Front headling not working

Greetings all.
I have a 1982 XJ cycle, and the front headlights do not work. I replaced the headlight, and the light does not work. I looked at the fuse, and that was fine, so I figured there had to be a short somewhere. I started tracing the wires back from the headlight, and got to the hi/low switch. When I take a DC voltage reading, I get 0 volts.

My questions are:
1) Is that a normal reading for the switch?

2) Can I replace the switch if it's bad, or do I have to order a new unit?

Thanks for the help.

 

What model XJ. Its a good idea to put as much information in your signature as possible to make it easier for us to help you.

There is probably a relay on the bike to turn on the headlight once the engine is running. Does the tailight come on when the key is on?

If the bike is a Maxim or Seca 550, I will post a link to a schematic for you.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I have a Maxim 750. The tail light does come on when I turn the key on.

A schematic would be great!

Thanks

 

This is for a 550 Maxim so I don't know if its the same. It might help guide you to the problem though.

http://s974.photobucket.com/albums/ae227/Not_Mother/

 

Ok, the schematics are a great help. I see there is a headlight relay on the schematics, but looking at the wiring diagram, this relay also goes to the tail light. My tail light works. I will look into this though when I get home from work, and report back.

Thanks for the help!

 

For the Seca 750, the headlight, by design, does not turn on until the engine is running. I'm pretty sure this is the same for the Maxim. There's a latching relay that gets energized by one of the lines from the alternator. Once the alternator is charging a bit (which basically means the engine has started running), the relay gets energized.

So, assuming your bike is running and the headlight is still off, your alternator, rectifier, or the latching relay could be the problem - along with the usual suspects of bad wiring, a bad connector, and a bad switch.

 

Well, I remember my head light turning on as soon as I turned the key on, but I start the bike up and check....

 

All's well that ends well.

 

Re: Front headlight not working

I just checked the schematics in my Haynes manual, and, oddly, the '82 Seca and Maxim are not the same in how they power the headlight. The Maxim still has the on board computer, and a warning system to tell you if the headlight is out, but it has no "headlight relay."

Is your warning system warning you that the headlight is out?

In any case, the headlight is wired THROUGH the computer, so, if it's not lighting up when the engine is started, the computer is another place to check.

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Actually, I started writing this post, then took another look at the Haynes schematic, and I'm pretty sure it's wrong. The reason I say this is that L/B is the power supply for the headlight. On the Haynes Maxim schematic L/B doesn't come from anywhere, it just connects the Aux lamp switch to the Hi/Lo switch.

I think you probably do have a headlight relay - probably somewhere under the tank. It should be a four-pin unit with Blue/Black, Black, White/Blue and Red/Yellow wires. The Red/Yellow should have 12V when the ignition switch is on. The Blue/Black should have 12V when the engine is running. Blue/Black then goes to the Hi/Lo switch and should return 12V on Yellow for high and 12V on Green for low.

 

Wow! That does make a difference. The warning lights does not indicate that the headlight is out. I had the gas tank off, and I did not see some relay, but I will have to check again. I wonder where that computer is...

 

Re: Front headlight not working

It's inside the instrument cluster, behind the LCD display.

By the way, have you actually started the bike and checked yet?

 

The Maxim does NOT have a headlight relay. Mine comes on with the key (before starting the engine) and all I have done is bypass the computer (isn't there anymore). The computer is that digital warning display between your speedo and tach. The Haynes schematic is weird, but it is right. This may shed some light on things...
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... emove.html
That thread is how you bypass the computer on the Maxim and still have all of your lights intact, my bike is just another witness that the info is solid. Hope this helps.

 

Re: Front headlight not working

Thanks for the confirmation that there is, in fact, no headlight relay on an '82 Maxim... but there's no way my copy of this schematic is correct. There is no path that supplies 12V to either the headlight or the aux light in this schematic. FWIW, mine is copyright 1994 and does not show any revision information. Maybe they corrected it later? Where does your schematic show the L/B line for the Hi/Lo and Aux switches getting 12V?

Thanks,
Paul

 

Ok, then I guess I'm back to my original question....I'm getting Zero volts at the hi/low switch, would that be causing my problem?

 

Re: Front headlight not working

Looking at my schematic, I think what's missing is a join between the Blue/Black that goes between the Hi/Lo and Aux lamp switches and the Blue/Black that comes out of the ignition switch.

It looks like 12V for the headlight comes from the fuse box on Red/Yellow, and gets switched to the Blue/Black at the ignition switch when the key is on.

1. Check whether you have 12V on Red/Yellow at the ignition switch.
1a. If not, then check for 12V on Red/Yellow at the fuse box - either a bad fuse box or a disconnected/broken Red/Yellow wire. (Forgot to mention that the original fuse boxes in these things are crap and cause a lot of problems. If it's original, you should replace it with a new one from Chacal.)

2. (If 1 is OK) Check whether, with the ignition on, you have 12V on Blue/Black.
2a. If not, your ignition switch is probably bad.
2b. If you do, then try jumpering from there to the Hi/Lo switch.

 

SQL, I have the same book with the same diagram, and now I'm getting confused too. I wonder if turning on the AUX light would help...I know, crazy weird idea.

 

No, I'm pretty sure they just forgot to put a dot where the two L/B lines cross.

 

Most likely. Now that I have a running bike for the first time in years, I'd rather not find out right now. Either way, I'm thinking splicing out of the R/Y might be the best bet. With a wife in the medical (pharmacy) field, looking at those Da Vinchi remote surgery machines, what I wouldn't give for a "motorcycle mechanic" version sometimes.

 

Ok, I got a chance to look into my cycle this weekend. I have power to the R/Y, but no power at the blue/black....so, according to a previous post, my ignition switch is bad. How big of a pain is this to change out?

 

Not too bad. After you dismount the switch, there are 2 plugs inside the headlight bucket that feed it. A 3-prong with Red, Blue, and Brown wires is one. You also have a 2-prong plug with Red/White wires on both sides. Just replug the 2 plugs and fasten the new switch in.

 

Ugggg!!! Just called the local Yamaha dealer....$218 for a new switch! Wonder if I can find one on Ebay or something like that....

 

Looks like $117 from Chacal.

 

I did a look on Ebay, found this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-X ... ccessories

~$27.....just wondering if this will work...a lot cheaper than $218

 

Re: Front headlight not working

Doesn't look like it. Chacal also shows a different switch for '82 and '83 Maxim 750's.

 

Looking at the post, the photo is just a generic one. Listed are all types of switches....

 

Re: Front headlight not working

Yes, and they list the XJ750K but not the XJ750J.

 

Doh! That would have sucked :/

I guess I'll keep looking for a deal then...

 

Hmm...the Red/White wire is just the battery sensor, not really needed...the K switch seems to have the same 3 wires otherwise, maybe even the same plug...I would say get the eBay one and forget the battery sensor. Worst case, might have to cut off the plastic plug and solder wires together.

 

Well,I called the company that had the switch on eBay, there 83 switch us different than the 82 model I wonder if I could just wire in a toggle switch where I can turn the head light on after the cycle is started

 

Yes, the '82 (J model) and the '83 (K model) have different switches, but like I said, biggest difference is the battery sensor.

 

Oh, okay, the guy I talked to made it sound like it was completely different. I guess I will try it out....the switch is not that expensive...