HELP!  No headlights!

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by Guest, Jun 27, 2004.

  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I ride to town tonight and when I started my 99 VFR to ride home the headlight would not come on. The fuse is not blown and all the rest of the lights work as they normally do. I was wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem or had a good idea where to start looking for this. The headlight has worked fine up to this point and with no warning at all it quit which mad for a dark ride home. Thanks for your help!
     
  2. AT

    AT New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2004
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    ATX
    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    I have a 98 VFR. One light went out. Bike kinda had a "black eye" ;). Soon after the second headlamp went out. Fuse was good just headlight bulb was bad. Not too hard to replace bulbs. Just if you replace with OEM bulbs can get pricey. Search past post on replacing with aftermarket bulbs.good luck
     
  3. vfracer

    vfracer New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2003
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    What I state below is just my opinion !
    Only you know your bike.....


    CHANGE the RR...right away.. :eek:!!!!
    This is how things started with (99) my bike!
    Twice I changed the head light 's and battery before it cooked my whole system.
    The RR is the only thing that controls power to lights.
    What happens is to much power (spikes) hit the system.

    Go to Azmotorsports.com they have the best price and also the NEW version of the RR.
    Tell them the guy from Jersey sent you.
    You can do the test on the RR but that is not 100% going to work.
    For the $130.00 - $140.00 is worth it......and its an easy job to do.....I fried the lights tail and head...computer..and .battery...speedo ...tach and display.....start adding that up and $140.00 is nothing.

    I ADVISE ANYONE who never replaced the RR BUY :eek: the NEW version!

    Ride Fast Ride Safe!


    VFRsteve
     
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    I know that this next question is going to make me look like an idiot but what is an RR. I am relatively new to the VFR family and am not totally familar with all of the different parts with the bike yet.
     
  5. vfracer

    vfracer New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2003
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    Hello,
    Not a problem...Feel stupid if you don't ask.....
    The R/R is called a regulator rectifier .....easy terms it controls the power going thru the bike.
    The part is located to your left when sitting on the bike....just about where your ass sits.
    If you take the seat off you will see it bolted to the frame.
    Has two plugs ....have to take the back plastic off....is easy.

    One screw just under front of seat and also under the seat (both sides),
    and bolts the hold rear cowl on.

    Just a few screws and off it comes.
    If the RR has never been replaced ...I recommended doing so....this item can fail at any time without almost no warning.
    I was 15 miles from home not a good feeling.
    I have the VFR book...can email pages if you need help.


    Regards,
    VFRSteve ::)
     
  6. redrocket

    redrocket New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2004
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I am back at it again! Took vacation and havent had time to trouibleshoot anymore. I took all the fairings off and started tracing wires. I replaced the R/R as recomended by vfr racer and by the way thanks for the help! But it didn't fix the problem. There isn't any voltage at the headlight plug and none at the dimmer switch. However there is voltage going to both relays behind the dash. I checked the starter relay and the plug was corroded some but cleaning that didn't fix it either. Right now I am itching to ride but I need my headlight and I am not real sure where to look next for the problem. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

    Thanks
    Eric
     
  7. MP_Simmons

    MP_Simmons New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    You may try fooling with ( cleaning ) your hi/lo switch.
    Sometimes I have found a "neither" position after prolonged periods of not using the hi beam.
     
  8. vfracer

    vfracer New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2003
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Re: HELP!  No headlights!

    :-[I feel your pain!
    Many times I felt light pouring gas on the bike and just lighting a match.
    How are you testing?
    Do you have a ohms meter?
    Or are you using a test light?
    What head light s are you using?
    Mp could be right.....but also check for a frayed wire.

    Also since you have everything off I would use the grease for eletrical plugs. Local Aoto store sells small tubes.
    Even if the plugs looks clean...it increased my voltage ...not much but it is a smart thing to do.

    Sorry the RR did not fix the problem...but it is a smart item to replace....
    Good Luck....
     
  9. Tourmeister

    Tourmeister New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2003
    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville, Tx.
    Howdy,

    The RR seems to get blamed for any sort of electrical issue when often it may not be involved at all. I have an 01 VFR that has eaten many more headlight bulbs than my 98 VFR. It has 46K miles on it and the RR is fine. The 98 has 60K on it and the RR never even hiccuped. The point being, replacing the RR without checking it to see if it is indeed bad is expensive.

    Simmons noted above that there may be a dead zone on the higbeam switch. This happened on BOTH of my VFR 800's. Water can get in the switch and cause corrosion. It is not hard to open the switch housing, clean the contancts, check for voltage at the switch and reassemble.

    The question I have is this, are the bulbs actually blown or are they good but just not getting voltage? Can you feel or hear the relays clicking when they get voltage? If not, you may have a relay that has gone out.

    I have been using the Sylvannia Superwhite replacement bulbs available at most any autoparts store for about $5 and they work fine. The two tabs on the bottom have to be bent back 90 degrees so the bulb will fit in the housing. I bend them back about 85 degrees so that they make a good friction fit to keep them from bouncing around. Then snap the retaining clip back in place and you are good to go. I run the 65/55 watt bulbs. They last just as long as the OEM replacements and are brighter.

    On older model VFR's I have seen where the starter button is messed up and it keeps the headlights from coming back on after they are unpowered while starting the bike. This is common on the late 80's model VF500's, 700's, 1000's, etc,...

    If you don't already have the shop manual for your bike, I highly recommend getting it or borrowing it from someone that has one. With it, you can easily trace the entire light circuit from start to send. It could be something as simple as a loose connection or frayed wire.

    VFRracer's suggestion to clean all contacts and give them a good coating of electrical grease is good sense! It will help prevent future corrosion.
     
  10. redrocket

    redrocket New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2004
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I finally found the problem! The starter switch has two sets of contacts that are actually on the switch itself and one of the contacts had shorted out. New switch is on the way. Thanks for all of the help.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page