HORN STARTED HONKING AND HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WTF?

[jmklint]

I bought a beautiful 06 K9 3 weeks ago with 1200 miles. I have upgraded a ton of accessories and after reading all over this forum about the ECH or computer operating system, I thought how could a company have such a poor product out or maybe there are just a few lemons that made in to the public. Earlier tonight while on the interstate with my wife, my horn started honking in Intervals and then my Headlight automatically switched to high beam. I switched it back to low beam multiple times for I was in a fair amount of traffic and it immediately switched itself to high beam. After a few minutes of this and my headlight went out. This was quite scary because I was on an interstate merger and there was not a very safe place to pull off to and it was dark. I have had over 20 motorcycles over the last 2o years and have never had any experience like this. I really don't want to jack with changing out the Brain myself but it seems like it needs it by one of these "Wires Plus" units. I live in Kansas City Mo and would like to take it to a professional who has done this before. Any suggestions? I will pre thank you for your responses.

 

[Eric]

check the battery (load test) then check the charging system,,, do a search lots of info on here..

 

[Raywood]

I agree with eric, replace the battery. Then pull the harness off the EHC after you dis-connect the battery and see if it's full of die-electric grease. If not then pull the seal and fill each cavity with die-electric grease and re-insert the harness connections. Be VERY carefull of the pins on the EHC.
Disconnecting the battery will have re-set everything.

After you done with this take two asprins and then call me in the morning and tell what lights are on the EHC when the key is turned on and after the run switch is pressed.

But I think you have a weak battery also. They don't last long especially if your not keeping it on a tender

 

[BadBrad]

Has your bike been rained on recently? If your EHC is not full of dielectric grease and it gets rained on, some weird shit will happen.

 

[BigDogBro1]

When you wash your bike keep water away from the hand control buttons, also under the tank at the backbone area and round the EHC. Check the battery terminal wire crimps at the battery posts for tight crimps, tug on the smaller 18ga. wires. A battery going bad will cause the EHC to do weird things as well. If the low beam burns out the high beam automatically comes on. Check the headlight for a burnt connector in the bucket causing a bad contact. A ceramic connector can be had as a replacement. I just replaced my original battery this month and it's always on a tender like charger.

 

[RRRUFF]

What they said!

 

[jmklint]

Just got home for work and I will go grab a new battery and the conductive lube and see what happens. thanks again. I will post later today and see if things are better.

 

[Night Train]

I think you have two possible unrelated problems. Everyone here has already steered you in the right direction so not much more I can add but reinforce what they have already said. Check you headlight connection. BDM EHC will automatically switch beams if one burns out. Horn honking is an indication of battery issue. Could be related in the sense that your headlight may have been shorting at the connector and a weak/bad battery could not take the exta load.

Let us know what you find.

 

[jmklint]

Sure enough, all of you were right. I went to Baterry plus and bought the X2 20l thing that had a 2 year warranty and produces 310 CCA. HUGE Difference. All of my lights on the bike are brighter and it turns over so quick now. Everything works like it should. Thanks all.

 

[Night Train]

Glad it worked out but I would double check the headlight connector to be on the safe side as well. The two could have been unrelated.

 

[jmklint]

Problem not fixed. This sucks

Well, I thought by throwing a new fully charged, larger CCA(310) battery in my bike that my problem was fixed. It appeared to solve the problem yesterday but today after 15 minutes of riding my headlight switched to high beam and then it died. I was able to restart and ride it for several miles and it died again. I finally made it home. I also pulled the harness when I changed the battery and covered all of the terminals is the highly conductive grease. Any suggestions. I will probably post as a new problem for this might get missed.

 

[Raywood]

Well, I thought by throwing a new fully charged, larger CCA(310) battery in my bike that my problem was fixed. It appeared to solve the problem yesterday but today after 15 minutes of riding my headlight switched to high beam and then it died. I was able to restart and ride it for several miles and it died again. I finally made it home. I also pulled the harness when I changed the battery and covered all of the terminals is the highly conductive grease. Any suggestions. I will probably post as a new problem for this might get missed.

I wonder how strong that Jet Ski battery really is?

 

[pauldeepsea]

As far as the WP conversion I am in the middle and I would have to say it's so easy a caveman can do it... I have had many problems with this bike some self induced some just happen on their own. there are some very helpful members on here if you can turn a wrench I recommend doing some reading and asking for help if you need it.. I spend alot of time on here reading about problems and fixes. Good luck

 

[K9Anniv]

...I live in Kansas City Mo and would like to take it to a professional who has done this before. Any suggestions? I will pre thank you for your responses.

Have you talked with BDM factory customer service about this?
They're only 3 hours away from you in Wichita...might be worth a trip down there IF one of their guys could/would look at it.
I'd give them a call and see what they say....what have you got to lose?

 

[jmklint]

I wonder how strong that Jet Ski battery really is?

stronger than the 4 yr old battery i pulled out. LOL

 

[jmklint]

Have you talked with BDM factory customer service about this?
They're only 3 hours away from you in Wichita...might be worth a trip down there IF one of their guys could/would look at it.
I'd give them a call and see what they say....what have you got to lose?

I would have to trailer it down there because I do not trust it at all right now. There is a new authorized service center here in Kansas City, Hardcore Customs that I'm going to take it to today. I know there were several recalls on the 06 K9, one of which was "Brain" and I am pretty sure the previous owner never took it in. Will be heading there today.

 

[jimizee028]

Good Luck......

 

[jmklint]

Has your bike been rained on recently? If your EHC is not full of dielectric grease and it gets rained on, some weird shit will happen.

Not since I have owned it, all of 3 weeks. I have read several times that even the controls react to water. So heres another little quirk about this thing, when I brake the front wheel I hear a fairly loud buzz that lightens when I reduce the breaking force but it comes from my left handlebar controls. :bang:
I dont get it. These bikes seem to be made so well and the craftsmanship to the smalles detail are unmatched by anything I've ever owned and I've had over 20 bikes.

 

[jmklint]

Good Luck......

Thanks

 

[RRRUFF]

Glad it was simple. You also might want to put volt meter on the battery with bike running and see what your charging systme is doing. Should be 13 to 14 volts running.