Help! - Chasing electrons in circles

I have a pair of PIAA 80 driving lights on my '96 R1100RT and they blinked off last week. I mean poof, not working. The switch still has power and sends power to the relay, but no power to the lights. I am assuming that the relay is shot, but am wondering if anyone else has had a light relay fail on these high intensity driving lights?

If you've got power to the relay, but nothing coming out, it may be the relay. You may also want to check the ground for the relay actuator.

Was it possible to turn on the lights with the engine off? If so, do that and listen for the relay to pull in and drop out when you turn them off. There should be a distinctive click from it.

You said that voltage is reaching the relay; did you measure at the pin for the coil <u>and</u> output contact(s)?

Also, someone had posted on the K board a few months ago about a relay dying from condensation forming inside of it.

It will not spark up the lights under any conditions. I have not yet started pulling off tupperware to get at the relay, but I can hear it clicking when the switch is activated. I am working on the assumption that the relay is the likely culprit, but once I have it all exposed, I'll know a lot more. I was turning wrenches until 1:30 AM on vintage stuff last night and that brought me to the machine shop today for some work on the parts I removed so I'll be diving into the bike tomorrow night I hope and will report anything I find that doesn't add up. Thanks for the great and insightful responses. Sharing knowledge is what it's all about. Thanks gang.

Is the power to the relay fused? If not, why not?! Have you checked the fuse?

If you can here the relay clicking, it is most likely okay. You could have lost a wire from the relay to the lights. If you have the lights fused, they could be bad without affecting the relay.

Here is a picture of what you most likely have/want:



With the switch off, you should read 12V at one terminal of the relay--one side of the NO contact. If you don't have 12V here, and have a fuse, it is the fuse.

With the switch on, you should read 12V at three terminals of the relay--both sides of the NO contact and the coil.

Sorry gang, been WAY behind on my reading. I have still not yet gotten into this or even ridden the bike in nearly a month. Been busier than a one legged man in an ass kickin' contest with work and it seems the bike has been parked too long. I have power in and out of the switch, and no power at the lights at all. I have not yet pulled off all tupperware to get at the harness and the relay to see what I have there. PIAA has agreed to (actually offered unsolicited) to warranty the relay and all I need to do is give them the number off of it. That would lead me to think that maybe this is not the first time this has happened. Hope to dive into this some on Saturday. FINALLY got some time opening up.