1100GS heated grips fault/switch removal

[LawrenceMark]

Having a spot of bother with my factory fitted heated grips.they only work on the high setting. I have read some of the posts on here,none seem to be my specific problem and am wondering if anyone might be able to help.
Am I right in thinking the heat is controlled by some sort of resistor inside the actual two position rocker switch,and does anyone know how to get the switch out and test it...Thanks

 

[littleredrooster]

The switch just changes the circuit from series-wired to parallel-wired AFAIK. Could just be a duff connection inside.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

The switch just changes the circuit from series-wired to parallel-wired AFAIK.

I'm not sure that is correct. The wiring diagram shows them connected in parallel all the time, on position 1 there is a fixed resistance of approx 1.9 ohms which drops the voltage and thereby reducing the heat at the grips. This resistance is likely to be length of wire in order to dissipate heat.

If you have DVM. Pull the fuse and measure the resistance between the forward contact of the fuse and earth. In position 1 you should have a resistance of about 6.5 ohms. On position 2 the resistance should be about 4.6 ohms.
I suspect at position 1 you will have an open circuit.

 

[Vern]

One of the connectors broken on the back of the switch,or the switch is fecked.Nothing else it could be really

 

[Colt]

I may have aspare switch if you need pm me.

 

[MarkShelley]

I had a problem with a broken soldered connection on my old RT.
I thought I would just replace the switch until I found out they were £35

 

[richierex]

The switch just changes the circuit from series-wired to parallel-wired AFAIK. Could just be a duff connection inside.

Wrong I am afraid. One position of the switch has a resistor in circuit which is the cooler setting of the two. This resistor is in the switch, BMW run 2 seperate wires from the switch for these two modes to a connector but really only one is needed and the earth return of course.

The switch should just clip out, insert something sharp under on side and press and flick.

 

[LawrenceMark]

Thanks for all your help,will try and look when I get mo

 

[Trullion]

I had to re-solder a joint on the back of the switch on my 850GS too. In my case the l/h grip didn't work.

 

[LawrenceMark]

got the switch out and checked it with a meter.definatley a faulty switch.one on its way from colt,thanks for all the advice

 

[richierex]

I had to re-solder a joint on the back of the switch on my 850GS too. In my case the l/h grip didn't work.

Just to clarify, the wires on the back of the switch feed both sides, the Joining point is hidden in the loom and re-apears in the white square connector that has 2 black and 2 brown wires in it, one of each go to each side grip.

These are the wires that must be removed from the multiplug to enable them to be fed through the handlebars. Dont ask how I know!