Monster 796 Headlight connector fried. Help!!

[Andyind]

Hello members and forum experts,

My headlight high beam and low beam suddenly stopped working one day, but the blue indicator light was on, all the time. When I checked, I saw that the white plastic connector that is attached to the headlight assembly (on left side when you see it from riding position) is fried. Two wires were fried/cut in the female connector side and the female connector itself was fried (browned out). The male side of connector coming from headlight was fine.





This is a design flaw on Ducati's side. Because the male connector is fitted upside down behind headlight bracket and acts as a receptacle cup to hold water/moisture. If you ride in rain, or happen to wash your bike, the water WILL enter this cup like thing and stay there, for a long time. when you fire up your bike next, it will short it due to moisture/direct water accumulation and your wires or whatever gets fried.

I checked and saw that all other connectors in the bike are placed properly so that water dribbles away and down due to gravity without entering the male connector side cavity. this is the only flaw area connector unfortunately.

I urgently request advice from experts in the forum:
1. Are these female connectors commonly available?
2. The new female connector must come with attached wires. So, should I cut the wires, say, about 2 inches from the connector end and then join the wires directly to the bike's wiring harness? (after ofcourse removing the fried old female connector)
3. Is this female connector available as a separate part from Ducati? if so, part no.?
4. if it is a Ducati part, then does the other end connect to some other male or female connector. This will be even better, because then I don't have to cut and join wires anywhere.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[Howie]

Andy, your problem is...ummm...less than common on new generation Monsters.  If you are still under warranty let them fix it.  If no longer under warranty I would try the dealer anyway since this is a known problem, they might fix it under good will, worth a try.  If they repair the bike pack that connector with dielectric grease.  If you do your own repair I suggest using a weatherproof connector like this AMP connector   http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=amp+automotive+connectors&id=2E122E6B391A34B2CB03C428713347D927CCF552&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=4363855AEEDF1DFA25C9281E90A9F1E7DA1335CD&selectedIndex=15   Do make sure the connector is of sufficient rating.

[Andyind]

Thank you so much howie for your advice. My bike is under warranty but the ducati idiots have screwed up their indian business so much that there is not a dealer in india who will do anything under warranty.  Ducati does not care. We are all short changed here unfortunately.  

[stopintime]

The type of connectors Howie showed you can be found here, with pigtails.

http://www.whiteproducts.com/pigtails.shtml

[SpikeC]

 A good retail source for the connectors is Eastern Beaver.

[Andyind]

Thanks again guys for your guidance. So, it looks like we have to go for 3rd party connectors rather than Ducati's...

[cyberswine]

I spliced in a longer section of wire to allow for bulb changes and eliminated the connector.

[Howie]

I spliced in a longer section of wire to allow for bulb changes and eliminated the connector.

That will work.

[JamMad]

Surprisingly common... although mine just stopped working without actually frying.

I also found it a NIGHTMARE to separate, but in trying to... I've fixed the light.

Fingers crossed it lasts until a much better replacement "4 pin waterproof connector kit" arrives from eBay.

Thanks to the forum solving my problem, I've just joined.... so THANKS!