Inop Headlights

GlenSmith

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First, low beam worked but high beam didn't. Then high beam went out to.

Changed the bulbs (even though they didn't look burned out) and still nothing. Changed the fuse next (even though it still looked good) still nothing. Headlights still don't work :( What's next to check? Chaffed wiring?

Thanks for your help!
 

Motogiro

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:welcome: to our great forum!

A couple of questions. Does your bike have the original left and right head lights? Has the head light system been modified?

One of the ways we can think our head lights don't work, and this has happened to a lot of us. The engine must be started before the headlights will come on.

Assuming your bike is OEM and not modified:
The left side light assembly plug has 2 wires. 1 Black with a green tracer and 1 black wire.

The right side light assembly has 2 wires. 1 black with a yellow tracer and one black wire. There is also a blank slot (right side) on the plug for an additional wire that is not factory wired.

Start your engine and put the headlight switch in low beam mode. With a volt meter, you should see 12 volts dc between the 2 wires on the left headlamp.
Turn on the high beam and you should see 12 volts dc between on the right headlamp. You should also have voltage on the left side during high beam operation.

If you don't see 12 volts on either of these headlamp wires then test between the black with green tracer and an actual engine or frame bolt/screw to eliminate the possibility of a lost ground path. If you now have a voltage reading, check for a loose wire at the engine and/or frame.

If the circuit is still dead and you have checked the fuse for continuity, you may have a bad headlamp relay. The headlamp relay keeps the headlamps from being active until the engine has been started. This relay is controlled be the ECU (computer) This relay may have failed. I will try to find it's physical location and edit this post when I find it. :)

Here's a link to Ron Ayers that shows the headlamp relay. They call it a dimmer relay but it's really an interrupt relay because of it's use in stopping the headlamps from coming on before the bike is started. This is a good design to allow as much current as possible to the starter. This relay may have failed. It's not called out on the diagram but in the FZ6 service manual it is identified as the dimmer relay. See #24 on the Ron Ayers reference. Ronayers.com Microfiche Yamaha>Motorcycle>2006>FZS6V FZ6>ELECTRICAL 2

Also see attachment. Part #8 is ID'd as the dimmer relay.

This circuit can also be tested to see if the relay has failed. It is possible that the ECU control of the relay has been lost. This has happened to one member on the forum and they did a work-around. If we get this far in the diagnosis I will help you with this because the ECU is a very pricey item.

Again welcome!
 
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Motogiro

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Yes! Everything is all good to go! Thanks for your help!:thumbup:

Cool! Do you know what it was? If you can tell us it adds to our knowledge base as members. This way we have a better idea of what to look for when help other as well as common failures. :D
 
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