Electrical. HID headlight

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PC8 - fuse is good to HID headlight .

All other circuits from the PC8 are good.

I changed the HID ballast because I thought it had failed leaving me with no headlight.

I changed the HID bulb.

Still no headlight.

I really want to change to a LED Daymaker but will do that this winter and ask again for help.

[mark81]

is there an inline fuse in the wire harness to the ballast?  starter button dirty? corrosion in the plug?  do you have a standard bulb to plug in to test the system to see if its the bike or the added hid system.

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is there an inline fuse in the wire harness to the ballast?  starter button dirty? corrosion in the plug?  do you have a standard bulb to plug in to test the system to see if its the bike or the added hid system.

No inline fuse that I know of.

Starter button cranks 'er up no problem.

Can't use a standard bulb. I don't think it would do well with the increased current from the ballast.

[mark81]

plug the bulb in before the ballast.  did you have to cut the original plug off and hardwire to the ballast?  usually they plug into the original headlight plug as a signal to turn on and then get power from the battery to the ballast. that wire from the battery usually has an inline fuse.  at least thats the way the dozen or so setups ive installed on cars have worked

starter button has 2 separate circuits.  one is the headlight circuit that opens when pushed the other is the starter circuit that closes when pushed.  the light circuit may not be making contact when released even though the other side of the switch works fine and cranks the engine.

[mark81]

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Thanks Mark.

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This is the ballast I use and what came with the bike.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/302616226447

[WintrSol]

Where did you mount the ballast? In addition to it being powered through the starter switch, it is also susceptible to heat. I had mine under the cheek cover on the right side and, after letting it sit a few minutes after the engine was hot, it wouldn't light without much coaxing (press/release of the starter switch while engine ran). I moved it to the outside of that cheek cover, and it was a little better, unless that part of the bike was in full sun. After much tugging of wires, I got it mounted under the base of the headlamp, where it is both shaded, and away from the radiator; so far, no problems keeping it lit.

[mark81]

step 1 for me would be to find where the plug in the bottom right of the pic i posted is on your bike. should be in the headlight bucket but who knows what people are thinking when they cut up harnesses to add things.  see if you have 12 volts there. it is a 3 wire plug. one is ground. one is high beam power. one is low beam power. disconnect and check the bike side of the connector. quickest easiest way is plug in a standard halogen bulb if you have one available. if not you can use a meter but i think you had stated previously when you had similar issues you did not have one. if you have a problem there then i would check fuse under side cover and starter button then hi-lo switch.  if you have what you are supposed to there then you know the issue is in the added hid setup.  since you already swapped out the most common defective parts im leaning toward bike side issue

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No inline fuse between ballast and bulb.

Previous owner installed the HID system.

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Where did you mount the ballast? In addition to it being powered through the starter switch, it is also susceptible to heat. I had mine under the cheek cover on the right side and, after letting it sit a few minutes after the engine was hot, it wouldn't light without much coaxing (press/release of the starter switch while engine ran). I moved it to the outside of that cheek cover, and it was a little better, unless that part of the bike was in full sun. After much tugging of wires, I got it mounted under the base of the headlamp, where it is both shaded, and away from the radiator; so far, no problems keeping it lit.

I've had to replace a couple due to heat. The ballast is velcroed to the frame just in front of the right side of the gas tank.

[Fazer]

Mark--I just installed the Daymaker LED and it has quit working.  It was fine when first installed about two weeks ago, failed once afterward, came back on and has now been out for a couple of days.  I have a Bons smart switch that I installed a couple of years ago that diverts power from the starter button.  Do you think a dirty start switch could be the reason my new LED is not coming on?  I checked the fuses, all seem good.  Haven't taken the lamp out yet--with the new Woody fairing, I have to take the front of the faring off to get the headlamp retainer ring off, which is one of the reasons I went with the Daymaker--longer life.  I plan to get into it a little more on Saturday.

[Fazer]

Britman--sorry to hijack your thread.  I can move to a separate post if it gets too much attention.

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Britman--sorry to hijack your thread.  I can move to a separate post if it gets too much attention.

I don't mind. i may learn something.

Pissed at the headlamp not working and not in the right frame of mind to F with the starter switch i spent 2 hours polishing chrome.

Now I feel I got something accomplished.

I'll ride this weekend with the 2 spots on the light bar.

[WintrSol]

Where did you mount the ballast? In addition to it being powered through the starter switch, it is also susceptible to heat. I had mine under the cheek cover on the right side and, after letting it sit a few minutes after the engine was hot, it wouldn't light without much coaxing (press/release of the starter switch while engine ran). I moved it to the outside of that cheek cover, and it was a little better, unless that part of the bike was in full sun. After much tugging of wires, I got it mounted under the base of the headlamp, where it is both shaded, and away from the radiator; so far, no problems keeping it lit.

I've had to replace a couple due to heat. The ballast is velcroed to the frame just in front of the right side of the gas tank.

So, directly above the hot radiator. That's where mine was, and heat is why I moved mine forward.

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Where did you mount the ballast? In addition to it being powered through the starter switch, it is also susceptible to heat. I had mine under the cheek cover on the right side and, after letting it sit a few minutes after the engine was hot, it wouldn't light without much coaxing (press/release of the starter switch while engine ran). I moved it to the outside of that cheek cover, and it was a little better, unless that part of the bike was in full sun. After much tugging of wires, I got it mounted under the base of the headlamp, where it is both shaded, and away from the radiator; so far, no problems keeping it lit.

I've had to replace a couple due to heat. The ballast is velcroed to the frame just in front of the right side of the gas tank.

So, directly above the hot radiator. That's where mine was, and heat is why I moved mine forward.

One of the reasons I'm going to change to a LED headlight this winter.

[Bighead]

Mark--I just installed the Daymaker LED and it has quit working.  It was fine when first installed about two weeks ago, failed once afterward, came back on and has now been out for a couple of days.  I have a Bons smart switch that I installed a couple of years ago that diverts power from the starter button.  Do you think a dirty start switch could be the reason my new LED is not coming on?  I checked the fuses, all seem good.  Haven't taken the lamp out yet--with the new Woody fairing, I have to take the front of the faring off to get the headlamp retainer ring off, which is one of the reasons I went with the Daymaker--longer life.  I plan to get into it a little more on Saturday.

You can get the retainer ring off without taking the front of the fairing off. At least I can on mine.it is tight but can be done.

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F.F.S.   
Packed bike ready to leave for an overnighter.

Started it.

No f'ing spot lights.

Flipped the switch a couple of times. NOTHING.

Last night after chrome polishing I checked all the lights and everything was OK.

I've also had to lose my payment for a cabin in Tellico Plains.

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Spots are on a different circuit to the headlight.

So I'll check fuse to start and then if that doesn't fix it I'll push the bike off a cliff and be done with it. 

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Rear run lights are out as well.

Cliff is getting nearer.

[Bighead]

Rear run lights are out as well.

Cliff is getting nearer.

Nah it will be something simple when yku find the source.

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Pulled fuse for light bar yesterday morning.
Looked fine.
Put it back in hey presto light bar worked.
Went riding and got back home this afternoon.

Now to see why rear running lights aren't on.

[mrtlc]

Dang!! I have a cliff to push it to.

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A quick search on the tech board tells me that the bike does not have rear running lights. 1998 Tourer.

Correct?

[indybobm]

Correct, unless someone has added something like the Signalminder SM3. Then you get another bunch of connection problems.

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Correct, unless someone has added something like the Signalminder SM3. Then you get another bunch of connection problems.

There is a beeper for the turn signals. That's still beeping. Fitted by a previous owner and also wired to the PC8 Big Bill fitted for me last year.

[Ken Tarver]

Britman

Check ground?

Ken

[mark81]

Britman were you able to do any voltage checks to narrow where the problem is?
Fazer yes the start button could cause your issue as well. I'd lean more toward a defective light given how recently it has been installed or a poor connection since it is an intermittent issue.  Give me a call or shoot a text and I can bring some electrical diag tools up to your shop and help you pinpoint the problem and get it fixed.

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Y'all crack me up.

Me with a voltage meter is like giving a Texas graphing calculator to an octopus.

Somethings gonna get messed up.