1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues


Information and questions on GL1500 Goldwings (1988-2000)
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svebbe
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Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »



Hi all,

Electrical issues....dont like them! Better with mechanical issues.
I recently bought a 1991 Honda Goldwing 1500 Aspencade. Love it!
my problem is that a previous owner tampered with the headlight wiring. I have no low beam at all, and high beam comes on when you press the low beam button. I'm waiting for new replays to arrive, but I think the obvious reason is what you see in attached pictures. Have a look att the pictures and comment on what you see. I scaled off the tape on the side where the cable comes in for the headlight. I see the color of the wires coming in. On the connector the bulb, marked "PASS" there's a blue wire connected. That was hanging loose with no attachment.

Does anyone have a picture of the backside of the headlight unit, so I can see how it was from original?
Thankful for any help I can get!
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Best regards

Thomas
the_big_h
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Location: Gads Hill, ON, Canada
Motorcycle: 1984 GL1200 Aspencade
1999 GL1500 Aspencade
1984 VF1100S Sabre

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by the_big_h »

You can download wiring diagrams from somewhere on this site, I did a long time ago and forget exactly where.
But in summary (from the wiring diagram):
The 4-pin white connector you show is C24.
- Green wire is Ground
- Blue wire (black stripe) is High Beam
- White wire (black stripe) is Low Beam
- Brown wire (white stripe) is Position Lights.

So join Green from C24 to Ground to both headlights (from your photos looks like this is done OK already).
Join Blue from C24 to High beam to both headlights (from your photos looks like this is done OK already).
Join White from C24 to Low beam to both headlights (from your photos looks like you just need to join the hanging blue to White).
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svebbe
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Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

the_big_h wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:17 am You can download wiring diagrams from somewhere on this site, I did a long time ago and forget exactly where.
But in summary (from the wiring diagram):
The 4-pin white connector you show is C24.
- Green wire is Ground
- Blue wire (black stripe) is High Beam
- White wire (black stripe) is Low Beam
- Brown wire (white stripe) is Position Lights.

So join Green from C24 to Ground to both headlights (from your photos looks like this is done OK already).
Join Blue from C24 to High beam to both headlights (from your photos looks like this is done OK already).
Join White from C24 to Low beam to both headlights (from your photos looks like you just need to join the hanging blue to White).
Great! Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I will try that. So I connect the loose hanging blue wire to the white wire with black stripe coming from C24? And that would set the headlight up to low beam on both sides?
Best regards

Thomas
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svebbe
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Location: Sweden
Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

the_big_h wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:17 am Join White from C24 to Low beam to both headlights (from your photos looks like you just need to join the hanging blue to White).
Tried to do this, but it didn't help my case unfortunately. See pic, and excuse the sloppy soldering. Did I do something wrong? I still have high beam when I push low beam button. Nothing when I push high beam button. Don't know why it is like that. Maybe I need to see what's been done in the controls on the left side handle grip? Maybe it's mixed upp there.
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Best regards

Thomas
the_big_h
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 7:35 pm
Location: Gads Hill, ON, Canada
Motorcycle: 1984 GL1200 Aspencade
1999 GL1500 Aspencade
1984 VF1100S Sabre

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by the_big_h »

I'd check at the relay box (just behind the battery) first.
According to the wiring diagrams, relay 4 is for high beams, relay 8 is for low beams.
Both are supplied from the same fuse #5, so if either high or low beams work, it's not the fuse.
I've seen quite a bit of discussion here about relays going bad, so that is a strong possibility.
If I recall it's a nuisance to remove the relay box cover, I think I was able to remove mine by unbolting the relay box, and pushing it back enough to get the cover off. I think others have reported removing a bunch of stuff to be able to get the cover off.

If you pull relays 4 and 8, and use a test light (clip lead of test light clipped onto ground - like battery negative terminal) you should get:
- with key on, headlight switch in High beam position, test light should light up for 2 of the positions in Relay 4 socket, and 1 of the positions in Relay 8 socket.
- with headlight switch in Low beam position, test light should light up for 2 of the positions in Relay 8 socket, and 1 of the positions in Relay 4 socket.

You can also check continuity to headlight from the fuse box: With key on, clip the lead of the test light to battery positive terminal. Test light should light up in 2 of the positions in relay 4 socket, and 2 of the positions in relay 8 socket. (one position goes to ground directly, the other through the headlight bulb).

If both of these tests give expected results, then at least one relay must be bad. You could also just swap relays, see if you get low beam instead of high beam.

When you say you get high beam when you press low beam, do you mean that the high beam indicator on the dash lights up? If that is the case, then yes, there is some more wiring messed up.

I assume you've checked the headlight bulbs, that both high and low work at the bulb. When you say you get high beam, you should now have both headlights lighting up, correct?
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svebbe
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Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

the_big_h wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 12:02 pm I'd check at the relay box (just behind the battery) first.
According to the wiring diagrams, relay 4 is for high beams, relay 8 is for low beams.
Both are supplied from the same fuse #5, so if either high or low beams work, it's not the fuse.
I've seen quite a bit of discussion here about relays going bad, so that is a strong possibility.
If I recall it's a nuisance to remove the relay box cover, I think I was able to remove mine by unbolting the relay box, and pushing it back enough to get the cover off. I think others have reported removing a bunch of stuff to be able to get the cover off.

If you pull relays 4 and 8, and use a test light (clip lead of test light clipped onto ground - like battery negative terminal) you should get:
- with key on, headlight switch in High beam position, test light should light up for 2 of the positions in Relay 4 socket, and 1 of the positions in Relay 8 socket.
- with headlight switch in Low beam position, test light should light up for 2 of the positions in Relay 8 socket, and 1 of the positions in Relay 4 socket.

You can also check continuity to headlight from the fuse box: With key on, clip the lead of the test light to battery positive terminal. Test light should light up in 2 of the positions in relay 4 socket, and 2 of the positions in relay 8 socket. (one position goes to ground directly, the other through the headlight bulb).

If both of these tests give expected results, then at least one relay must be bad. You could also just swap relays, see if you get low beam instead of high beam.

When you say you get high beam when you press low beam, do you mean that the high beam indicator on the dash lights up? If that is the case, then yes, there is some more wiring messed up.

I assume you've checked the headlight bulbs, that both high and low work at the bulb. When you say you get high beam, you should now have both headlights lighting up, correct?
Thanks for your answer! And sorry for late reply.
Today I got a spare relay from a motorcycle shop. Fit right in, but sorry to say that didn't help.I attach some pictures of the relay lid and the fuse lid. I'm not so good with with the electrical issues, but I will keep trying. My relays don't have numbers, se picture.

Both bulbs are new, new headlight relay, sprayed connectors on the left side hand control on the bars electrical spray, fuses renewed. Still the same problem. When I press either high or low beam button nothing comes on. Its only when I press the PASS button the high beam comes on.
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Best regards

Thomas
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Rambozo
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Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by Rambozo »

Test at the headlight switch and dimmer switch. If the Pass button works everything is ok from the relay and to the light bulbs for high beams.
Do you have the wiring diagram?
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svebbe
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Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

No, I don´t have the wiring diagram. I do have a test light somewhere so I will try that also. Sprayed the start button this morning to see if that helps.
Best regards

Thomas
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Rambozo
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Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by Rambozo »

Have a look at this. You can see how the passing switch gets power differently than the headlight switch. Should help you trace out the issue.


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svebbe
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Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

Rambozo wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 4:50 am Have a look at this. You can see how the passing switch gets power differently than the headlight switch. Should help you trace out the issue.EuroLights.png
Yeah, there goes my limit :lol: It's like reading the hyroglyphs to me :D
I will drive it to my motorcycle shop. With the plastics removed to lower the amount of time they have to use to fix it. I did everything I can with my limited knowledge in electrical issues. But I thank all you guys for trying to help me!
Best regards

Thomas
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svebbe
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Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

Finally!
Managed to bridge the headlight switch today. Tight to solder, but I managed after several try-outs. Now everything works as it should. Thanks to everyone for your help!
Best regards

Thomas
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plain
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Location: SE TX
Motorcycle: 1994 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by plain »

svebbe: I read that you "bridged" the headlight switch. Can you tell what you did to do this? I don't understand "bridged" in this context. Thanks!
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svebbe
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Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade

Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by svebbe »

plain wrote: Sat Aug 06, 2022 5:49 pm svebbe: I read that you "bridged" the headlight switch. Can you tell what you did to do this? I don't understand "bridged" in this context. Thanks!
Sure! I will tell you what I did. I'm by no means good at electric issues and struggled to fix my issue. Got a a lot of help from the internet, like GoldwingDocs, and from knowledgeble people.
The way I finally managed to fix the issue was to as they say it here...to bridge the soldering points underneath the button for headlight switch. You open up the housing for the buttons. It's two screws underneath. And then remove the choke cable for easy access. If you look underneath the button for the headlight switch carefully you will see there is three soldered-in thin cables. Take another thin cable, strip both ends and, with the ignition on, you connect it between the left soldered connection point and top soldered connection point. Just connect it without solder it to see if it works for you. It did with mine. If it works solder the cable (only need a short cable) between the connection points. It's a tight area to solder so you might experience some swearing when doing it :D Then put everything back together again.

This worked for me. It's a known problem for the Goldwing that comes with the age I guess.
Good luck ! I hope it will work for you. Let us know how it works out.
Best regards

Thomas
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plain
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Re: 1991 Goldwing 1500 headlight wiring issues

Post by plain »

Ah! Well that's good to know, Thanks! I am thinking I may have to work on this switch assembly soon so I will definitely keep this in mind. :)


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