Ok you "let's find the short" gurus!

[pkpr1998]

I need to invite myself to a mini tech session. I have the low-beam HID and my light keeps going off and on (Don N. can tell ya' what my headlight light was doing). It has a short somewhere and is probably a simple and quick fix (I hope).

I also have the third brake light and while at Chateau Elan two years ago I had Raffy install the modulator on that brake light, it too has a short. I can wiggle the wire going into the box and wala, my brake light works. It works more than it doesn't!

I should have a chance today to check the connections on the balust and igniter on the low beam HID. If that doesn't work I will need some help.

If my Vols have a victory over those cheeseheads from Wisconsin, I should be able to check for shorts!!!!!!! If not, I will be too despondent to be doing any kind of work! :p

[BamaLT]

Ion that brake light, it too has a short. I can wiggle the wire going into the box and wala, my brake light works. It works more than it doesn't!

:p

Trunk Monkey (http://allowe.com:80/Humor/video/TrunkMonkey4.wmv)can help til you can get her fix.

[BamaLT]

I(Don N. can tell ya' what my headlight light was doing). It has a short somewhere and is probably a simple and quick fix (I hope).

:p

Hey Brett, it's on now, no wait it's off, now it on, no off, on, off, on, off.

It only turned off when you hit any bump.:)

I told you to lead yesterday, that way I would never know that you had headlight problem... ;)

[Rick-L]

Not to pick nits, but I don't think you have a 'short'. A short circuit would probably blow fuses or start a meltdown of some sort.

Sounds more like a poor connection somewhere, or a broken wire (yes, even if the insulation is intact they can break inside sometimes).

Wiggle the wire on the modulator in different places until you can narrow it down & find the faulty connection or wire. Tighten or replace it.

As far as the headlight, I would focus on the grounding first. BMW used the smallest guage wire for the ground possible, and I think it is too small. When I installed mine I ran a nice 14ga. wire to all the ground points, the ground in the wiring harness, and to a nice solid point on the frame as well. Better yet would be a direct ground wire to the battery. Of course recheck all the hot wire connections as well.

[pkpr1998]

Hey Brett, it's on now, no wait it's off, now it on, no off, on, off, on, off.

It only turned off when you hit any bump.:)

I told you to lead yesterday, that way I would never know that you had headlight problem... ;)

I've checked the fuse and cleaned the contacts, I've "jiggled" some wires and have even reomved the plastic cone behind the headlight, couldn't get a good handle on any of the wire so there is still no low beam :mad: .

So fer now, I am helpless in Ringgold!

At least Tennessee is still winning :D

[pkpr1998]

Not to pick nits, but I don't think you have a 'short'. A short circuit would probably blow fuses or start a meltdown of some sort.

Sounds more like a poor connection somewhere, or a broken wire (yes, even if the insulation is intact they can break inside sometimes).

Wiggle the wire on the modulator in different places until you can narrow it down & find the faulty connection or wire. Tighten or replace it.

As far as the headlight, I would focus on the grounding first. BMW used the smallest guage wire for the ground possible, and I think it is too small. When I installed mine I ran a nice 14ga. wire to all the ground points, the ground in the wiring harness, and to a nice solid point on the frame as well. Better yet would be a direct ground wire to the battery. Of course recheck all the hot wire connections as well.

Well, I used the term shorted out kinda of loosely!

It probably is a loose wire or something that simple, trouble is that I am a total idiot when it comes to "fixing" things! :eek:

I will keep playing with the wires.

Thanks for your input.

[cccpastorjack]

Is your HID kit from CQ lighting? If so, we have had more than one bulb go bad and when it does, it will come on for a moment and then go out.

[AliMar]

That's actually a good point... is there another bulb you can put in place of the HID without modifying anything?

[pkpr1998]

Is your HID kit from CQ lighting? If so, we have had more than one bulb go bad and when it does, it will come on for a moment and then go out.

It is a CQ Kit.

[pkpr1998]

That's actually a good point... is there another bulb you can put in place of the HID without modifying anything?

No I don't!

I may go ahead and purchase a new bulb.

[rando]

On my CQ kit, I had a similar issue. It would light, then go out. Got to checking the connections and bada-bing! One of the plastic connectors was allowing the metal connector inside to make contact, but the metal was actually pushing out the back. I couldn't get the little tang on the metal to bend out and stay out far and long enough to keep the plug in there. I eventually broke off a toothpick and jammed it in there with it to hold the plug in place. Has worked ever since. Check those connectors and make sure all the connectors are staying in place. try to push/pull the wire through the connector. If one can be pushed in/out, that is likely the culprit. Especially if you didn't have problems before, which would indicate a poor ground.

good luck
Randy

[Steve_R]

I know where the short is . . . . . .

Oh never mind! :p :D

[cccpastorjack]

Soooooooooooo.......did you find the problem.


We're waiting..... tick...tick...tick... :rolleyes:

[pkpr1998]

Soooooooooooo.......did you find the problem.


We're waiting..... tick...tick...tick... :rolleyes:

The bike is at BMW of Atlanta having a few things checked, including the HID low beam.

I will try to remember to post the problem. :o

[pkpr1998]

I know where the short is . . . . . .

Oh never mind! :p :D

Watch it funny guy :crazy:

[jzeiler]

Hey Bret,


I called BMW of Atlanta and they said they found the short!!!


It was between the seat and the handle bars...:histerica

Hey if they can't find it bring it over here and we'll have a mini-tech session and get 'er done.

[pkpr1998]

Hey Bret,


I called BMW of Atlanta and they said they found the short!!!


It was between the seat and the handle bars...:histerica

Hey if they can't find it bring it over here and we'll have a mini-tech session and get 'er done.

John, you have been hanging around Steve too long! :p

If they don't or can't, I will let you know! :cool:

[quickbeemer]

I was on a team who developed a short finder for Snap on tools that would find it in about three min. Sounds more like an intermittent open, since its not blowing fuse....

[tmgs]

I need to invite myself to a mini tech session. I have the low-beam HID and my light keeps going off and on (Don N. can tell ya' what my headlight light was doing). It has a short somewhere and is probably a simple and quick fix (I hope).

I also have the third brake light and while at Chateau Elan two years ago I had Raffy install the modulator on that brake light, it too has a short. I can wiggle the wire going into the box and wala, my brake light works. It works more than it doesn't!




I'd a been glad to help, but you can't ride this far! besides my lift has a Panhead on it this week <g>

know how to run wiring through a wall? I could use a hand doing that and would be mor ethan happy to return a favor

tom

<g>

[pkpr1998]

My bike is in the shop and while there they found a loose wire! Problem solved.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

[Briantime]

:( I thoguht this was going to be a thread on lowering your seat :(