Indicators doing starnge things

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by manxie, May 18, 2014.

  1. manxie

    manxie New Member

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    Indicators doing strange things

    Hi all, first ever post on this forum for me :)
    I have a 98 VFR800 and today while riding I noticed that when I press the indicator switch to the left, the right idiot light flashed and when I push it to the right the left idiot light flashes. The indicator lights however do flash correctly. If I do this with the headlights off, everything works normally.

    Any ideas?

    Want to get this sorted before TT starts this saturday, don`t want a small problem to escalate into a huge one :)
     
    manxie, May 18, 2014


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  2. Allyance

    Allyance Member

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    Sounds like some wires got switched, do you have a manual that tells you the color code for the wires. Since the indicators are backwards, maybe the wires from the switch harness got switched and to fix the problem someone switched the light wires (double fix, back to normal). Check all your connectors for corrosion and signs of meddling.
     
    Allyance, May 18, 2014


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  3. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Ground issues are not uncommon with this bike. There's an orange terminal on the left side of the bike where all the green grounds come together.

    [​IMG][/URL]
     
    tinkerinWstuff, May 18, 2014


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  4. nearfreezing

    nearfreezing New Member

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    Welcome! Is this bike new to you?
     
    nearfreezing, May 18, 2014


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  5. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Recently, there was a guy that found an aftermarket apparatus spliced in up front designed to make the rear indicators operate like running lights as the fronts do. The thing burned up and was doing something wierd like this. Can't remember his exact symptoms.
     
    tinkerinWstuff, May 18, 2014


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  6. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    SMOKE and FLAMES maybe ?
     
    squirrelman, May 18, 2014


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  7. manxie

    manxie New Member

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    Had the bike since january this year. It only happens when the headlights are on, if I switch the headlights off everything works normally..
     
    manxie, May 18, 2014


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  8. manxie

    manxie New Member

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    Now that could be usefull, as before I went out on a ride today with a pillion I adjusted the suspension settings, maybe I knocked something as the C spanner did slip a few times. Will check it tomorow
     
    manxie, May 18, 2014


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  9. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Not familiar with the euro bike harness but it sounds like a ground issue to me. The unit the other guy found installed was a VisiBike. Could still be something like that installed and malfunctioning too. I'm assuming a euro bike doesn't have marker lights when the headlights are off?
     
    tinkerinWstuff, May 18, 2014


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  10. EEEDDD3927

    EEEDDD3927 New Member

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    Hey guys I just got a 1999 this past Friday and it is my first bike and am having problems with the turn signals as well. if I touch the switch at all the signals turn on but they do not blink they just stay on in the dash and the lights them self and they only turn off when I shut the bike off completely. Also the tachometer does not work. what do yall think is causing this?
     
    EEEDDD3927, May 21, 2014


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  11. ZEN biker

    ZEN biker New Member

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    This really sounds like a ground issue. Couple places to look: in the harness by the headlight relay. The grounding lugs that attach to different frame locations. Last thing to consider is the diodes that control signaling can become flaky. These dont do normal things if there is any back feed going through them.

    You will need a schematic to trace this issue.
     
    ZEN biker, May 21, 2014


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  12. ZEN biker

    ZEN biker New Member

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    Dont thread jack. Start a new thread and then detail what you have tried and observed.
     
    ZEN biker, May 21, 2014


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  13. manxie

    manxie New Member

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    Just an update, the problem, whatever it was, has gone. A bit annoying really as I know it`s going to resurface again in the future! Ah well, TT fortnight is here, who needs indicators lol
     
    manxie, May 23, 2014


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  14. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    That much more likely to be a ground issue and the orange ground buss is a known fault point. As it gets worse, it has potential to leave you walking.

    [​IMG]
     
    tinkerinWstuff, May 23, 2014


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    #14
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