electrical short from water

[roadmap]

i have a red & white 160,000+ ,was cleaning the dirt off and somehow got water under the seat.
now the headlight does not come on with the key. i have other lights just when i go to start it everything goes goes dark. i see spark under the positive post.

i looking for maybe the starter relay. i checked all fuses,even the 30 amp all fuses check out, ok.
i am at a loss, i need help

on the center plastic that holds the side covers the keyed lock, does it have a rubber washer it , i think was big to hold the key tightly in place.. i have been looking at parts fishce and not seem to locate any good picture ,,
i

[Bighead]

Check tightness of battery cable and ground the ground at the frame if that doesn’t do it check the kill switch.

[Jess from VA]

Not that it's a fix, but sometimes after a bike dries out fully, the problem self resolves.

[Jims99]

I would pull both battery cables and clean them. Doesn’t take much to do what you’re describing and water makes it worse. Get them cleaned and tighten back up. I would also do negative cable where it connects to bike. Try simple things first.

[Chrisj CMA]

The solenoid is directly under the battery accessible on the right side behind the side cover. Check it!

[roadmap]

well i finely got the ground to the engine block cleaned.when it got to checking the relay the left side did not read any volts just to right side.  that did not find the answer but no clicking on the starter relay. i did find a replacement relay for $15.00 bucks. a little more checking first before i order anything.

now i did hear a clicking in the headlight case. the headlight does not work is ther some thing that keeps if from working and starting

[pancho]

Hey roadmap, pull the electrical connector on the top of the starter relay and take a look at it. Make sure it is not burned at any of the connections.

[Ramie]

well i finely got the ground to the engine block cleaned.when it got to checking the relay the left side did not read any volts just to right side.  that did not find the answer but no clicking on the starter relay. i did find a replacement relay for $15.00 bucks. a little more checking first before i order anything.

now i did hear a clicking in the headlight case. the headlight does not work is ther some thing that keeps if from working and starting

Sounds like start switch which bypasses headlight when starting.

https://web.archive.org/web/20180326122928/http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html