Pelican Parts
Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   Pelican Parts Forums > BMW Forums > BMW Technical Forums > BMW R1100S / R1200S Tech Forum


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread
Author
Thread Post New Thread    Reply
Registered
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 207
Flickering headlights

Anyone have any idea why my headlights seem to flicker when I first start my R11S? I shipped my bike to Korea to keep from leaving it in storage for two years. The plan was to ride it on post and occasionally outside the the city limits. I started the bike yesterday and noticed my lights seemed quite dim and they flickered when I revved the engine. While riding, they blinked completely off for a second. Any ideas ( battery is lithium about a year and a half old; original all alternator and mostly stock bike).

__________________
BP
Old 10-23-2014, 02:50 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #1 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 306
Just a guess, but sounds like a loose connection or a grounding issue.
Old 10-23-2014, 03:15 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #2 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,157
Garage
sometimes the dim and flicker can be caused by a loose connection that's being vibrated just a tad farther away from it's ground spot than it wants to be.
if that's the case you're looking for a ground that might be only finger tight but looks correct, or a connector that's almost, but not quite, completely clicked together.

if you're lucky, it's neither of those things. it can turn into quite a witch hunt.
maybe it's some built up moisture/corrosion from being in hot, humid Korea, plus the boat ride?
__________________
'04 R1100s. I changed a couple o' things.
Old 10-23-2014, 06:03 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #3 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 207
Okay, thanks for the input. Could it be a loose negative wire connected to my battery? Now that I recall, I rushed through the process of connecting my battery and I did not take all testify off when I reconnected the battery. Thanks again.
__________________
BP
Old 10-23-2014, 06:50 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #4 (permalink)
Registered
 
maverickma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Fogelsville, PA
Posts: 344
Are you sure the battery is healthy? Have you tested the voltage while its running or under load to make sure it's where it should be? Lithiums are very sensitive to proper maintenance, doesn't matter how new it is.
__________________
16' BMW R1200RS
09' BMW HP2 Sport
00' Harley Fatboy
Old 10-23-2014, 07:48 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #5 (permalink)
Living on borrowed time!
 
JonyRR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
Posts: 7,020
I concur with a loose ground. Fix it asap as disconnecting the battery intermittently really f's with microprocessors..something about an 'emp pulse', ugh. asic chips (bosch moronic, oops, I mean motronic) abhor transient voltage and current spikes.

I spent 2 weeks at camp stanley (AHT/227 avn 1CD, 68JX1D1, old MOS, armament dawg) once and that's too much korea for me, ever. scary

__________________
Better a has-been than a wanna-be

'I am John Andrew Moffett of the Clan Moffat and by god I live, love, seek, fail, grieve and die as I so choose and I call no man master save me'.

Last edited by JonyRR; 10-23-2014 at 09:23 AM..
Old 10-23-2014, 09:20 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #6 (permalink)
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

 


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:32 AM.


 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page
 

DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.