Headlights Only light up with passing switch

[Binky800]

Hey guys and gals,
Any help much appreiciated. I went to start my bike to enjoy the lovely weather, started up fine first time after a few weeks rest, but alas my head lights won't light up.

Basically the parking light on front works, all other lights work, and the passing button lights up the headlights fine. But when they're switched to on they won't turn on, and flicking the dimmer switch makes no difference. I've checked the fuses and they're fine.

Which leads to me to wiring, any common places or other ideas from anyone? Basically wanting a list of most likely suspects to check first!

Cheers

Ps. it's a 1999 SV650s

[yorkie_chris]

The switchgear connectors behind the headstock, they'll be green and fuzzy probaby

[the_lone_wolf]

they'll be green and fuzzy probaby

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/video/stills/muppets3-large.jpg

you called?

[northwind]

I bet it'll be the connector that plugs into the right hand switchgear, where the headlight switch lives. It's inside the fairing. Up on the right hand side, if my wiring's anything like standard (it might not be) It may be yellow, not 100% on that. Give it a wiggle and see what happens ;)

[ridelikeaturtle]

I bet it'll be the connector that plugs into the right hand switchgear, where the headlight switch lives. It's inside the fairing. Up on the right hand side, if my wiring's anything like standard (it might not be) It may be yellow, not 100% on that. Give it a wiggle and see what happens ;)

Right hand side? As you're sitting on the bike?

(Maybe mine's all ass-backwards, but I thought the wiring was on the left. '99 SV650S.)

<edit -- duh, I was messing w/the full/dipped light switch, not the on/off switch. Nevermind.>

But back on topic... sounds similar to what happened to mine, the main beam simply wouldn't light up. Full beams worked; dipped didn't. I got out the multi-tester, cleaned the switch, and checked continuity from the switch to the headlights, and all was good. Then they worked, and continue to work to this day, without any fixing of anything. I think just taking things apart, cleaning them off, and checking everything, corrected the problem.

[northwind]

Yeah, that's why I added my disclaimer, my wires are all on where they fit rather than where they should be ;) But the switching is on the right, the pass switch is on the left.

[Binky800]

Brilliant cheers guys, gonna get right on this afternoon. Will post any sucessful results for future readers. :)

[Jase22]

Are you sure the filaments are intact?

[Binky800]

Jase22: If you mean in the headlights the bulbs are fine as the hi-beams work fine when the pass switch is pressed.

Success! Well partially, i tested alot of the wires and mostly seemed to be working and i part dismantled the light switch box (not dimmer switch) but the throttle cables are making access difficult so before i disconnected them i wanted to be sure. I eventually worked out the best way to test this.

The main light switch is just that a switch, connecting or disconnecting two of the wires in the connector before hand, i worked out which two wires they were, and i just jammed a spare wire into the back, connecting them mannually and so bypassing the switch. The headlights lit up, hi/low beams, passing. So it is definately the connection in the right handle bar.

Now to fix that :)

[Dangerous Dave]

Jase22: If you mean in the headlights the bulbs are fine as the hi-beams work fine when the pass switch is pressed.
Means nothing, different filaments for Hi and Lo beams

[Jase22]

Means nothing, different filaments for Hi and Lo beams

Aye, that's what I was getting at albeit a little vague! Seems as though this is moot now tho if the lights worked when various bits of the switch were shorted out.


Much luck sorting it out tho?

[Binky800]

once cleaned up it worked fine, now the damm indicator switch won't stay slotted in, it's all the little things. Good old ziplock's to the rescue again :)

I don't get Dangerous Dave's point tho, yeah there' 2 filaments, but there is no reason, to do with the headlights that would mean the passing switch would light them up fine, but when they're switched on with the hi/lo switch set to hi that the lights wouldn't light up. Yes the low beam filament could have broken, but then either the switch would work with high beams and passing light, or nothing at all.