Author Topic: Dipped beam not working! (Read 5500 times)

Barbel Mick · « **on:** June 23, 2018, 08:36:59 »

Morning gents, come out to bike this morning to continue our trip and we've got no dipped beam, both sides. Have got headlight relays fitted but unplugged main feed & plugged bulb into that, main beam OK but no dipped, presume there is a separate fuse but which one please. Checked those obvious ones but they are OK. Is it hidden somewhere or have I not looked hard enough?
Thanks for any help.

PS will continue trip using spots & hope local gendarmes are OK with that so will pick up your replies at tea time.
Regards
Mick

hotbulb · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2018, 09:29:44 »

Looking at the (AL2)wiring diagram in Mr Haynes book, the "dip" fuse is with the others in the fuse box...number 2 fuse (15A)...number 1 (15A)is the main beam fuse. 3 (10A) is injection, 4(10A) ignition, 5 and 6 (both 15A) are turn signal/brake/taillight, and radiator fan respectively. hth

Gassoon · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2018, 09:49:49 »

and don't rely on just a visual check of the fuses Mick, try swapping the 'high' and the 'dip' fuses around to check, good luck!

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2018, 11:54:35 »

Stopped for lunch & got reception!! Thanks gents, have swapped fuses and dipped still not working.....main beam is! So not the fuse.

Anything else I can try later?

TLPower · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2018, 12:05:24 »

Switch, connector, broken wire or both bulbs then Mick. I'd change a bulb first.

tallpaul · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2018, 12:51:53 »

all the usual suspects right there.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2018, 12:57:51 »

Mick,

See about halfway down this thread for some pictures, they are from a 2002 Vee but I expect they are similar http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=23532.0

The connector hanging inside the left fairing is a likely suspect if it isn't a fuse. You may feel heat on the connector if the lights have been on for a while. This connector (like many on the V-Strom

) is prone to furring up, the heat is caused by the increased resistance.

I have had to cut wires and solder them together before when that connector is too far gone. The only good news is that it is easy to get to.

bigpie · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2018, 13:15:35 »

In a pinch away from home I'd swap the relay triggers round so that the high beam triggers the dipped beam or connect the relay trigger to 12v to bypass the bike wiring completely, but remember the second option will leave the lights on even without the ignition.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2018, 14:05:15 »

Thanks for the advice again. What I forgot to say earlier was I had bulb blow (dipped beam on n/side) 2 days ago, I didn't change it as I had a light and kept the good spare bulb just in case. This morning I noticed both dipped had gone. Put the spare in the off side and still nothing.
When I get to accommodation later I will try both sides and the connectors in the left fairing. I'll also read the thread Andy pinned when on the tablet.
What I haven't done is tried what I hope is a good bulb in the near side connector avoiding the h/light relays.ill try that as well later.
Thanks again
Mick
PS pissed down on us today, it was almost pleasant after the 30+° we've had all week!!!

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2018, 18:05:27 »

So far......swapped fuses, dipped still not working (main beam is) fuses OK!
Took the "auxiliary" headlight relays out of the equation and connected the original connectors to the bulb (I only have one good bulb!! Some idiot forgot to check the spare he carries before the trip and it was faulty!)
Checked the connectors behind left hand fairing, all look clean and in good order, they have been filled with ACF50 anticorrosion grease from 12 months old!
Would like to try bigpies idea of swapping relays but where are they? Are they easily accessible and easy to swap connectors?
Can it be the switch? Does the dipped wiring go through the contacts in there as they are on permenently?
If so, is it safe to take it apart whilst I'm 900 miles from home??? What I mean is, yes I can take it apart, but will I get it back together?
I won't be riding in the dark and I have got small LED'S and a pair of spots for white light to the front, although I don't think it's compulsory to have your headlights on, so if it's going to be an awkward job I'd rather wait 'till I get back.
I'll try & find a spare bulb or two tomorrow as it is a requirement to carry a spare!
Cheers
Mick

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2018, 18:49:45 »

Just visited the bike on the way for a beer and turned ignition on then gave the main beam switch a tap or two while Deb observed the lights............she confirmed that the 'good light' flickered while I was striking/tapping the switch. I can only presume this fault is in there????
Back to my previous post, what's it like to take apart?

King Orry · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2018, 21:10:50 »

If you’ve that many alternative lights, and fully functional high beam.. forget about it and concentrate on having a great trip.
You’re only riding during daylight, so even if the whole lot fail, no worries.
Forget about it, enjoy another beer, and the trip, & sort it when you get home ????????

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2018, 21:35:50 »

Cheers King Orry, after a few beers tonight was thinking the same!

Not too concerned but if it's an easy fix I wouldn't mind sorting it.
Got two nights booked where we are now so might have a play after the ride tomorrow.

vstroman · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2019, 22:30:42 »

I have the opposite problem, high beams are not working, I have one of Bigpies headlight relay kits fitted, I changed a bulb that had the dip blown and now all I have is dips on both bulbs, the high beams come on sometimes, I checked the fuses, I can feel and hear the relays clicking when I flick the high/low beam switch so I think the switch is OK, I bloody hate wiring.

bigpie · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2019, 10:58:42 »

I'd start by making sure all the connectors on the relay kit are firmly connected.
Plug the original connectors in to the bulbs to check if it's the relays that are the problem or it is elsewhere.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2019, 11:53:51 »

Yes, definitely take the relays out of the equation & try without.
If all works 'sometimes' it does sound as if it's a contact/connection somewhere.

Asmith61 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2019, 20:44:46 »

Hope you get it sorted Mick 😩
As king orry said go and have a beer 🍺 or 2 😂 and enjoy the rest of your holiday

kwackboy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2019, 21:00:48 »

Blimey Mick ... Have you been in the pub since last June, you won't be able to fix that problem after all those beers ..

mrp192 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2019, 21:14:31 »

Hello, your problem sounds similar to an issue I had last year with my 2015 Glee with one of bigpie’s relay kits fitted. Main beam OK but no lowbeam.
Bigpie had me disconnect the relay kit and reinstall the Suzuki connectors like stock and the bulbs worked fine.
We then went through a series of checks (very good helpdesk service with bigpie industries😁) but nothing seemed to work.
He then asked me to check if when looking in the end of the plug all the metal connector bits looked the same and one was further in.
I then gently pushed the wires from the back and one moved slightly and this completely fixed the problem and been fine since.
FAO bigpie, not sure if you remember this but I may not have explained it very well, but the issue sounds identical. You may be able to phrase it better.
Hope you get it sorted BarbelMick.

revapi · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2019, 21:32:41 »

Quote from: vstroman on April 08, 2019, 22:30:42

I have the opposite problem,

I got a relay kit from bigpie as well, for some reason I was only getting 6v to dipped beamso I took it off