headlight trouble

[Guest]

I just bought a 79 xs1100. It runs good but does have a number of issues one of which is the headlight. I have no high beam and the high beam indicator is not on(headlight is on with the key on). I had discovered the fuse panel and noted how poor the connections where, and as mention in this forum, I converted it over to modern mini fuses as shown from one of the members. When i was doing this i notice that someone had taken the wire to the headlight fuse and run it back under the seat and through an inline fuse and back under the gas tank (because the fuse holder was broken). I did not reconnect this wire yet as i have not figured out where that wire goes. It may be doing the same thing as it would if it ran through the fuse box??. Also for what it is worth the gas gauge does not work and I do not have lights in the guages. I am not sure if these are related or not.

[TopCatGr58]

IIRC, the headlight should only be on once the engine is running with the 79 and later bikes, the 78 had an on/off switch, the rest did not, so sounds like someone may have bypassed the headlight relay??

Okay, with the headlight fuse...one wire was diverted to a separate fuse holder, is the other wire for the other end of the OEM fuse holder still attached to the fuse holder, or are both wires missing from the OEM holder?

Folks have found wires that have come unsoldered in the control switch housings, so I would start there by taking your handlebar switch housings apart and check for loose broken/unsoldered connections.

Other things are like have you tested your headlight bulb to ensure that the high beam filament is intact and can work.....as well as the bulb in the high beam indicator of the gauge? Same for the other bulbs in the gauges that give you the backlighting for them. Checked them for presence of voltage when running.

T.C.

[Guest]

The wire on the other side of the fuse was still there on the old fuse panel I did have the handle bar switch apart but will check again. Is the headlight relay under the tank? I tried a test light on the headlight connectors when I switched the switch. I did not see any change. I will pull the gauges off to look for the bulbs. (they are up against a fairing) do u have to take the gauge apart to get at the bulb. I can not feel anything on the back

[crazy steve]

Somebody has been at your wiring....

The headlight relay should be right above the ignition coils after removing the fuel tank. If everything is working right, the headlight won't come on until the motor starts. The instrument lights are included in this circuit, so if it was bypassed that's probably why those lights don't work. Here's a troubleshooting guide, use this to trace the wiring...
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35337