Low Beam Question

ReefRider · Sep 1st, 2009, 09:15 PM

I am new to HDs. Just got my first HD after 40 years of riding metrics. Here's my question. I have spotlights that only come on with the low beam headlight. My high beam works but neither my low beam or spots work. I have no voltage to the low beam connection in the headlight . If one of the spots go will I loose the low beams altogether? I was thinking it was a low/high beam switch problem but in all my years I never saw a switch go bad and this is a 05 Fat Boy. Feedback is appreciated

whatyardwork · Sep 1st, 2009, 09:24 PM

A bulb going out is most commonly due to filament failure and should have no effect on voltage.Even with a bad bulb, you should have juice.Sounds like possible water intrusion at the pigtail or a bad fuse.

Any mods done?Handlebars,A/M lighting?Check fuses.Find the pigtail and check the juice there.

glider · Sep 1st, 2009, 09:27 PM

If I understand your question right, the low beam goes out when the high beam is on and the spots are only on with the low beam and out with the high beam, that's the way it should work.

If one of the spots go, you will only loose that spot, nothing more.

This may be of interest to you...

Passing Lamps ON Wiith High Beam - Harley Davidson Community

R. Lewis · Sep 2nd, 2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefRider

I am new to HDs. Just got my first HD after 40 years of riding metrics. Here's my question. I have spotlights that only come on with the low beam headlight. My high beam works but neither my low beam or spots work. I have no voltage to the low beam connection in the headlight . If one of the spots go will I loose the low beams altogether? I was thinking it was a low/high beam switch problem but in all my years I never saw a switch go bad and this is a 05 Fat Boy. Feedback is appreciated

So your saying that you have high beam but no low beam/spotlights at all right!??

ReefRider · Sep 2nd, 2009, 06:33 PM

That is correct. The high beam works fine. When you switch to low beam I get nothing. I checked the voltage at the headlight plug. Basically high beam is 12V low beam 0 volts. I guess my best guess is to check it at the switch .
From there if I have voltage I guess it has to be in the wiring. Strange that the spots don't work!

dcofer · Sep 2nd, 2009, 07:01 PM

sure does sound like the dimmer switch to me and they will go bad, the contacts in the switch will either burn off or they get so burned they wont make contact. Check for voltage at the dimmer before you go chasing wires and no voltage on the dim wire going to the headlight there just about tells you its the switch. Have replaced a few on vehicles and they work on the same principle.

glider · Sep 2nd, 2009, 08:49 PM

How about checking the fuse before going any further?

ReefRider · Sep 2nd, 2009, 10:00 PM

Glider....Now I'm confused.....I have 12 volts top High Beam and 0 volts to the low beam........does low beam have it's own fuse?

hardrider · Sep 3rd, 2009, 03:37 PM

If I am understanding you correctly,I thought that the spotlights are supposed to work that way.Mine only work with low beam light,go off when I switched to high beam.

R. Lewis · Sep 3rd, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardrider

If I am understanding you correctly,I thought that the spotlights are supposed to work that way.Mine only work with low beam light,go off when I switched to high beam.

you are correct here and thats the way the headlight works -- BUT --- He doesn't have low beam or spots when he switches over from high to low. All that is happening is the high beam.

Sep 1st, 2009, 09:15 PM	#1
ReefRider New Family Ride: STREET GLIDE Join Date: Sep 1st, 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 8 My Mood:	Low Beam Question I am new to HDs. Just got my first HD after 40 years of riding metrics. Here's my question. I have spotlights that only come on with the low beam headlight. My high beam works but neither my low beam or spots work. I have no voltage to the low beam connection in the headlight . If one of the spots go will I loose the low beams altogether? I was thinking it was a low/high beam switch problem but in all my years I never saw a switch go bad and this is a 05 Fat Boy. Feedback is appreciated

Sep 1st, 2009, 09:24 PM	#2
whatyardwork Community Star Ride: 2008 Street Glide Join Date: May 4th, 2008 Location: Central Ma. Posts: 594 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question A bulb going out is most commonly due to filament failure and should have no effect on voltage.Even with a bad bulb, you should have juice.Sounds like possible water intrusion at the pigtail or a bad fuse. Any mods done?Handlebars,A/M lighting?Check fuses.Find the pigtail and check the juice there.

Sep 1st, 2009, 09:27 PM	#3
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,467 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question If I understand your question right, the low beam goes out when the high beam is on and the spots are only on with the low beam and out with the high beam, that's the way it should work. If one of the spots go, you will only loose that spot, nothing more. This may be of interest to you... Passing Lamps ON Wiith High Beam - Harley Davidson Community __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 06:33 PM	#5
ReefRider New Family Ride: STREET GLIDE Join Date: Sep 1st, 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 8 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question That is correct. The high beam works fine. When you switch to low beam I get nothing. I checked the voltage at the headlight plug. Basically high beam is 12V low beam 0 volts. I guess my best guess is to check it at the switch . From there if I have voltage I guess it has to be in the wiring. Strange that the spots don't work!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 07:01 PM	#6
dcofer Start The Engine Ride: 1994 electra glide classic Join Date: Aug 10th, 2009 Location: Russell Springs, Ky. Posts: 12 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question sure does sound like the dimmer switch to me and they will go bad, the contacts in the switch will either burn off or they get so burned they wont make contact. Check for voltage at the dimmer before you go chasing wires and no voltage on the dim wire going to the headlight there just about tells you its the switch. Have replaced a few on vehicles and they work on the same principle.

Sep 2nd, 2009, 08:49 PM	#7
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,467 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question How about checking the fuse before going any further? __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 10:00 PM	#8
ReefRider New Family Ride: STREET GLIDE Join Date: Sep 1st, 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 8 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question Glider....Now I'm confused.....I have 12 volts top High Beam and 0 volts to the low beam........does low beam have it's own fuse?

Sep 3rd, 2009, 03:37 PM	#9
hardrider Start The Engine Ride: 99heritage springer Join Date: Apr 20th, 2009 Location: Indianapolis,Indiana Posts: 10 My Mood:	Re: Low Beam Question If I am understanding you correctly,I thought that the spotlights are supposed to work that way.Mine only work with low beam light,go off when I switched to high beam.

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