Bet that sounded nice! ;opYes, just had the starter button thing happen to me as well, I figured it out, but also... mine was sticking so bad, that they starter was trying to stay engaged after the engine started !!!
Bet that sounded nice! ;opYes, just had the starter button thing happen to me as well, I figured it out, but also... mine was sticking so bad, that they starter was trying to stay engaged after the engine started !!!
After checking fuses, replacing headlight bulbs ( that was a lot of fun), I saw your post. Sprayed contact cleaner in the starter switch, and voila, the headlight works again. I only wish I read your post before others suggesting a more drastic problem. Thank you!Don't forget to blast the starter button with cleaner too. There's a headlight interrupt switch in there that could cause this problem.
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Nice simple fix is always better then having to rip apart the bike.Thanks to all who kept me from ripping everything apart searching for issue. :bow1:
I have used WD-40 multi-purpose spray in the past on electrical components before I learned here that is a no-no, in spite of what the can label indicates, and it has never caused a problem that I'm aware of. However, in view of all the posts I've seen here banning its use on electrical stuff, I now use it only out of desperation if I don't have any specific electrical contact cleaner in the garage, such as CRC. If you DO use it on something electrical in a pinch, a word of warning: obviously, you want to unplug the appliance before spraying anything on an electrical switch or any component. You also need to allow several minutes for the solvent to evaporate before applying power to the device. DAMHIK!Go to Radio Shack and pick up some Radio Contact Cleaner (not sure of the exact name), you want to make sure it is to clean dust out of radios, you do NOT want to use WD-40 that will suck the dust in. I clean my switches on a regular basis.
I want to thank you for this posting, Yes, I had the same problem and of course it happens in the middle of the night Your posting helped me after I had checked fuses/ relays etc Such a simple problem to fix once you have found it. Thank you again you made my day!I had the same basic problem a couple of weeks ago... out of nowhere - on a dark street at night - my headlights went out. After flipping every switch I could get my fingers on - on the left handball switch module - my thumb bumped the horn button and the headlights came on instantly.
I figured it was a one-time deal... but sure enough... a couple of nights later... no headlights again when I went to start the bike. A little flip of this, a little honk of that and the headlights came on again... eventually... but in all this flipping and honking... I concluded that it was not closely related to the horn button.
I disassembled the left handlebar switch assy and shot it good with contact cleaner and greased it all up with the right stuff and everything was working a lot smoother and error free for a couple of days...
The "no headlight" problem cropped up again. I disassembled the right hand switch assy and squirted contact cleaner in there as best I could... no help. Sometimes the headlights came on after start - sometimes not. When they did not come on... or if they just quit mid-ride... I'd bump the starter button and they'd come back on.
Further investigation led me to a very sticky starter button... It would push in just fine (breaking the headlight circuit as programmed and starting the bike) but it would not always pop fully back out when released.
I shot a bit of silicone spray into the gap that the starter switch come thru... and voila' no more sticky starter switch and no more missing headlight problems.
I am reading the comments and agree the starter is a suspect as it does interrupt the headlights - did you just shoot cleaner in where the starter button/switch is or did you disassemble the unit? If so, can you tell me just what you did? My headlights were fine, then one day I put the high beams on (I like to ride with them in the daytime on back roads) and no blue indicator lamp. I pulled over and sure enough, the headlights were out. Started the bike and they came back on. Hmmm. This happened a few times but now the lights are out period. As for the ignition switch, it's buried pretty deep - I shot contact cleaner into the key slot but am not convinced that the contacts are in that part of the housing. I am liking the starter switch as a culprit - hate taking the bike to Honda because their service people, in general, are not good troubleshooters and they charge by the hour. PeterRe: Headlight Problem
Just a update the problem was on the starter switch. I cleaned the contact and the problem is repaired.