Headlight issue
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Joined: May 2020
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From: Culpeper VA
Headlight issue
Hello,
I have a 2003 Harley Softtail Standard Anniversary edition. The ignition completely died and would only turn on in acc mode. Replaced the switch still nothing. Replaced the starter really and nothing. Replaced the main circuit breaker and nothing. I then checked the voltage to the switch and I have my voltage there. Then when i flip it to acc the voltage is still there. Then when I switch it over to IGN the voltage disappears. For giggles I started pulling fuses. I pulled the lights fuse and it turned right on in IGN. I then disconnected the rear lights plug and it turned right on. Last I pulled the headlight bulb. With the bulb out the bike turns on. With the headlight bulb in the bike will not turn on. The ground wire is shorted to ground and the yellow and white are open to ground. Then when I plug in the headlight bulb all wires are shorted to ground. I cut the wires one by one from the headlight dimmer switch and with the headlight installed they are still to ground. Tried jerry rigging a new ground wire separate from the back wire and it still all grounded. So I am not sure of why the yellow and white wires are shorted to ground with the light bulb installed and open to ground with it not installed. Neither of the wires by themselves are shorted to ground.
Any suggestions from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Shaun
I have a 2003 Harley Softtail Standard Anniversary edition. The ignition completely died and would only turn on in acc mode. Replaced the switch still nothing. Replaced the starter really and nothing. Replaced the main circuit breaker and nothing. I then checked the voltage to the switch and I have my voltage there. Then when i flip it to acc the voltage is still there. Then when I switch it over to IGN the voltage disappears. For giggles I started pulling fuses. I pulled the lights fuse and it turned right on in IGN. I then disconnected the rear lights plug and it turned right on. Last I pulled the headlight bulb. With the bulb out the bike turns on. With the headlight bulb in the bike will not turn on. The ground wire is shorted to ground and the yellow and white are open to ground. Then when I plug in the headlight bulb all wires are shorted to ground. I cut the wires one by one from the headlight dimmer switch and with the headlight installed they are still to ground. Tried jerry rigging a new ground wire separate from the back wire and it still all grounded. So I am not sure of why the yellow and white wires are shorted to ground with the light bulb installed and open to ground with it not installed. Neither of the wires by themselves are shorted to ground.
Any suggestions from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Shaun
Last edited by Shaun Landon; May 31, 2020 at 06:08 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,748
From: South Carolina
Your troubleshooting methods make no sense..
First thing, charge the battery and have it load tested.
Once you have a known good battery you can troubleshoot, if the problem still exists...
First thing, charge the battery and have it load tested.
Once you have a known good battery you can troubleshoot, if the problem still exists...
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jun 1, 2020 at 06:35 PM.
You do not understand what you are doing and should stop.
The reason you are getting a positive wire to ground with the light bulb INSTALLED is the FILAMENT in the bulb. With the bulb out it is open as you seem to state. A bulb filament connects positive and negative wires - that's how the filament glows.
Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
The reason you are getting a positive wire to ground with the light bulb INSTALLED is the FILAMENT in the bulb. With the bulb out it is open as you seem to state. A bulb filament connects positive and negative wires - that's how the filament glows.
Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,748
From: South Carolina
That kind of suggestion really pisses off the folks who sell electrical parts, like starters, ignition switches etc...
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