Having troubles with 919 headlight, anybody ever see this?

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 11:47 AM

Hello,
I joined the site today in hopes of seeing if anyone has experienced this problem I have with the 919 Headlight. I am really hoping this is not going to be a wire harness investigation, and that perhaps someone else has already resolved this mysterious problem.

Problem: Headlight will not shine at all. Neither High nor Low beams are working. But the Headlight Bulb tests perfectly when I run it directly off a separate battery (9 volt).

I'm thinking since the items below have been verified to be working that this may be a ground issue somewhere.

What's been done so far:
=>Found a busted tail/brake light and replaced it, still no headlight.
=>Verified all fuses in fuse box under seat are good, or at least have continuity. still no headlight.
=>Verified all turn signals and running lights are in working order.
=>The High beam indicater does not work when th eswitch is toggled.
=>The horn works, and no other electronic items are failing except the headlight.

Any suggestions or guidance on what next steps I could take to get legal again would be awesome.

Thanks

matty_998cc · 03-20-2007, 12:12 PM

I see your bike is a 2006. Bring it back to the dealer under warranty and let them sort it out.

KenB · 03-20-2007, 3:12 PM

Have you taken the light apart and checked the connection in the dome of the stock light?

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 3:21 PM

Thanks for the replies Matty 998 and KenB.

Matty 998 => Yes, I'll be dropping it off later this week if I cannot get it fixed without too much trouble. I've promised myself I won't void my warranty by going further than my own mechanical experience.

KenB => Yes it looks as if the connection is solid, and I did remove the connection to the headlight assembly and checked the bulb with a battery, and it worked, so there may be a problem or a short lurking in there that I haven't noticed. What is also odd is that the "brights" led indicator on the control cluster does not glow when the switch is toggled from low to high beams. Also verified that all fuses are good.

KenB · 03-20-2007, 3:26 PM

Have you had to lift the tank recently for any reason? Could be that something is getting pinched under there -- have seen that happen on more than one occasion.

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 3:32 PM

No recent movement of anything really, I was holding off on any mods till the 1 year was up.
I did wind up doing the install for the OEM windscreen because they had none in stock when I bought the bike, and when it came in, the service area was closed. When I did that install, the H/L assemble had to be taken almost completely apart to get the windscreen mount installed, but that was all done in August 06, and I've ridden almost continuously ever since (with a working Headlight). Stopped riding in december and started in february. I'm thinking that if there was a pinch in the H/L assembly, then I would have suffered from it long before now.
But who knows...

I appreciate the suggestions though.

dattaway · 03-20-2007, 3:34 PM

check the switch. it can be taken apart to be inspected, but its fun putting it back together.

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 4:07 PM

Dattaway, I did that too, but I forgot to mention it.
It looks like that switch (hi beam/lowbeam) has no ground. It seems to just supply the juice to either the low beam pole, or the high beam pole on the head lamp bulb. I am not a 100% sure, but I think ground for the lamp is somewhere else.

And yes, taking it apart and putting it back together was fun once I realized that the clutch needed loosened and scooted towards the center to access the left handlebar housing.

At first I was compelled to mutter a couple of WTF's?!?

MACI4LIFE · 03-20-2007, 5:53 PM

what about the ignition switch?? Specifically the area that has the starter button. it may be the same issue that i, along with a few others were having where the solder joint was broken. all you had to do was resolder it back, and it's done.

Headlight Out Problem

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 6:01 PM

MACI4LIFE,

Wow (and thanks) this sounds like a dead ringer for my headlight issue. And it reminded me of something...
Now that I read that string I am thinking that this may be the problem. My dad was up for a visit and is a former MC rider and begged me for a ride on the 919 and when he came back into the garage (with a big smile on his face) he hit the darn starter instead of the kill switch.

So perhaps this is the fix, I'll be pulling the right handle bars apart as soon as I get out of work and ride home.

I'll let you all know if this fixes the issue.

Thanks,
Adam

919Southwest · 03-20-2007, 9:36 PM

MACI4LIFE Thank you for posting and for sharing the link to the fix!!

I opened up the right handle bar "cluster" and found that the ground wire had become unsoldered just as in the link you provided.

Once I re-soldered my headlights were working as expected.

I'm really happy this is all working now, it leaves me more time to ride and search this site for future mods on my 919.

MACI4LIFE · 03-21-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 919Southwest

MACI4LIFE Thank you for posting and for sharing the link to the fix!!

I opened up the right handle bar "cluster" and found that the ground wire had become unsoldered just as in the link you provided.

Once I re-soldered my headlights were working as expected.

I'm really happy this is all working now, it leaves me more time to ride and search this site for future mods on my 919.

not a problem. i know the pain you went through diagnosing this problem.
glad it helped.

alteast we know the solution works for 929/954 and 919's now