/rec and/or battery, although it will cost somewhere around ?200 for the parts; JAWS sells upgraded parts and is highly recommended. IF it is charging issue, then personally I would replace all three components - assuming OEM they are ten years old - although there are others who favour a more selective approach.

Keep posting.....

 

[andyBeaker]

I would guess that the right hand switchgear is the problem.
I know you don't have a headlight switch on the 06 bikes but there are still contacts in there.
Usual trick is to open the switchgear and use electrical contact cleaner.

Also popular to scrap the 06 switchgear and swap to an earlier one with a switch ( kinder to the HID and electrical system cos you switch lights on AFTER starting the engine )

Totally agree, above was posted while I was tapping my response:-0)

 

[Ajeman]

Thanks for the quick reply's.

There is not a switch for the lights as they come on automatically, but I'm sure they come on with the ignition and not when the bike is started (Although I've not really paid too much attention to it)

I tested the charging system a couple of weeks ago and all was well, but I'll test again to confirm. I'll also test the bulb for continuity too.

I believe the loom mod has been done as I cant find a connector block anywhere on the LHS of the bike, but will have a closer inspection.

Is it difficult to open up the switchgear on the RHS??

Regards,

Alex

 

[BanditSid]

I would check the starter switch, the lights are fed via that so they switch off when you start the engine......mine stopped working and it was the starter switch that needed cleaning.

 

[andyBeaker]

Thanks for the quick reply's.

There is not a switch for the lights as they come on automatically, but I'm sure they come on with the ignition and not when the bike is started (Although I've not really paid too much attention to it)

I tested the charging system a couple of weeks ago and all was well, but I'll test again to confirm. I'll also test the bulb for continuity too.

I believe the loom mod has been done as I cant find a connector block anywhere on the LHS of the bike, but will have a closer inspection.

Is it difficult to open up the switchgear on the RHS??

Regards,

Alex

It should be pretty straightforward, just a couple of screws.

Ooh er missus!

But definitely worth as suggested above getting a tin of contact cleaner and finding somewhere to blast a good dose in. Marlins and halfords sell it, latter probably at twice the price".....

The lack of switch is not ideal when HIDS fitted, so replacing with an earlier model switch is a good idea either way.

 

[andyBeaker]

From memory the useless earth block is just behind your left heel,,really can't remember if you need to remove any plastic to see it. Even if it has been done you will see a load of wires disappearing into a big blob covered in insulating tape. Unless it has been done properly, in which case it will be self amalgamating tape:-0)

 

[ianrobbo1]

Hiya, on later bikes the loom block has been moved and it may be either further back toward the rear light or even on the other side, it's worth taking the rear fairing off and having a good look/feel along all the wiring in there. though I agree the actual problem may well be on the handlebars @tu*

 

[lumpy]

HID bulbs show continuity?

 

[noobie]

But definitely worth as suggested above getting a tin of contact cleaner and finding somewhere to blast a good dose in. Marlins and halfords sell it, latter probably at twice the price".....

Big fish now sell contact cleaner?

 

[andyBeaker]

All I will add is that the symptoms as described are exactly what happened on my FI the first time the charging circuit played silly burgers. The fact that the 'flash' still works is a clear memory, and I was running Both lights on HIDS.

Hopefully it is the switchgear though.

 

[Ajeman]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the info. It was the starter switch in the end as I have given it a wiggle the light came back on. Unfortunately I had stripped the back end before checking the switch. :bang:

Also, I can't find the connector block to do the loom fix so I'm guessing it's already been done?

Thanks again.

Alex