Heritage Headlight Issue
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Georgia
Heritage Headlight Issue
Hoping someone can give me a little help here. My warranty has run out so Harley won't give me the time of day unless I have my wallet out when I walk up to the counter...
I've got a 2011 Heritage and noticed the other night that my headlight seems to brighten up and then dims back to what I'd call normal. When it brightens up I also notice the light in my instruments (speedometer) goes out. I had a harness that keeps your spot lights on while your headlight is on bright and a harness that makes my blinkers work as brake lights... I removed both to see if they were the problem. Made no difference if they were installed or removed... My bike is also dragging on start-up to the point it makes my odometer reset back to total miles... I've removed my battery had it tested (it's good) cleaned the post and wires good makes no difference... I don't ride at night to often so I'm not sure how long this has been going on. Oh I still have not reinstalled my wiring harnesses... Appreciate any help...
I've got a 2011 Heritage and noticed the other night that my headlight seems to brighten up and then dims back to what I'd call normal. When it brightens up I also notice the light in my instruments (speedometer) goes out. I had a harness that keeps your spot lights on while your headlight is on bright and a harness that makes my blinkers work as brake lights... I removed both to see if they were the problem. Made no difference if they were installed or removed... My bike is also dragging on start-up to the point it makes my odometer reset back to total miles... I've removed my battery had it tested (it's good) cleaned the post and wires good makes no difference... I don't ride at night to often so I'm not sure how long this has been going on. Oh I still have not reinstalled my wiring harnesses... Appreciate any help...
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
what he said.And because your warranty is over and you might have to pay for service/diagnostics, don't **** and moan about it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
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From: Sunny South Florida
Start with the easy stuff first. Test your battery, Check the connections to the battery and ground, make sure there are no lose wires in the headlight bucket area.
What you are describing is either a regulator issue or more likely a ground issue. When one system has an effect on another like your gauges going out when this happens, it typically means the system is either getting voltage or ground through another circuit.
Also, not to sound like you don't know what you are doing here, but have you made any changes lately? Added anything moved your handlebars, added lights etc? Sometimes the simplest upgrades have an effect on other systems that we overlook.
What you are describing is either a regulator issue or more likely a ground issue. When one system has an effect on another like your gauges going out when this happens, it typically means the system is either getting voltage or ground through another circuit.
Also, not to sound like you don't know what you are doing here, but have you made any changes lately? Added anything moved your handlebars, added lights etc? Sometimes the simplest upgrades have an effect on other systems that we overlook.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
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From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
Everything you listed goes directly to battery cable connections or battery. If you are positive your cables are clean and tight on all ends I would suspect battery or several other things.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Georgia
Start with the easy stuff first. Test your battery, Check the connections to the battery and ground, make sure there are no lose wires in the headlight bucket area.
What you are describing is either a regulator issue or more likely a ground issue. When one system has an effect on another like your gauges going out when this happens, it typically means the system is either getting voltage or ground through another circuit.
Also, not to sound like you don't know what you are doing here, but have you made any changes lately? Added anything moved your handlebars, added lights etc? Sometimes the simplest upgrades have an effect on other systems that we overlook.
What you are describing is either a regulator issue or more likely a ground issue. When one system has an effect on another like your gauges going out when this happens, it typically means the system is either getting voltage or ground through another circuit.
Also, not to sound like you don't know what you are doing here, but have you made any changes lately? Added anything moved your handlebars, added lights etc? Sometimes the simplest upgrades have an effect on other systems that we overlook.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Georgia
I had the charging system checked by Harley... They said all was ok...
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Georgia
I removed the battery and had it tested at Advanced Auto. They said the battery was fine... I removed the cables and used a wire brush to clean the battery post as well as the cables. Tighten everything very well.. I feel the connections are good. I've thought that maybe the battery has an internal problem that maybe the load test ant showing and have considered another battery. Was trying not to buy a $100 battery...
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From: Beyond Fucital
When dose the speedo blank out, is it when the head light gets brighter or when it gets dim?
If it's when it gets dim, follow the wires back to the main fuse and battery,also test the voltage regulator and stator.
If it's when it gets brighter (real bright or normal bright?) test the voltage regulator and stator.
If it's when it gets dim, follow the wires back to the main fuse and battery,also test the voltage regulator and stator.
If it's when it gets brighter (real bright or normal bright?) test the voltage regulator and stator.
Last edited by RANGER73; Oct 13, 2013 at 06:09 AM.