no volts on Dip Beam connector

[Roger Chatterton]

Hi, just changed some bulbs to LED's (rear lights, pilot light and rev counter /speedo lights). Now I have no volts on the connector to the dip beam headlamp & speedo/rev counter lights-any ideas ? There is not a fuse for the headlamps is there ?
I have fitted load resisitor as per Techno's advice ...47 Ohm, 10 watt -for the rear lights, and they are working fine !

see this post for details -http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124683

Bike is 1150 GS Adv 2003, with ABS & servos.

Any ideas.... please ??

 

[pablo666]

Is one of the LEDs wired the wrong way round and so breaking the circuit?

 

[ianboydsnr]

check the load relief relay

its the one on the bottom row, right next to the big starter relay, swap it with another of the same ID number and try again

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43500

might help you a bit

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Is one of the LEDs wired the wrong way round and so breaking the circuit?

Hi Pablo,
don't think putting LED wrong way would cause this - I assume they are wired in parallel, to avoid the scenario of if a bulb (filament type) blows, then it doesn't cut out all four bulbs ( as it would if they were in series ).
I checked the LED's before pushing them back into Rev counter/speedo, and even if one was wrong way round, the others were still lit.

But thanks anyhow !!

 

[Roger Chatterton]

check the load relief relay

its the one on the bottom row, right next to the big starter relay, swap it with another of the same ID number and try again

Hi Ian, thanks -might well be the relay -I had the dip beam disconnected whilst I checked the LED's and side light, so maybe switching ignition on & off a few times has buggered the load relay , as you suggest.

Does it have to be a BMW relay, or will Halfrauds or similar have a suitable replacement ?

I am getting 12 volts at the relay socket across pins 3 & 5, so volts are good to that point !! Is there any other way to check the relay I wonder ...I suppose putting 12 volts across and listening for it to click would give a clue ?

 

[Roger Chatterton]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43500

might help you a bit

Yes - it does help .... I downloaded it a while back, and it's very handy for moments like this ....why didn't BMW think of that -too simple I guess !!!!

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Have given everything I can a going over, and still no result ; I still have no power to the Dip Headlamp, and the Rev & Speedo lights.

On connector to the dip beam; Ground is good (brown wire )
green yellow -nothing.
All other functions on bike are good , indicators, main beam, pilot light, rear lights, main beam flasher, new horns (Jaws models) etc.!

Have checked the Headlamp bulb, and it's fine,
have checked wires on the rear cap to headlamp -fine -continuity !

Have jiggled all cables around, with power on, and no change

Have jiggled the cable around from the ignition switch, -no change.

So, only clue seems to be that both dip beam +ve, and rev/speedo +ve are both fed power via the ignition switch; no fuse.

I have removed the "Load Relay" and checked - 12v is getting to the relay holder (pins 3 & 5 I think),and there is a resistance of around 100ohms across the "coil" part of the relay.
With relay removed from circuit, no indicators, main beam etc, which function fine when relay put back in circuit, so guess relay is good ?

My bike 1150 ABS, does NOT have the switch for dip beam -that I understand came in on the post 2003 models only.

So, I am totally stumped.....anyone any ideas please - 'bike runs just great, everything else is working - did 70+ miles yesterday ( albeit with NO dip beam though), so got back before it went dark !!!

 

[Deleted account W]

Take the ignition switch out of the equation by temporary feeding the grey/blue cable going from it to the light switch. The problem won't be after the selector switch because the dash lights are fed before the cable gets to the switch and you say they aren't working either. I think you'll find the problems in the ingition switch,

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Take the ignition switch out of the equation by temporary feeding the grey/blue cable going from it to the light switch. The problem won't be after the selector switch because the dash lights are fed before the cable gets to the switch and you say they aren't working either. I think you'll find the problems in the ingition switch,

Hi Whatton,

many thanks for the reply, but ...

• which light switch -my 2003 1150 Adv doesn't have a dip beam light switch -I wish it did
• how would I access this blue/grey cable, without taking the ignition switch apart ?

However, I do agree that the problem appears to be ignition switch related...problem being there is no easy way to check this that I can think of, either for volts down the wire, or continuity..

 

[delpel]

Have you checked all the fuses. Mine did this when I was playing about and it turns out one of the fuses is not labeled in the fusebox lid but was supplying the dipped beam headlight. I had actually pulled the fuse and only realised when I noticed the electrical connectors in the box itself. Put fuse back in and hety presto. Can't remember which one but I think towards the upper end,can find out if you like. I do remember the bike is not wired according to the diagram (2003 model as well)

Regards

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Have you checked all the fuses. Mine did this when I was playing about and it turns out one of the fuses is not labeled in the fusebox lid but was supplying the dipped beam headlight. I had actually pulled the fuse and only realised when I noticed the electrical connectors in the box itself. Put fuse back in and hety presto. Can't remember which one but I think towards the upper end,can find out if you like. I do remember the bike is not wired according to the diagram (2003 model as well)

Regards

Hi Delboy,
thanks for that -I will certainly check around fuse positions
7, 8 + 9 -these are all normally marked "Spare". An easy solution if you're right !!! What I find amazing is the idea of NOT having a fuse allocated for the dip , and one for main beam ...what happens if there is a short on either of these lines ??

Also, the Haynes manual is pretty cryptic with a lot of it's pictures/info. not least electrical, and the 1150 GS in general -crap photos too ! Is the Clymer any better ?

Back to the lock-up then, to check all fuses....

 

[DrFarkoff]

Grey / Blue is the feed wire for the Sidelamps and intrument lamps

the Green Blue from the load relief relay is the feed to the left hand switchgear

The left hand switchgear uses the dip main flash switch to determine what goes where

My advice lift off the tank and check and see Numba 1 is the left switchgear jackplug correctly tight?

Is there a +ve in the green / blue wire with the ign on? If no change Load relief relay OR Bridge out with a 5 amp fused bit of wire and check again if you get volts then the wire is okay and it must be the relay.

If you have volts to the switch via the green blue but nothing out carefully peel back a bit off the Yellow and white and try bridging with a 5 amp fused wire again if the diplamp lights Yer switch is knackered?

Hope that Helps and I hope I've understood the initial stuff first

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Have you checked all the fuses. Mine did this when I was playing about and it turns out one of the fuses is not labeled in the fusebox lid but was supplying the dipped beam headlight. I had actually pulled the fuse and only realised when I noticed the electrical connectors in the box itself. Put fuse back in and hety presto. Can't remember which one but I think towards the upper end,can find out if you like. I do remember the bike is not wired according to the diagram (2003 model as well)

Regards

And the prize for guessing the correct answer goes too....would you believe it ....Delpel ....

After god knows how much head scratching, bum scratching, cursing, praying, and more cursing, it turns out that Fuse #8 ( you know, the unused one ) is in fact used for the Dip Beam and rev counter/speedo lights. It was of course blown

So, how come this info is not in my little BMW owners book, where it lists fuse uses and numbers, and also not in my Haynes Manual either. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that my Dip Beam runs via a fuse -I was amazed that it apparently didn't, but why oh why is it not made clear?? have pondered over schematics in the Haynes, plus info very kindly given on the forum, and was considering all kinds of desperate "get-arounds"..hours of thought etc etc etc.

So, huge thanks to Delpel....and to all others ..I just hope this post is of use to other Tossers who might have the same problem at some point.

Final thing ...I have replaced with a 5 Amp fuse -will that be sufficient, or maybe a 7.5 Amp ???

Very final thing -just to say how much help this GSers Forum is, and how it restores one's faith in people ... so many GSers prepared to dish out info and help -very much appreciated...what gents you all are

 

[delpel]

And the prize for guessing the correct answer goes too....would you believe it ....Delpel ....

Dude, glad to be of assistance. It would appear that each and every one of our bikes has it's own individual personality

There is a label on this site somewhere showing the fuse allocations you could amend and print that off and stick to the underside of your fusebox lid

TTFN