VF500F Electrical/Headlight help?

Well I just purchased this bike. It runs well, I like it a lot, needs to be cleaned up and I'll enjoy it after I personalize it a bit more. But on to the problem.

The PO hooked up a switch the headlight, apparently because it wouldn't turn off or on without it. I don't really mind that. But what I do mind is that because of that (or maybe not?) that when I lock the bike w/ the column lock, the headlight will not turn off at all.

I hit the installed switch, i see it flicker slightly, but it stays on.

Any suggestions? I was thinking a quick bandaid would just be a battery switch installed. But I'd really like to just fix it completely.

 

This is gonna sounds sort of like tripe, but...

It is strongly suggested to remove the switch and corresponding wiring; determine root cause to the problem; and repair appropriately.

I say this for 3 reasons,

Fire hazzard

Shock hazzard

hidden ongoing repair or maintenance costs

Fire hazzard - With the light staying on, you have heat, with the right conditions, you could melt stuff... not to mention this is constant voltage through the wiring, so all connections including the switch, at the battery, headlight socket, and any splices in the wires are very dangerous.

Shock hazzard - clearly, either the ground or the positive OEM wire or wires to your headlight are open. I'm not too keen on getting a 12V shock while taking a switchback on a mountian at 40+ MPH.... but thats just me.

Hidden ongoing repair or maintenance costs - you seriously cant expect the headlight to keep on running and not believe it isnt diminishing the life of the bulb. same goes for your battery. Sounds like this switch was hard wired to the battery; subsequently putting constant strain on your battery, as it is feeding your switch... the switch is my main concern here. is it rated for 12v constant power? even with the power switch in the off position, you still get voltage to this switch!? thats crazy scary.

I would really hate to see you repost on VFRW again and tell us your bike is a pile of engin, and melted plastic.

Get yourself an electrical schematic for this bike... you can find one in the rear section of a repair manual. I am looking at a schematic for a 700 right now, and I see a few things right off you can check.

1. Get a meter.

2. Check the low beam head light relay... should have 4 wires

3. Check the high beam head light relay... there is a common ground wire to the low beam relay; however that same ground is tied to the turn signal ground, so it may be a quick short near the bulb or immediately at the relay, or a bad relay

4. Fuse panel... seriously, it gets overlooked far too often. Fuse may be good, but check the socket for dirt, spider webs, debris, dead bugs like ants etc. that cant remove the contact point.

5. conector to the turn signal switch

6. head light switch for high beam and low beam

7. High beam head light indicator bulb in the instrument panel.

8. check your Horn, there is a common wire that runs through the horn switch, and horn, which also feeds into the low beam relay.

9. ignition wire to the ECM (most likely not the issue though)

10. 12 signal wire from ECM... (only readable when bike has ignition turned on)

Good luck,
~Ghost

 

you need to get a book and look at the wiring. if you need I can send you a copy just PM.