headlight mystery

[joefromperry]

I have a 2000 Interstate and have been using a Kisan PathBlazer modulator for a number of years now. All has been just fine. Then a couple weeks ago when we went to the Circleville picnic, I looked back at my bike in the parking lot and the headlights were on. The keys were in my pocket. The first thing I did was unplug the PathBlazer from the stock headlight pigtail. (The Kisan has one male connector that plugs into one of the stock female headlight connectors, and two females that go to the headlights; it has no power source of its own.) The lights remained on. I then removed the 5 amp headlight relay fuse, but the lights stayed on. The 15 amp headlight fuse was pulled, but the lights remained on. The only way I was able to get the lights off was to either remove a battery cable, or unplug each connector from the individual bulbs. I went back to the stock system, with no modulator connected. Kisan said the modulator could not have powered the bulbs, as it has no power source of its own. The other day I reconnected the modulator and went for a ride. Sure enough, the lights remained on with the key off. The modulator is now disconnected again. However my big question is how could the lights be on when the modulator was unplugged from the stock pigtail (the other stock one not plugged in either), meaning there was nothing from the Interstate's stock system connected? Even a stuck relay would have to be connected somehow, no? And if it's a sticking relay, which one would it be to replace? Thanks for any insights.

[sandy]

Pure Magic.     I'd like to hear the final solution to this issue.

[3W-lonerider]

a relay can stick..next time it happens. turn the key on..switch your lights to the opposite. say if their sticking on low beam..switch to high and turn the key back off and see if they go out..if they do i would suspect the low beam relay. which is in front of the battey down in that hole. between the battery and the tilt sensor. gotta remember..the number 30 post on a relay is always hot..86 will be your trigger in and 87 output.. when a relay is triggered it will connect 30 with 87. if it sticks..87 will still be powered up even though you have aliminated the trigger wire.
Come to think of it..if it sticks..and you switch to high you'd have low and high on at the same time. so switching to high and shutting the key off will still have low beam operating and being on.
I'm pretty sure on an i/s theres a low beam relay and a high beam relay. they should be beside each other.

[Ricky-D]

I would not dismiss out of hand that the problem could be with the key switch.

Certainly more intuitive investigation is needed to get to the bottom of this particular problem.

It will be interesting to hear of the correction of your lighting problem.

I agree it has nothing to do with the modulators.

***

[salty1]

Call a Kisan technician, they will help you figure it out.

[NCGhostrider]

I would suspect the key switch, but....he pulled the fuses, key switch problem or not, that should kill it????  But it might be worth looking at. 

It sounds like a wire or something has melted together and is providing current through it...or a ground fault has occured, and something is grounding through it perhaps, causing the lights to come on.

I would pull all fuses one at a time until it stops, if it does stop.  If that works, start chasing wires.

Any electrical accessories you have added would be suspect also.

Someone that is familiar with the starter/button switch problems might comment if they think it could occur there.   

I would leave the modulator out of line until you find the cause, then return it.  It will eliminate extra questions, and confusion, especially if you go somewhere for help.

Looking at the bike schematic probably would help too...

I am curious to see how this works out.

My .02

Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S <headlights go off with key switch, yea!

 

[NCGhostrider]

Any news on the repair yet??  I am curious...


Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S

[joefromperry]

Here's what is new since I posted the problem. The modulator (not a Kisan, which is in my other bike, not the Valk, but is a VisiPath) is out of the circuit and I haven't had a problem. My guess is that the modulator is bad. This particular modulator (VisiPath/Comagination) does have a battery connection. I have emailed Comagination multiple times, but get no reply as to whether a failed modulator would cause my symptoms. I was confusing the multiple bikes I have with modulators, some of which are Kisan, but not this one. Sorry that I didn't pick up on that until I tore everything apart. If/When I ever hear from the company, I'll let you know what they say.

[NCGhostrider]

Thanks for the update!!!   I am glad you found the problem, and it does make sense.  I couldn't reason any real scenario that would cause the lights to stay on.....  Guess it bothered me!!   

see ya,

Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S

[salty1]

Hope this firm helps you and stands behind their product.   

[joefromperry]

I finally got a reply from them and they offered to take a look at it if I send it to them. But it is out of warranty, so probably nothing else. I'll send it and see what they come up with.