Low Beam Only Failure

[kcamkram]

Hi folks,

I'm new to the group, and had a look through the past threads and couldn't find the answer. Apologies if I've missed it.

I have a 98 VFR800. I was out riding the other night. The headlights had been working fine. When I dimmed down from high to low, though, the lows were completely gone. The highs continue to work fine.

I have now checked all of the fuses (all fine) and have tried replacing the bulbs (no change).

I'm probably going to have to take this into a shop for help, but thought that I would ask here before going that route.

Anyone else experience this, and have a nice simple solution?

Thanks.

Mark

[kcamkram]

Quick update. Took apart the dimmer switch - everything looked OK, but blasted a little WD40 in there anyway. Back together and everything works fine.

Thanks.

Markm

[rottriley1]

I have a '98. When I switch from low to hi and visa versa, the lights go out temporarily. If I press the switch slowly, I can make the lights go out all together. The WD-40 sounds like a good idea. Do you ride in the rain much?
Sometimes water can play havoc on electrical connections.

[WhiteKnight]

You might be able to pick up some contact cleaner at your local dealer or electrical supply store. Also, you might check the connections at the headlight relay and make sure it is a good tight connection.

[kcamkram]

Thanks Rottriley. I have ridden in the rain, but only occasionally, and not this year. In fact, have only ridden it twice so far this season, but you never know.

Vinny - contact cleaner sounds like a better lasting solution than the WD40 - thanks. As for the headlight relay, I'm going have to stick my head back into the manual to figure out what that is, and where it lives.

Thanks to both.

Mark

[FrankoQ]

I'm having the opposite problem.
My high beam is complete out. It was fine yesterday.
Today, I went for a ride and noticed when I was behind a van.
No lights!!!
I switched to low beams and I had lights.

Sounds like clean the switch first and then check relay.
Will try that and see what happens.

[Fizz]

EDIT: Whoops, I totally missed the part where you said you replaced the bulbs....... awww man that's what I get for not paying attention!

I believe 98 VFR headlights are Dual Element bulbs. You can burn out the element of the low beam but have the high beam intact.

The same thing happened on my radian's brake light which is dual element, the light came on when I was pressing the brake(s) but not any other time.

Take the bulbs out and look at the element.

In fact, for whatever reason i still have my burned out tail light.

[FrankoQ]

Mmmm...
I recently replaced the stock bulbs for the sylvania silverstar bulbs.
I have the stock ones so I'll swap them and see what happens.

[bladrnr]

I had this happen too on my 2000 but ot was just the dual element thing. Just replaced the bulbs. On my 92 i had the deal where when I went from low to high then back to low. The lows would not comes back until I fiddled around with the dimmer switch.Pretty freaky on curvey country roads I'll tell ya. I got rid of the bike before I really had to deal with it. I think it was just a bad connection though. You don't have ride in the rain to get your bike all wet all you have do is wash it.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Mmmm...
I recently replaced the stock bulbs for the sylvania silverstar bulbs.
I have the stock ones so I'll swap them and see what happens.

Well, I put the stock bulbs back on and all is good now.
So, the sylvania bulbs are crap. they don't even have 1k miles on them
and the high beams are out on both.

I might go for the piaas now.