Weird headlight problem.

[Indy]

On the first trip this season my dim headlights quit working, both of them. I've checked the fuses and all are fine. The headlights are silverstar 80/100 watt h4's. I haven't put the stock ones back in yet. Any ideas?

 

[Red2003]

Is there power to the headlight plugs? That's the first place to start. If so, it's gotta be the bulbs, right??

 

[Bob Miller]

I'm wondering if there might be a problem with the new bulbs! I believe the original bulbs are 55/60 watt.
Put the originals back in and see if it still happens

Keep in mind while the machine is warming up the Electric Carb Heaters are drawing a good amount of juice, and once these go off you have extra DC voltage for other accesories or lights. I'm able to run a full suit of Gerbing's Heated clothing, ONCE THE CARB HEATERS GO OFF!!!

 

[Len Todd]

Did you handle the new bulbs with your fingers. Maybe, ... If they get contaminated with skin oils, they may not last too long.

 

[Indy]

The bulbs have been installed for 2 seasons. No I did not touch them since installation. I have not had a chance to try the old bulbs yet. I did recently install a heated shield, it is on when the sled is running. The heated shield is on a fuse jumper with a fusable link. Would this have anything to do with it? As I stated above it is only the dims, the brights work fine.

 

[4bangdan]

get yourself a quicklite automotive test lite. this kind of electrical problem is very basic, and can easily be diagnosed with the proper, and very simple tool. look on ebay. this tool is awsome and VERY easy to use. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... rch=Search

 

[p0wd3rp1l0t]

i have aftermarket bulbs and one of my low beams blew out over the summer...did u check the filaments cuz the one that i had blown had high beams but the low beams filament was broke off and rolling around inside the bulb

 

[Travis Moore]

get yourself a quicklite automotive test lite. this kind of electrical problem is very basic, and can easily be diagnosed with the proper, and very simple tool. look on ebay. this tool is awsome and VERY easy to use. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... rch=Search

A 40 dollar test light?! Just buy a Craftsman volt meter for the same price and be able to do about a bigillion more things with it, including checking for voltage..

T

 

[Len Todd]

Use an on ohmmeter (one selection on a typical volt meter) to look for continuity across the bulb's filament. No continuity = bad bulb.

Where did you tie into the electrical system for power for your visor?

Fused is good. What rating is the fuse?

 

[4bangdan]

get yourself a quicklite automotive test lite. this kind of electrical problem is very basic, and can easily be diagnosed with the proper, and very simple tool. look on ebay. this tool is awsome and VERY easy to use. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... rch=Search

A 40 dollar test light?! Just buy a Craftsman volt meter for the same price and be able to do about a bigillion more things with it, including checking for voltage..

T

people sometimes question what they know nothing of. keep an open mind, you'l learn more that way. furthermore, the quicklite is manufactured in the USA , your craftsmen volt meter was made in china. what makes this a great tool is its simplicity.

 

[DoktorC]

Check the lighting relay...maybe you've got a bad/sticky one...like all the 01's.

 

[Indy]

Check the lighting relay...maybe you've got a bad/sticky one...like all the 01's.

this was a response I was looking for. where is it? Can some one post a photo?

 

[SIMMER]

There's only 40watts extra available for accesoires on the RX's.....that heated shield might just be enough to overdraw the system. HEated shileds draw quite a bit.

I would put the 55/60's in and see if that makes a difference.

 

[NOSMOKE]

The headlight relay is underneath the right side tank cover - there are three - it should be the middle relay.

 

[Indy]

I put the stock bulbs back in and they worked. I then tried the aftermarket bulbs one at a time in each socket, and the dim did not work. So I assume that the bulbs both went bad at the same time, fricking weird.