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Message started by pgambr on 06/25/13 at 02:40:26

Title: Head light short
Post by pgambr on 06/25/13 at 02:40:26

I was on my way out of town this morning, packed up ready to go on my first road trip. I turned on my high beams and everything cut off. I'm sure the fuse popped. How do I go about finding a short? Also, I have no electrical experience of any kind. Thanks for your help, best regards.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by Dave on 06/25/13 at 03:35:32

The problem is probably the yellow wire between the headlight switch on the left handlebar and the headlight. There is also a chance it could be the wire that runs to the high beam indicator by the speedometer. You need to trace the wire from the switch to the headlight.....chances are it will be a problem where the harness flexes when you turn the handlebars.

Here is a link to someone with the same problem that fixed it.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1370485024

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by pgambr on 06/25/13 at 03:42:00

Thanks for the prompt response, I'm going to start taking everything apart, now that the sun is coming up. I was literally on my way out of town to FL when it popped. I was a 1/4 mile from my house. Thanks again.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by Dave on 06/25/13 at 03:50:27

Before you take everything apart.......focus on the wiring harness leading from the left handlebar switch to the headlight....and probably closest to the headlight.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by pgambr on 06/25/13 at 05:13:07

Sorry, I already took everything apart before I check the thread again. I looked at wiring harness and the wires to the headlight. None of them had an excessive wear and tear. I wrapped all the wires in the headlight with some electrical tape and put in a new fuse. Everything appears to be working, but is it going to pop again? Do you have any thoughts? I’m supposed to be at the gulf coast by now.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by Dave on 06/25/13 at 05:19:43

The only way to know if it will blow a fuse.....is to try the high beam again. If the light works.....then start wiggling wires and see if the fuse blows and the headlight goes out......the wire you are wiggling when it blows is the place to start looking.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by pgambr on 06/25/13 at 05:52:07

The light is working again as well as the passing lamps. I wrapped everything up pretty good and put it all back together. I guess I’ll try not to use the high beams and we’ll see how it works. I suppose to really trouble shoot it I would need an ohm reader. Thanks for your help. I’ll check the thread later today if I make it to FL.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by arteacher on 06/25/13 at 06:07:27

It could be a loose filament in the bulb itself, so it makes intermittent contact. If it happens again, try a new bulb.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by old_rider on 06/25/13 at 07:21:13

Were ya headed to pgambr? I live near fort walton beach / pensicola area.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by Routy on 06/25/13 at 08:12:22

If the fuse was blowed, there is a "short circuit"
A loose or bad connection or a bulb will not blow a fuse.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by verslagen1 on 06/25/13 at 08:35:10

242B312A36302321292730420 wrote:

If the fuse was blowed, there is a "short circuit"
A loose or bad connection or a bulb will not blow a fuse.

A loose filament could more than double current going thru the bulb if it flopped over to the hot pole or instant burn out if it hit the other filly.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by Routy on 06/25/13 at 09:36:47

I'll give ya the "possible" on that one.

Title: Re: Head light short
Post by keith on 06/27/13 at 22:54:42

The best way to check for a short is to disconnect the headlamp and the connector at the switch. Place a positive lead on the positive lead end of the circuit(headlamp or switch). Connect the other one to body ground. The reading should be less than .05ohms. Anything over that is too high and will pop a fuse.