Help with PIAA 1100X

[NI9N]

Hi all! I just bought a 2005 LT with a pair of 1100X's controlled by a toggle switch (no LEDs) in the "glove compartment". When I turn on the switch, there is a high-pitched whine but no light from the PIAAs. Switching the high beam on or off makes no difference. Any ideas?? Thanks!

[petevandyke]

Did the lights EVER work since you've had the bike?

If you have the bike running in neutral on the center stand, and flick the switch, and listen carefully, can you hear the high pitched whine? (to make sure it's the lights emitting the whine, and not the ABS system checking itself or something else)

Low or high beams won't make a difference unless they tapped those wires for power for the aux lights, which is unlikely...but possible.



if they never worked, you might try:

First, turn off the motorcycle and remove the key for safety's sake.

Follow the wires and check the fuse that is in-line with the "hot" wire (either white or red, depending on what year and which package PIAA set). Depending on who mounted the set, hopefully this will be easy to locate.

If the fuse is ok, get a volt-meter (if you don't have one, radio shack has them for under 20 bucks with multi-amperages, you will have plenty of uses for them). Turn the bike on, switch to "on" for the lights, and set the volt meter to 12 volts (or 20 in the case of the radio shack version), put one contact on the positive connect at the left bulb, one on the negative, see if you get a reading. Do the same on the right bulb. (this should be easy, you can wiggle the PIAA lamp connectors out just a hair, still maintain electrical connection, and have room for the volt-meter tips to make solid contact)

If you get a reading, then that means you're getting power to the bulbs, might have the UNFORTUNATE case of two blown/burnt out bulbs...unfortunate because replacement gen-u-ine PIAA's are pricey...so much so, that you might wanna' just get hella's and swap them in, instead for 1/3 the price (my opinion, I am sure others are gonna' disagree in posts to follow...but I've had both and the only reason I have PIAA's now is because I got a closeout discount price WITH custom LT mounts).

If you don't get a reading at the bulb, and you've verified that the fuse is good, you've got a short, or a broken wire somewhere between wherever the previous owner tapped into a power source and the bulbs, and let the hunt begin...I'd personally start my detective work at the switch...on my RT I didn't even bother with the switch, just direct-wired the aux lights so when the headlight was on, so were the hella's.

Good luck.


P

[deputy5211]

If you get a reading, then that means you're getting power to the bulbs, might have the UNFORTUNATE case of two blown/burnt out bulbs...unfortunate because replacement gen-u-ine PIAA's are pricey...so much so, that you might wanna' just get hella's and swap them in, instead for 1/3 the price (my opinion, I am sure others are gonna' disagree in posts to follow...but I've had both and the only reason I have PIAA's now is because I got a closeout discount price WITH custom LT mounts).

Suggest that you also put an ohmmeter across the bulb terminals to see if it is truly burned out.

You can also buy the Phillips 16 bulbs at HomeDepot. Available in 30 or 50 watt floods in a pack of three for about $12. Today I saw 50w spots there for the first time, about $6 in a single pack. The floods have a wider dispersal angle than the PIAA bulbs, but I imagine the spot tightens the beam up some. Don't know how comparable to stick it is, though.

Once you open the PIAA housing and remove the bulb, carefully cut the white silicone that holds the glass lens to the bulb. I have read some posts where folks have soaked the bulb in water. I've never done that. Install the replacement bulb, lay the lens over it, and re-assemble the housing. I do not re-silicone the lens to the replacement bulb.

Even if it is both bulbs, you could have the new ones online in about thirty minutes or less for under $15.00.

[dmatson]

When i installed my 1100X a few weeks ago i used an Autoswitch that I got from A&S BMW. The switch is easy to install and you use the turn indicator cancell switch to turn on and off the Piaas, the switch only cost $23.

[petevandyke]

When i installed my 1100X a few weeks ago i used an Autoswitch that I got from A&S BMW. The switch is easy to install and you use the turn indicator cancell switch to turn on and off the Piaas, the switch only cost $23.


ain't that a pain in the ass every time you finish turning a corner and the aux lights turn off? :histerica