Problem with GSA spot light

[Dicko]

One of the spot lights on my 2006 R1200GSA has stopped working.

Simple, I thought. Off to Halfords for a new bulb and everything will be fine...

Fitted the new bulb and it doesn't work.

Tried the old bulb in the other side and it works fine...

Any ideas?

One thing I've just realised, no LAMPF warning is being displayed. Should I get one for the spot lights?

R.

 

[claw]

Could it have just blown one of the fuses?

I'm not sure if it will show a lampf fail as they're not on the canbus system as they are independently fused.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

R

Check the connections to the spot light haven't broken.

Mine did last year so a bit of solder and silicone and bingo

 

[Dicko]

Are you sure they're not on the canbus? They don't come on until the engine is started.

Also the wiring appears to be a single lead from the main loom that splits to the two spots.

Bilco, where is the connection you refer to?

R.

 

[Wapping]

Are you sure they're not on the canbus? They don't come on until the engine is started.

Separate fuse(s) for the spotlights on the 1200GSA.

See owner's manual for location.

 

[Yonkyo]

I thought my left side Aux light had blown the bulb/fuse. But it was simply a bad contact in the handlebar switch. Some WD40 sorted it.

 

[Dicko]

Does each light has a separate fuse coz only one has failed.

 

[claw]

Each side has a separate fuse, only realised this when i upgraded my spots to HID and had to upgrade the fuses.

 

[Beemerman59]

To check the fuses, the box is situated under the beak/headlight on the R/H side as you face the bike. Look for a black box about 1.5 inches square. The cover just pulls off with a slight prssure on the sides. You should see 2 x 7.5amp fuses in the top row. One may be loose or blown. First thing to check and the wiring after that.

 

[Gazzabart]

mine 2

I thought my left side Aux light had blown the bulb/fuse. But it was simply a bad contact in the handlebar switch. Some WD40 sorted it.

hi
my spot is playing up to
did you take the switch to bits and clean it
any thing i should be careful with when i check this ???
i have 35w HIDs in the spots
my LHS one keeps going out
not the fuses
both lights work fine when plugging into one ballest to check all is ok with light
but prior to spot dying
when you switch on and off
the RHS (as you sit on the bike) would turn on one second before the LHS one ????
this is a new one on Les (he and Ty are trying to fix for me) just wondered if anyone else has had this happen
just trying to cover all options before we fit a new ballest
thanks
Gaz

 

[Yonkyo]

hi
my spot is playing up to
did you take the switch to bits and clean it
any thing i should be careful with when i check this ???
Gaz

Hi Gaz
I simply sprayed the WD40 in around the edge of the switch, using the Straw. Its working fine now. But maybe i'll take the switch pod off and have a look inside.

mine also has 35w HiDs

Brian

 

[Gazzabart]

thanks

Hi Gaz
I simply sprayed the WD40 in around the edge of the switch, using the Straw. Its working fine now. But maybe i'll take the switch pod off and have a look inside.

mine also has 35w HiDs

Brian

thanks for the quick reply Brian
when the mid day sun dies down a bit
i will put on some suntan oil and go and have a play at fixing it
not
bloody weather

 

[Dicko]

Probably should have mentioned, my spots are the standard BMW GSA ones running H11 bulbs so there isn't really a contact at the light end, the cable just plugs straight into the socket on the bulb.

Not checked the switch end, but are you saying there are seperate contacts for each side?

R.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Bilco, where is the connection you refer to?

R.

At the back of the spot light

 

[Gazzabart]

dont do this

stopped raining for a bit
so went out and stripped the switch down
that almost 99% isnt the problem
there is almost no way anything liquid of any sort could get to the wires
they seemed to be moulded into a resin block in the centre of the switch from underneath
compared to other shit designs on the bike
this one is quite good
so now next week hopefully Easy Sushi will fit a new 35w ballest for me
will update for anyone else who gets this problem

 

[Dicko]

OK Just to close off the original problem, it was a failed fuse... Probably failed coz the unit was full of water and the lower fuse was corroded to fcuk! Another great piece of BMW design.

Popped a spare fuse in there too just like the cheapskate manufacturers should have done too.

N.B. I think they have changed the location of this box. On my '06 it is only accessible after removing the throttle-side black panel whereas pictures I've found on the web seem to show it on the other side of the bike from '07 onwards?

 

[claw]

... Probably failed coz the unit was full of water....

When i uprated the fuses for the HID setup, i noticed a lot of moisture was also present in mine, something else to keep an eye on for future reference, as the fuse box doesn't seem to have much of a waterproof seal.

PS Pleased you got it sorted