R1200 headlights dont work

[geordie458]

Hi all. Im after some advice if possible please. I started my bike up this morning and my headlights dont work. Neither dippped or main beam bulbs light up, side light come on ok. I may be unlucky and both bulbs have blown simultaneously but that seems unlikely. Is there anything i can check before having to make a 90 round trip to the dealer. The bulbs look ok on inspection but unfortunately i dont have a spare to chuck in to test. Has anyone had this happen to them too. Any suggestions gratefully accepted. Ta.

 

[Toad]

Have you checked the main connector on the rear of the light unit?

The side light does not operate on this connector, so could be a likely candidate.

 

[geordie458]

Cheers Toad, the connector is fine. My first post was done in a bit of a hurry so i'll take my time with this one. I fitted a HID bulb a few weeks ago on the dipped beam. Its been working fine since. This morning however, when i started the bike, the HID bulb apperared to be pulsing in sync with the engine cranking. When the engine started, the bulb didnt ignite. Thinking the HID unit may have been faulty i removed it and refitted the original bulb. This didnt work either. In all states, the dash shows a Lampf. The main beam originally didnt light either but that seems to have resolved itself. It may be a coincidence but my clock is nearly 2 hours slow too. Are the main and dipped beam bulbs the same? If so i can swap them and see if that makes a difference. Immediately prior to starting the bike this morning i was attempting the canbus cable lead to power my satnav. Everything was done using the guide on here but the satnav wouldnt charge from the cable, as soon as i turned on the ignition, the power light on the satnav flashed momentarily but then went off and dint come back on again when the engine was running. When charging , the light on the satnav should stay on red till fully charged the turn green. Soory for the novel but ive had a bad day.

Cheers all.

 

[EggChaser]

The bulbs are the same - but also make sure you start the engine.

If you have a LAMPF failure even if you change the bulbs it won't clear until you start the engine

 

[geordie458]

I swapped the bulbs over and the dipped now works and main doesnt so looks like the bulb was goosed. The HID lamp that was fitted stopped working properly too. Could this have something to do with it?

 

[APW]

Try this
put the whole HID set up back together and when you try an start the bike switch everything off
heated grips,
fog lights,
switch the lights to low beam,
any sat nav etc all off
any other add on electrical gadgets you may have turn them all off

the idea here is to reduce the impact on the canbus on start up.
Then start the bike.
I even wait for mine to cycle through its check routine before I hit the starter button.
sounds to me its your canbus saying no to the HIDs after you have left it for a while over winter.
If this fails you may want to try a recharge of your battery and then follow the procedure above.
It can be a fine line with the HID's and the canbus on start up, but turning everything else off before start up should help.
I somtimes get a LAMPF warning if I dont do the above but a restart with everything off cures it. you will get used to the procedure to the point it will be second nature in no time and you will do it every time
If this doesn't work you may want to contact Les Wassel of this parish this fella knows his stuff when it comes to HID's top bloke!

 

[EggChaser]

Hmm well as a guess your HID ballast has failed and the standard bulb you put back in was also dead..

However this is a guess as all you currently know is that your OEM wiring to dipped and main beam is working and that you have at least one faulty standard bulb. The HID failure could be bulb or ballast.

Oh and with regards your SAT Nav if the bits you added have a short or are drawing too much current then the CANBUS will/should shut down that connector.

 

[TeaPig]

Have you got a 30W HID or a 50W version? If 30W it may be that you are just on the cusp of what the system regards as being the correct load (ie it matches a normal 50W bulb). 30W may be OK to work one day, the system may think it's a blown bulb the next, and give you a LAMPF.

 

[geordie458]

Chhers for the replies. Its a 35W HID bulb. I'll try the HID refit next then try the start up procedure with everything off. In this weather the heated grips are aways on so that may be a factor. Thanks again.

 

[Beemerman59]

I had a 35 watt HiD fitted to the dipped beam which was always temperamental until one day it completely failed. Changed it for a 50 watt HiD which has been fine for the last 18 months and 12K miles. I have 35 watt HiD on the Aux lights but they are on a seperate circuit with real fuses which doesn't upset the Canbus.

 

[NLC]

Had the same problem on mine with LAMPF coming on and have swapped it out with a new ballast which I have not yet installed. I have 35wHID. I have a Garmin and if that it is on it triggers a LAMPF. Try giving it a full charge with everything turned off. Good luck.

 

[geordie458]

Thanks again. On reflection, my HID was a 55W jobbie and not a 35W

 

[NLC]

I must have jinxed myself. Now my 35w HID shuts off at startup. Was working before. hmmm