Both headlights gone. Any ideas?

[roganjoshing]

Came home in the dark yesterday both headlights working. Turned bike on today, no hi or low beam on both headlights. Fuses fine. Any ideas before I start dismantling it?

[kwackboy]

The culprit is generally the right switch gear connector behind the radiator, I think it's a green block.
Other culprits are the start button and the large block connector behind the left fairing panel.

The problem is the pins inside the blocks are either burnt out or corroded and the start button has 4 copper connections inside that can corrode / get dirty. 

Plenty of others that have experienced this issue and I'm sure they will also have solutions.

[roganjoshing]

Thanks Kwackboy. Behind the radiator - sounds handy to get to. 

[Ianmc]

Tank off,Air box off(ugh),have a look at the 10 pin connector on the plastic guard over the radiator, look for the plain orange wire that turns to a yellow and black in the connector.It may look good on the outside but take it out to be sure.Let us know how you get on.
       

[endintears]

FYI
Pic taken with tank off from reg rectifier side.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Whilst you're in there, get some old inner tubes and make a sleeve for those connectors to help keep the water off them.

[harmony]

https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=35350.msg354608#msg354608

Also, recently had to change the right hand switch gear when it went wrong again.

[Gert]

There have been a few reports of the starter button contacts arcing. Have you read https://blacklabadventures.com/2012/02/19/start-switch-maintenance/?

[UK_Vstrom650]

That's why I use a Bigpie headlight relay kit too.

[roganjoshing]

Thanks Gert, I'll try that first before dismantling the whole bike.  The starter has been a bit hit and miss lately so hoping it is that simple.  Saturday is the day so I will let you know next week.

[chris1200]

When you strip the switch watch out for the spring that shoots out like an Exocert missile. If you lose it just bung one in from an old biro, it works just as well.

[roganjoshing]

Flushed and wiggled the start switch and got my lights back. 😁 Will dismantle and clean properly tomorrow. Thanks everyone. 👍🏼

[Barbel Mick]

Lets hope that sorts it.
If you haven't got one fitted then a headlight relay kit could well stop that happening again.
I don't know if Bigpie still does them but if not then Eastern Beaver do them, although at a price!!!!   https://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Bike_Specific/VStrom/H4KITS/h4kits.html

[Silverback]

Be careful when you pry the flimsy plastic back off the switch plunger housing. Had the same problem with mine. From what I recall there's another spring under the copper bar that slides over the contacts this spring provides the pressure to the contacts,mine had melted slightly due to the heat. I cut a small piece of metal to fit between the spring and the plate to give more pressure on the contacts,I also cleaned the contacts.
The starter button feels tighter now. Been perfect for 2 years.

[Gert]

Handy info / tips shared. Perhaps you could snap a few pix of the assembly being open, to serve as a guide for any other member, who may experience a similar fault in the foreseeable future? Not sure if any difference in the switch assembly from the pix on BlackLabs site vs your L1. (ABS model vs non-ABS)