headlight low beam failure

[robsonthejob]

Hi hope you can help both low beam lights have failed tried 1 different bulb from the car and swapped the low beam fuse no joy any ideas
? I'm guessing it's broken wires or cream crackered hi/lo switch .......

[greywolf]

The most typical problem on K5 or later models is the headlight cut out switch in the starter button housing. Less likely but still too common areas are the harness connector in the left side of the fairing an a smaller connector behind the radiator top shroud. The switch is farther down the line for failure possibilities. http://www.stromtrooper.com/information-vault/71046-headlight-problems.html

Such problems can be headed off by installing headlight relays but it's harder to fix after the damage is done.

[robsonthejob]

I had hids until recently I assume the switch can be bypassed to Check what's failed?

[greywolf]

What model year and size bike do you have?

[robsonthejob]

Its a 2004 DL1000, it has the old style fixed fairing but the new adjustable suspension / switch gear - IE you can't turn the lights off like the 2003 model.

I had HIDS running off a relay until just before xmas when the HIDS failed and the replacement set would not play ball so I reverted back to bulbs as I had run out of fettle time.

Is there a wire loop through the switch I can bypass to prove its the switch ?

PS this is low beam only not high beam, high beam works fine (that's I got home from work - wasn't too popular with the other motorists)

[greywolf]

If it is a K4, you don't have a headlight cutout with the starter button and the problem is elsewhere. Since the high beam works, the problem is elsewhere anyhow. Look for a brown heat discoloration around a blue/black wire in the large connector in the left side of the fairing or behind the radiator top shroud. If you have continuity on both sides of connector with that wire, the likely culprit changes to the hi/lo switch.

[Fat Rat]

On my K2 DL1000 the dipped beam didn't work, the culprit was the right hand connector in the image below.

[greywolf]

K4 and later Vees have one large connector in place of those two.

[robsonthejob]

Will Check fuse output and switch tonight if it ain't those then ill strip back the fairing at the weekend -tks folks !!

[greywolf]

Sometimes I forget the two beams are fused separately. It's a good idea to check. If it is the fuse, it will be the first time I've seen it reported as the problem.

[robsonthejob]

Power at the fuse so not the switch managed to get hand down In fairing wiggled the  connection and the low beam went off and on so I have the  culprit Just need to get the fairing off and hit it with a hammer