Flickering R1100S tail lamp...

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:32 pm

My '!' triangle warning light came on yesterday on my 03 SS so when I got home I checked my tail light, and it was flickering.

Unscrewed the lens only to find that the bulb has some kind of green gluey substance round where it sits in the reflector...

Any clues?

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:45 pm

Looks like you may have a case of this...

Apart from that, I've no idea.

herrman · Post by **herrman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:09 pm

Gromit wrote:Looks like you may have a case of this...

Apart from that, I've no idea.

Nothing to do with Dans query but after seeing the John Pertwee years 1970/74 link above I now feel very old!!!

nab 301 · Post by **nab 301** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:14 pm

herrman wrote:
Gromit wrote::
Nothing to do with Dans query but after seeing the John Pertwee years 1970/74 link above I now feel very old!!!

The only "real" Doctor (Imho)

The Green stuff is probably just a result of water leaking in to the light unit ,clean it out with your favourite wd40 type spray ,clean the contacts and replace the bulb otherwise contact sculder and mully

herrman · Post by **herrman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:29 pm

nab 301 wrote:
herrman wrote:
Gromit wrote::
Nothing to do with Dans query but after seeing the John Pertwee years 1970/74 link above I now feel very old!!!

The only "real" Doctor (Imho)

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember William Hartnell playing the part, The original is usually the best----!!!!!

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:20 am

herrman wrote:
nab 301 wrote:
herrman wrote: Nothing to do with Dans query but after seeing the John Pertwee years 1970/74 link above I now feel very old!!!
The only "real" Doctor (Imho)

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember William Hartnell playing the part, The original is usually the best----!!!!!

Excepting of course Tom Baker...

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 2:12 pm

Bulb's OK, (green substance removed) have checked the fuses - all seem to be OK and number plate light is working.

The flickering appears to be coming from the brake light filament, but the other filament does not want to work at all.

Tightened the connectors on the light fitting, and checked the black/grey wire going back to the block connector under the seat.

It appears that there is nothing coming from the bike end of the black/grey wire on the terminal block under the seat.

Bugger.

gus · Post by **gus** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:52 pm

Hi
You may find that the rear light unit is buggered.It can wear out around where the bayonet bulb pushes and twists into position.This can cause a poor connection and intermittent flickering.Take a look and see if it stops flickering when you hold the bulb in position with your hand.
gus

madman · Post by **madman** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:26 pm

My rear light was doing that all the time. I know because my wife rides behind me and lights are required at all times here in France.
I thought it was the LED bulb and was intending to change it sometime. I then built LED light panels for both bikes and it has never happened again. The light panels were wired up to the original cables so not using the bulb holder.

POB · Post by **POB** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:24 pm

Weird that I got this today as well! No Red Light of Worry on the way home. Have been meaning to order an LED panel from NN's for a while, this is the push I needed!

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:27 pm

After searching on the Boxertech pages I'm thinking this may be caused by the ignition switch.

Other posters have spoken of wear on the switch causing a problem with the tail light (it works on 'parking' setting - but well dim) and also intermittent cutting out of the engine - which could also explain the spluttering I get from time to time.

I've decided therefore to order a new switch assembly - if it doesn't solve the problem it will probably be for sale on here or fleabay in a week or two...

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:27 pm

Latest update - splashed out on a new ignition switch, managed to get the grub screw out ok and wired in the new loom connector.

Switched the new one on - no difference, except that the one of the 4 amp fuses had blown and now the front parking light didn't work.

Noticed that the original loom from the ignition switch splits out into another section of loom disappearing under the tank - I presume to the Meta System alarm...

Put a new fuse in, back to the same problem - tail light very dim, brake light flickering on and off.

In Parking light position the tail light again comes on very dim.

Wired the original switch back in and replaced the grub screw.

Well that's my knowledge exhausted - Can anyone recommend a good specialist in the north Kent area?

By the way, the bike still starts and runs fine...

oyster · Post by **oyster** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:59 am

Sounds to me like a classic case of bad earth. And check the rear bulb is seated correctly in the holder, it is worth removing the rear lamp holder from the mounting to check this. On mine, the sprung blades that contact the base of the bulb were no longer sprung, so the bulb base didnt connect, no light. I fitted a block of high density foam behind these blades, which now applies pemanent pressure to the blades, making permanent contact with the back of the bulb.

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:18 pm

oyster wrote:Sounds to me like a classic case of bad earth. And check the rear bulb is seated correctly in the holder, it is worth removing the rear lamp holder from the mounting to check this. On mine, the sprung blades that contact the base of the bulb were no longer sprung, so the bulb base didnt connect, no light. I fitted a block of high density foam behind these blades, which now applies pemanent pressure to the blades, making permanent contact with the back of the bulb.

Thanks for your message Oyster, but I've checked all the easy stuff, there's no power coming to the connector block in the big gap under the seat.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's connected with the alarm,and whether a trip to the BMW dealer might be worthwhile - they may have a diagnostic machine to identify the problem (and the misfire)

Trouble is I don't want to get mugged...

Bender · Post by **Bender** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:32 pm

Happy ending!

After doing a bit of research I discovered a brilliant place called Bemer Bikes Ltd of Woodford Green in London.

I rode the bike there and explained the problems to the guys.

The misfire was cured in about 2 minutes with a coil pack (the sort of elongated plug cap) but the flickering tail light - which was now blowing the tail/front sidelight fuse - proved to be a problem that took a little uncovering.

The problem turned out to be a broken wire going to the EVO brake unit, which as eventually replaced, solving the mystery.

The bill was very reasonable and I was loaned an R850 R to get home on.

I would thoroughly recommend Bemer Bikes, the guys are friendly and helpful and seem to really know their stuff!

Now all I need is a L/H mirror...