Help needed - electrical problem with 06 Hexhead

Hildasay

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When I wanted to set off for a run this morning, my bike wouldn't start. As far as I could tell, the starter motor sounded fine but the engine wouldn't fire up. I tried several times but no joy. Eventually I noticed the "lamp failure" indication in the display but on the next attempt that was gone. What I then noticed was when I turned on the ignition, there was a bit of a flicker between the high beam and dipped beam bulb and then dipped beam stayed on with the ignition on. Normally, this is only on when the engine is running. I have an HID50 headlight conversion. By now, the starter motor is sounding a bit weak and I have connected a battery charger. This is showing "OK" (not "Fully Charged"), so I'm not sure if the battery was weak to start with or not. It's an Odyssey which is about 8 yrs old and I last had the bike out just a few days ago. I've checked the headlight connectors and they don't seem loose. I've now left it on charge and will try again once it's fully charged, but in the meantime would be most grateful for any suggestions.

I'm panicking about this a bit as I'm fairly clueless and both my husband (who is far more mechanically/electrically knowledgable than me) and our electrician neighbour are away. I am hoping to go on a trip to the Scottish mainland next Sunday. No BMW dealers up in Shetland either!

Many thanks to all who've read this far and have any ideas!
 
Update - Battery charger is showing "Fully Charged" already, so it would appear that the battery is OK. Otherwise still no joy.
 
I've tried a couple of things (not sure if that's any use). When dipped beam is on with ignition on and I turn on high beam, dipped stays on. High beam comes on with a bit of a flicker and slight crackling noise, this is particulary noticeable when trying the flasher - but it could be normal.
I have tried disconnecting the dipped beam, this results in LAMPF indicator (no surprise) but bike still won't start.
 
The noise when the lights are powered up is likely to be a fault in one or both headlamp bulb connectors.

Dip beam should stay on when main beam lights. Not my favourite setup but that's how it works.
 
Thanks Bendy toy. I've had all the connectors apart and back together - they look fine. I've also spoken to Les Wassall who installed the lights and described the noises to him and we've come to the conclusion that there's probably nothing wrong with the lights.
 
Thanks but no - kill switch is not off, in fact I have switched it on and off a few times for good measure.

To summarise: Battery is fine. Starter motor runs, low beam is on when it shouldn't be and bike won't start.

I'm googling like mad trying to find something similar, but have had no luck :-(
 
Yes to both of the above.

Thank you to everyone who is giving this some thought!
 
What voltage do you have when the starter is pressed? If it goes too low he ECU wont work. I had a Yamaha that turned over seemingly ok but would not fire until it was jumped to another battery.

Try it with both headlights disconnected at the main connection to the loom.
 
Now then - I have done a "battery pull", i.e. disconnected the battery, waited a while and reconnected it in the hope that if it's an ECU hiccup it might right itself (on the principle that if it works for a Zumo GPS ... ).
It started! Dipped beam is off when it should be and on when engine running. Do I dare take it for a run now?
Has anyone had anything like this before - weird electrical problem solved (hopefully) by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery?
 
Now then - I have done a "battery pull", i.e. disconnected the battery, waited a while and reconnected it in the hope that if it's an ECU hiccup it might right itself (on the principle that if it works for a Zumo GPS ... ).
It started! Dipped beam is off when it should be and on when engine running. Do I dare take it for a run now?
Has anyone had anything like this before - weird electrical problem solved (hopefully) by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery?
 
Been thinking about possible underlying causes and (on Les's and Bendy toy's suggestion) checked the battery voltage during cranking (without disconnecting the lights). It dropped from 12.6V to about 11V when I turned on the ignition then to about 9.6V during cranking and eventually came up to 14V with the engine running. Should I be concerned?
 
Thank you flatdog. Dont' worry, I've not left it running for any length of time. If a new battery is all that's needed, I'll be relieved as I should be able to sort that out before next weekend (even in Shetland).
 
I reckon 9.6volts at cranking is a bit low.
If it was mine I'd be putting a battery on it.
 
Such issues are easy to prove. Connect another battery with jump leads and then see how much the voltage drops on starting. Mine stays above 11V during cranking, but I don't have values for a winter cold battery.

Mine is a Mk2 so the dipped headlight is on while the engine is running though the headlight is off during starter cranking.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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