Long time listener and first time caller. I have a 2012 with 15K miles. I noticed yesterday that my left headlight was not working. Having been a member of this forum, I figured my harness was burned up. I was right. I took it to my local dealer and showed them the problem. They are going to call Yamaha today. Fortunately, I got the extended warranty transferred to me when I got the bike last November. I will let you know how it turns out.
Another Headlight Harness Story
- Thread starter gjl
- Start date
Mine did the same thing last week, I was unable to find any harness damage but I did notice the plug on the left bulb didn't fit very tight.
When I wiggled the plug the light would come on, so I bent the tabs on the bulb out slightly until the plug was snug. It's been working fine since.
Might be worth checking out.
When I wiggled the plug the light would come on, so I bent the tabs on the bulb out slightly until the plug was snug. It's been working fine since.
Might be worth checking out.
Timely post... went out the SuperTen today to ride and checked the lights because of this post. The right front was out! Popped the rear cover, pulled off the connectors, and found the same as in the pic at this post - http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=2707.810
Similar to the above pic, I had that whitened look on the wire and when you looked at the insertion slots you could see some melting. Nothing I was gonna do before the ride, so I put the connector and cap back in place and lo and behold... the right light worked!
I'm not betting that it will last long, but I know now what to do when it finally does go out. I just hope my dealer is good for the warranty repair.
Similar to the above pic, I had that whitened look on the wire and when you looked at the insertion slots you could see some melting. Nothing I was gonna do before the ride, so I put the connector and cap back in place and lo and behold... the right light worked!
I'm not betting that it will last long, but I know now what to do when it finally does go out. I just hope my dealer is good for the warranty repair.
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
Yamaha has updated the headlight harness with a heavier gauge wire.
moar here: http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/tenere-headlight-issue-clarification/
If you plan to upgrade your bulbs to a higher wattage, or run HID's, do not use the stock harness, as it barely passes muster.
Carry on.
moar here: http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/tenere-headlight-issue-clarification/
If you plan to upgrade your bulbs to a higher wattage, or run HID's, do not use the stock harness, as it barely passes muster.
Carry on.
Mzee
Active Member
Agreed.greg the pole said:
Alright guys and gals, I promised you an update. My local dealer spoke to the mother ship and was told that a new complete headlight assembly with heavier gauge wire would be shipped to be installed in my bike under the extended warranty. The dealer said this new replacement is about a $600 part. As a side note, where I live is mostly 4-wheelers and cruiser sales, so the dealer had not even sold nore stocks a Super Tenere. A couple of the staff came out to look at my bike. The head service guy stared at it and said, " That thing really is a beast, isn't it." Damn straight!
gjl - thanks for the update. HA!! I had a dealer like yours when I was up in WV. I asked about a part for a Super Tenere and I literally got back blank stares and an inquiry as to - "what is that?" But upon a review of the sales floor to see 100+ vehicles out there with maybe 10 bikes and it was obvious that this was a quad and side-by-side dealer and not a motorcycle dealer.
So when you say that you got the the complete headlight harness assembly - are we talking both lights? Mine worked after plugging it back in, but i am expecting it to be dead soon. I am gonna run it by my dealer soon and see what I can get done to get it swapped out before it fully goes.
So when you say that you got the the complete headlight harness assembly - are we talking both lights? Mine worked after plugging it back in, but i am expecting it to be dead soon. I am gonna run it by my dealer soon and see what I can get done to get it swapped out before it fully goes.
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
pretty sure there's an echo here ::015::gjl said:
If they are replacing the entire harness and headlight, it's a bit overkill but it's free. Take it.
They could simply replace the harness with the new part number.
echo_four_romeo
New Member
When my dealer replaced my headlight harness, Yamaha sent them an entire new headlight assembly. Housing, bulbs, wiring, covers and all assorted nuts and bolts. So $600 sounds about right.trikepilot said:
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
ermmm....your headlights do not come on until the bike is actually running. Output from the ecu triggers the headlight relay to turn on.super ten said:
If you're smelling stuff, it's probably cooking away. Might want to look at your end connectors
Duckhead
New Member
$600? :question:
I purchased a "new" harness and have it sitting on my work bench waiting for the day mine takes a dump , but it cost $89 (?) give or take a few bucks.....$600 must replace lights and all mounting stuff associated
What do you think Greg?
I purchased a "new" harness and have it sitting on my work bench waiting for the day mine takes a dump , but it cost $89 (?) give or take a few bucks.....$600 must replace lights and all mounting stuff associated
What do you think Greg?
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
yep, what the guys stated above. If the harness lets go at the light connections, there's smoke that finds its way into the light lens and makes it grimy.Duckhead said:
Im guessing they are getting the old parts back (yamaha dealer)
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
read through my blog post. Sometimes the fix is not as easy as the actual ends of the harness that plug into the bulbs.super ten said:
The shared ground wire has a tendency to fail, and that may be the issue.
your electrical meter is your friend. continuity good.
Koinz
Active Member
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It's been awhile, but If the shared ground is at fault you should be able to measure a voltage drop across the ground connection to the frame or negative connection to the battery. This increases resistance and causes heat to build up at the light connections.greg the pole said:read through my blog post. Sometimes the fix is not as easy as the actual ends of the harness that plug into the bulbs.
The shared ground wire has a tendency to fail, and that may be the issue.
your electrical meter is your friend. continuity good.
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
that sounds right.
The lights have the biggest draw in that circuit, and they make the most heat, which doesn't help.
The only reason I came across my problem was when I was installing my HID kit.
mine were burnt at the ends.
Red Cats ground was burned past the sub harness.
Another forum member had a ecu ground signal crapped out and would not turn on his low beam relay.
Best to look at it early and prevent it from even having a chance.
The lights have the biggest draw in that circuit, and they make the most heat, which doesn't help.
The only reason I came across my problem was when I was installing my HID kit.
mine were burnt at the ends.
Red Cats ground was burned past the sub harness.
Another forum member had a ecu ground signal crapped out and would not turn on his low beam relay.
Best to look at it early and prevent it from even having a chance.
Well, I am writing as promised. On Thursday 2/27/14, my local dealer called to say he got the headlight replacement from Yamaha. I dropped "Tina" off, but not before we opened the box of parts. It looked like the entire headlight assembly including bulbs. I picked her up on Friday. The service manager did the work himself. He had to remove some of the front and side panels, but commented that the job was fairly straight forward. I looked at the new wires, but I can't tell if they are thicker or not. BUT, I now hear an audible "click" when switching between high and low beams that I did not hear before. (I don't mean from the handlebar switch) I wonder if something new is in the wiring. Hopefully this will be the last chapter in this story. I have had 6 different bikes in the last 2 years (Vstrom, KLR, DR650, R1200GS, C-14, and the Tenere). Some I had at the same time in an attempt to be able to cover different types of riding. I have settled on just the Yammy because I feel this bike will do it all (except maybe single track, and I have a mountain bike for that).
Gary
Gary
viewdvb
New Member
Yamaha have recognised the problem and it is now a mandatory safety recall in the UK. Dealer fits the new heavier gauge harness for free, warranty or not. Maybe its now the same in the US. If not, you should be asking why!
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
the audible click is the shutter working, and the associated relays.gjl said:
The ST has a h7 bulb (single filament), on low beam the shutter is down to block part of the light, on high beam the shutter is up exposing all of the light.