IS Headlight problem

[Houdini]

Hey guys, my headlight is out after a few weeks of working on my IS.  I did spend a lot of time in my right side cover removing and/or replacing some non-stock wiring.  I assume my headlight worked when I started this project, but I didn't check it.  I did check and replace the fuses for the headlight and headlight relay, they both looked OK but I changed them anyway since they are probably original.  I downloaded the wiring diagram from Dag in Norway but the resolution is so bad I can't tell what the wire colors are.  I did not mess with anything in the fairing so nothing should be wrong there.

What can I check under the right side cover that may cause my headlight to be out?

[Chrisj CMA]

Both lights or just one?  If only one could just be the bulb

[Houdini]

Both lights or just one?  If only one could just be the bulb

Both lights, high and low beam, are out.  I'll pull 'em and check but seems odd that they'd both go at the same time.

[Ramie]

Here's a better wiring diagram.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/schematics/rpage04i.html

Check the connectors in the left & right sides.

[gordonv]

I lights went out at InZane last year. Turned out the head light modulator unplugged. I added a zip tie to hold it together.

This happened about 1000 miles after it was installed.

I would start with a meter on the wires.

[Houdini]

Both elements of both bulbs were burned out, I can honestly say that has never happened to me before.

I always think "why didn't you check the obvious thing before posting a question" when I see these posts, yet here I am, guilty of not checking the obvious thing.

Two Hella 55/100 Halogens are on their way from Amazon.

[Hook#3287]

Both elements of both bulbs were burned out, I can honestly say that has never happened to me before.

I always think "why didn't you check the obvious thing before posting a question" when I see these posts, yet here I am, guilty of not checking the obvious thing.

Two Hella 55/100 Halogens are on their way from Amazon.

Both bulbs?  So, what are the chances?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Both elements of both bulbs were burned out, I can honestly say that has never happened to me before.

I always think "why didn't you check the obvious thing before posting a question" when I see these posts, yet here I am, guilty of not checking the obvious thing.

Two Hella 55/100 Halogens are on their way from Amazon.

I wonder if you had some power surge or something to the headlights ? 4 filaments at the same time seems big odds.

[Jess from VA]

I'm with the Meatman.  That must have been some kind of big surge on that circuit. But if that circuit's fuse was not blown, then it's a huge mystery.

As far as I know, all of us with interstates lose the most often used low beam only, and one at a time.  I've never left a bulb in with a low beam gone long enough to lose a hi beam.

Twice, when I had the Big Bill Ferguson at my house for work, I had him take out and throw away old but working bulbs to replace with new (just because I get so aggravated doing that job myself).

You know Houdini, I've been running the Hella 80/100 bulbs in both interstates for years now, and had no issues at all with wiring, heat, sockets or early burnouts.  The fairing is well vented (and we have relays so the start button burnout with headlight circuit does not apply).  A lot of guys spend a lot of money adding more light to the front, and adding them away from the fairing to get the magic triangle is still a good idea, but the dual 80 low beams are pretty awesome, and properly aimed I never get flashed (though I ride at night very rarely anymore.... like only when late getting home or a moonlight ride up the Potomac one in a while in summer).  I do not run the brights constant ever, except maybe to flash other brights coming at me, or see deer or something.

At 80 X 2 = 160 watts constant, they do have more draw than 55 X 2 = 110 (or 120 on brights) constant, but that's never caused me any problem either.  Though I don't run a bunch of foofaraw electrical extras like heated seat, grips, elec. clothes/gloves, blueberries, blackberries, TVs, GPS, or any of that.  

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-H4-100-80W-Wattage/dp/B000COBLKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522791639&sr=8-1&keywords=hella+H4+80%2F100

They say off road, because they have to.  If I go off road, I've been in an accident.  (I have followed some guys out on dirt and gravel roads, against my better judgment.)



  

[Houdini]

I'm with the Meatman.  That must have been some kind of big surge on that circuit. But if that circuit's fuse was not blown, then it's a huge mystery.

It is a mystery, but not one I'm going to chase, my spare bulb worked so all is well for now.

You know Houdini, I've been running the Hella 80/100 bulbs in both interstates for years now, and had no issues at all with wiring, heat, sockets or early burnouts.  

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-H4-100-80W-Wattage/dp/B000COBLKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522791639&sr=8-1&keywords=hella+H4+80%2F100

They say off road, because they have to.
  

I looked at the 80/100 but was worried about overheating the wiring so I went with the 55/100; next time I'll order the 80/100.  The 55/100 said off-road use only also.

I'm thinking if I get the 80/100 I should probably get two of these also;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008DWPYO4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A1LGDXCZMXB2CW&psc=1


Cheap insurance.

[Savago]

As far as I know, all of us with interstates lose the most often used low beam only, and one at a time.  I've never left a bulb in with a low beam gone long enough to lose a hi beam.

I can confirm exactly the same behavior in my I/S: first one low beam goes off, then followed by its brother.

[Jess from VA]

I'm thinking if I get the 80/100 I should probably get two of these also;

Maybe a good idea (and for the price, why not?).  I just followed the advice of a couple others and used the OE wiring, and have had no problem for a number of years.  It gets hot in VA, but maybe not TX hot, and I won't ride in the mid to high 90s anymore, because my body/head doesn't like it (for long).  I've taken multiple long trips of all day freeways with the 80 lows running full time and no problems .  And any time I'm really stuck in traffic, I shut off and won't idle long (and this is probably worse than all day high speeds (and charging), but also high speed ventilation).

It may be that std H4 55/60s (Honda std is 45/45) will last longer, but I haven't found the 80/100s to be short lived.  Again, I don't run high 100s constant ever.  I ride little at night, and mine were put in principally for more daytime visibility to others, though I'm only guessing dual 80 low beams are brighter than dual 60 hi beams aimed higher.  At night, they can't be beat, short of running extra lights (or maybe some of those new LEDs with fans that I think are not just plug and play into the sockets).

My supervalk came with 35W (capable of 50 W) caliper mount Motolights (stupid expensive) (for daytime magic triangle running), and PIAA 1100X (35W but bright as 55W) spots bolted to the fork wings (much brighter than my old 55 lows) (for night time deer only), and I have been reluctant to run those constant with the full time 80s X 2, though I have run the Motolights with them from time to time, and again no problem.  Those are both on their own circuits and switches.

My bikes also sit on Battery Tender Jr's 24 X 7 X 365, when not riding or away from home.  Most of the time, it shines green (fully charged) on end of day riding plug in, but sometimes it's red (charging) for about a minute, before green comes on (and this predates using 80/100 bulbs).  Can't figure that out at all, but don't worry about it.