headlight wont turn on

[Dirtytoes]

this is regarding my 2005 ex500.

i was riding canyons last night w/ high beams, then all of a sudden it went out.

then switched to low beam and that still worked.

then after the canyons on the way back home that went out too....now i have no headlights at all.

now i opened up the whole front of the body and can't figure out wats wrong.

any help would be very appreciated.

[dr_bar]

this is regarding my 2005 ex500.

i was riding canyons last night w/ high beams, then all of a sudden it went out.

then switched to low beam and that still worked.

then after the canyons on the way back home that went out too....now i have no headlights at all.

now i opened up the whole front of the body and can't figure out wats wrong.

any help would be very appreciated.

How's the bulb?

[asiantay]

"duh"

[Shorts]

^^^^^^


Yes, check the bulb. If its a dual filament more than likely the highs blew out, then shortly after the remaining low filament went out.

If it isn'tyour bulb, then start checking wires and fuses.

[Dirtytoes]

how can i check to see if it's the bulb? and how do i find out if it's a "dual filament"?

here is a relevant sory:

about 2 months ago, my bike got knocked down by a garbage truck (hit & run)

anyway, the entire light "thingie" is held by the front plastic with 4 brackets which connect at each corner of the light right to the plastic.

when the bike was knocked down, 3 of the 4 brackets broke off, now since then, the light has been hanging on by just 1 bracket. and it was always shaking when i ride.

other electrical problems:
1. the Neutral light is always on or blinking, even when i'm in gear.
2. the speedo went out yesterday, but that was because one of the wires came loos from the vibration.

i don't know if any of the above is relevant to this issue but i thought it might help in finding out what the problem is.

[Gadjet]

excess vibration has shortened your bulb life. The bulb blew out. Take out the old one, take it to your local NAPA or Pep Boys and get a new bulb.

If you don't know how to take out the old bulb, you should really think about investing in a manual.

[Shorts]

how can i check to see if it's the bulb? and how do i find out if it's a "dual filament"?

You take the bulb out from the headlight assembly and look at it. If the little filaments are broken and/or burnt, the bulb is bad.

here is a relevant sory:

about 2 months ago, my bike got knocked down by a garbage truck (hit & run)

anyway, the entire light "thingie" is held by the front plastic with 4 brackets which connect at each corner of the light right to the plastic.

when the bike was knocked down, 3 of the 4 brackets broke off, now since then, the light has been hanging on by just 1 bracket. and it was always shaking when i ride.

other electrical problems:
1. the Neutral light is always on or blinking, even when i'm in gear.
2. the speedo went out yesterday, but that was because one of the wires came loos from the vibration.

i don't know if any of the above is relevant to this issue but i thought it might help in finding out what the problem is.

It'd be a good idea while you have the headlight off to go through all the wiring back there. Things probably got compromised. Get a manual for your bike. If you haven't gotten one because you're lazy, that's kinda a kick in the teeth. I cannot find an English manual for my bike to save my life. In fact, it doesn't exist! I have to go through each individual wire and trace whree it goes and what it does. So, don't abuse the manual availability prviledge - go get a manual.

Your bike needs maintenance and repair, get to it. It is one of the joys and responsibilities of owning a motorcycle. It isn't always tulips and daisies of riding.

[Mr_Salad]

Sounds like a bulb problem, but I have had a similar problem that has nothing to do with the bulb:

I have a short somewhere in my wiring, so the battery is slowly discharging all the time. After a few days of riding, the headlight would go out, then the turn signals and the neutral light. As the battery dies, the electrical components start to go out. So if this is happening, it might be more than just a burned out bulb.

I had to take it to a mechanic because I couldn't find where the wires were messed up. I would change the bulb, and then reevaluate.

[Kal]

Bulbs, check it just like a house bulb.

note: When you put the new bulb in use a tissue to hold the bulb. Avoid gettng fingerprints on it.

I had an electrical problem on CeeGee, turned out the main earth wasn't connected to the frame which meant that it was earthing through whatever connection it could.

[Dirtytoes]

thx guys, it was the bulb. got a new one for $10.