| Author | Message | ||
     Snub13 |
'06 Uly The other day I noticed that my right front turn signal was out. Took out the bulb and all was well. Put the bulb back in and it worked. I figured maybe the bulb was loose or something. On the ride home from work (same day) it went out again! Took out the bulb and it was fine, put it back and it worked......WTF? This is a real head scratcher! In the past few days it has happened a couple of times and has come back on without me doing anything. Doesn't look like any wiring is loose or pinched. Does anyone have any idea what is going on? I know it's not my magnetic personality! Thanks for any insight. Tim | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Had a similar problem with my Harley. I got out my trusty multi-meter and was looking for voltage drops (easiest way to find intermittant things like this). Sure enough, found it in the connector (the thing the bulb screwed into). Oh - and this is a relatively new skill for me. I got the book "Motorcycle Electrical Systems: Troubleshooting and Repair". Highly recommend the book. It walks you through just about everything you need to know without requiring an EE major to understand what he is saying. | ||
| Snub13 |
Is that the same book as advertised in the new Aerostich flyer? If so I was looking at that, might come in handy now and then. Thanks for the help. Tim | ||
| Rays |
Snub, I have answered your post in the BB&D forum but have added it here in case anyone else looks in the KV. I was driven crazy by an intermittent R/H blinker with my '06 Uly a while back and eventually tracked down a broken splice in the loom at the front of the steering head. This splice is positioned really badly so it is right at the bend in the loom where it enters the loom guide. In this picture the brown wires to the right of the photo are the R/H blinker splice - one wire to the R/H front blinker, one wire to the instrument cluster, one to the blinker switch and the single one going to the rear R/H blinker.  When I stripped the glue-lined heat-shrink back (which holds the broken wires very firmly and helps create an intermittent situation rather than a straight break that completely fails), this is what I found:  I moved this join about 1.5" closer to the instruments and added a section of wire to take the joins away from the section that flexes. This may not be your issue but is really easy to diagnose once you know where to poke at the loom while the R/H blinker is operating. Throw me a PM if I can help you with any more detail. (Message edited by Ray-S on October 20, 2007) (Message edited by Ray-S on October 20, 2007) (Message edited by Ray-S on October 20, 2007) (Message edited by Ray-S on October 21, 2007) | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Tim - I haven't seen the new Aerostich flyer. You can get the book on Amazon (but I got mine at a local Barnes and Noble). As an example - Rays post shows an AWESOME step by step on how he fixed the problem. But you still have to find what section of wire the "short" occurs. Learning how to test for voltage drops makes short work of this. Most of us morals would not see the crimp/etc that made for the voltage drop. Today I got out my trusty mult-meter and checked out the fleet. WOW. I have a small voltage drop on the brake lights for my XB12R (Figured out that my security system for my XB was actually screwing up my security system), and learned what "normal" is for the rest of my XB12R, M2, Harley Ultra and yes, my GSXR 750 (who is being traded in for my new 1125R). I STRONGLY recommend this book for those that want do "do their own wrenching". Reading through badweb and talking 3 different dealerships - electrical gremlins are the worst to debug. For most it is because they don't know enough to properly debug the problem. This book tells how to do just that. | ||
| Mikej |
Looks interesting:  http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Electrical-System s-Troubleshooting-Motorbooks/dp/0760327165/ref=sr_ 1_1/002-2388584-3577656?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=119305 6811&sr=1-1 Amazon is linked up with Borders Books now, but don't know if the Border's Rewards program works with buying online. On my list of stuff I don't like to mess with, electrical issues is right down there with fuel injection waaaaay down the list ... with the Okra. I still remember that story about the guy who finally tracked down an electrical issue that turned out to be a short only when he was sitting on the bike seat and hit a bump in the road big enough to put enough pressure on the wires causing an intermittant short. Thanks for the tip on the book. | ||
| Newbolt |
I have a similar problem on an 05 Firebolt. Finally tracked it down to the turn signal connector. The wires in the connector are loose and will stop working intermitantly. It affects the left and right side. I have not decided how to fix it yet as I am working on replacing the headlight assemblies. BTW, I found it accidentally. I bumped the connector and the flashers started working. | ||
| Bad_karma |
Tim Any luck on the repairs? What did you Find? Joe | ||
| Snub13 |
Well, so far so good! All I've done so far (in a start simple and work up kinda way) is replaced the bulb, pushed the copper contact out a bit to make better contact and put a dab of di-electric grease on the contact. That was about ten days ago and it has worked fine since....if it happens again I'll have to pull apart the wiring loom. Thanks to all who offered suggestions! BTW the "Motorcycle Electrical Systems" book is on order. Tim |
