StromTrooper banner

help, headlights will not come on.

5K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  Surf or Ski 
#1 ·
hey I got 8 K on mine, and its about 10 months old and stil under warrenty. If I can fix easy i would rather do my self. I have replaced fuses, and I have bought new bulbs, but my head lights will not turn on, nor with the high beem work, blinkers and brake lights work fine ( I know its a different fuse) any suggestions

Thanks
 
#2 ·
Check the large connector under the rubber cover in the left side of the fairing for a discolored connector. If everything looks good, there is another connector behind the radiator. Once found and fixed, the page at http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/VStrom/vstrom.html includes a dual headlight relay kit. It allows more direct transfer of electrical energy and only uses the stock wiring to control the relays, allowing the marginal connections a lighter load.
 
#3 ·
The power to the headlights takes a convoluted path from the battery, through the starter button (so the headlights go out when starting), then to the hi/lo switch, where it then goes to the respective hi or lo fuses and lamps. Since neither beam works, it is in the path before the hi/lo switch - likely the starter button or connections.
 
#4 ·
thanks guys, after going to the dealer sat morning, they told me they think its the switch, the mechanic got the lights to come one after banging on the handle bars, so the switch must have a short or just be bad, but since mon is a holiday my switch will not be in until friday, so no night riding for me, thanks again
 
#7 ·
Having the same problem

the mechanic got the lights to come one after banging on the handle bars, so the switch must have a short or just be bad
Thanks for this post. I just had the same problem and banged on the ignition switch and they came on. Any final word on what the problem was? I plan on trying to disassemble the switch tomorrow and trying to clean the contacts, but I really don't know what I'm doing. Am I going to need to replace the switch? I'm pretty new to these bikes. I just bought mine about 1.5 months ago, and as you can see this is my first post on the forum. Thanks again for the help.
 
#5 ·
A short would blow a fuse. The problem would be a bad contact. The starter switch has normally closed contacts that feed the lights and normally open contacts that feed the starter. If the normally closed contacts get dirty, break, etc., the lights won't work. Hopefully the contacts can be cleaned because replacement involves the entire right housing. The headlight relay kit also takes the high current load off the starter switch's normally closed contacts and helps them last longer.
 
#6 ·
I had a similar problem, complete loss of headlights. They had only flickered once or twice prior to a complete loss.

I tracked it down to the large yellow plug on the backside of the radiator. There was a slight amount of corrosion and the main power wire for the headlight within the connector shows sign of heat.

The easiest way to get at that plug is to remove the airbox, you can get your hand up the backside of the plastic shield to push the connector plastic pin to remove the connector from the shield. Its actually pretty easy to accomplish.

I cut the yellow wire and made a new seperate connection, eliminating the plug (for that wire ONLY).

I have since installed the Eastern Beaver wiring harness to not only eliminate any reoccurrance, but the headlights are also brighter using this kit.

Cheers,
 
#9 ·
#11 ·
#13 ·
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top