- Joined
- Feb 11, 2006
- Messages
- 9,666
- Location
- Jacksonville
- Bike
- GL1800 R1200RT NC700
- 2024 Miles
- 010688
- STOC #
- 6651
I have an intermittent fault that is getting worse. I thought I fixed it by cleaning the switch contacts in the headlight High/Low switch but it returned today.
This is what happens when the fault occurs. I switch on the key in preparation to start the bike and these items will glow dimly or faintly if Low beams are selected: right hand low beam headlight bulb filament, the 5w position lights in the upper corners of the head lamp assembly, the front position lights (in the mirror housings the turn signal lights both on), gauge display and instrument back lighting and strangely, both rear turn signals glow steady on but dimly. It sounds like the cooling fans are on and turning very very slowly even if the engine is cold. None of the devices on the left handlebar switch will work (turn signals, horn, windshield motor, hazards). If I switch to high beam the right hand headlight bulb high beam filament will dimly glow. The left one doesn't glow at all on High or Low. The tail light seems to be normally lit and the brake lights work normal.
With the High/Low beam switch in Low beam the engine will start and run normally but none of the above change. If the switch is in High beam the motor will crank over normally but it will not start. If I start the engine in Low beam and warm it up the engine dies when High beams are selected or if a turn signal or hazard lights are turned on.
I first noticed the fault when it first happened when I started the bike and the headlight and instrument lighting did not come on. It wasn't a stuck thumb starter switch. My instinct was to flip the headlight from Hi to Low or Lo to Hi and this fixed it and fixed it for the next maybe 5 or 6 times it happened over a two month period. That is why I first thought it was the contacts in that switch. It was only later when it happened more often that I began to troubleshoot what other circuits might be involved. Today I could not get the lighting to work normally by flipping Hi and Lo repeatedly. Finally it fixed itself and I could ride off.
A common link between all these devices at the front of the bike is they share a common ground wire coming out of the 24 pin connector on the left side of the frame. The exception is both rear turn signals. Their ground does not go through the big connector and both turn signals light up dimly when the fault occurs like I said above. Last week I cleaned and inspected the big connector and the connectors at the base of the 2 head light relays. They seem to be OK. I checked the bases of all the fuses for corrosion and greased them. I cleaned the Hi/Lo switch and put everything back together. Today it faulted again. I think I need to check for continuity from the 24 pin connector to frame ground lug but I do not know where it is.
Any other ideas?
This is what happens when the fault occurs. I switch on the key in preparation to start the bike and these items will glow dimly or faintly if Low beams are selected: right hand low beam headlight bulb filament, the 5w position lights in the upper corners of the head lamp assembly, the front position lights (in the mirror housings the turn signal lights both on), gauge display and instrument back lighting and strangely, both rear turn signals glow steady on but dimly. It sounds like the cooling fans are on and turning very very slowly even if the engine is cold. None of the devices on the left handlebar switch will work (turn signals, horn, windshield motor, hazards). If I switch to high beam the right hand headlight bulb high beam filament will dimly glow. The left one doesn't glow at all on High or Low. The tail light seems to be normally lit and the brake lights work normal.
With the High/Low beam switch in Low beam the engine will start and run normally but none of the above change. If the switch is in High beam the motor will crank over normally but it will not start. If I start the engine in Low beam and warm it up the engine dies when High beams are selected or if a turn signal or hazard lights are turned on.
I first noticed the fault when it first happened when I started the bike and the headlight and instrument lighting did not come on. It wasn't a stuck thumb starter switch. My instinct was to flip the headlight from Hi to Low or Lo to Hi and this fixed it and fixed it for the next maybe 5 or 6 times it happened over a two month period. That is why I first thought it was the contacts in that switch. It was only later when it happened more often that I began to troubleshoot what other circuits might be involved. Today I could not get the lighting to work normally by flipping Hi and Lo repeatedly. Finally it fixed itself and I could ride off.
A common link between all these devices at the front of the bike is they share a common ground wire coming out of the 24 pin connector on the left side of the frame. The exception is both rear turn signals. Their ground does not go through the big connector and both turn signals light up dimly when the fault occurs like I said above. Last week I cleaned and inspected the big connector and the connectors at the base of the 2 head light relays. They seem to be OK. I checked the bases of all the fuses for corrosion and greased them. I cleaned the Hi/Lo switch and put everything back together. Today it faulted again. I think I need to check for continuity from the 24 pin connector to frame ground lug but I do not know where it is.
Any other ideas?