GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Electrics => Topic started by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:32 AM

Title: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:32 AM
At the weekend the rear and front light has started to dim and flash when I switch the indicators on on the same rhythm as the indicators...any ideas...bad earth??
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:35 AM
Bad earth is the most likely, although do also check battery and charging voltage as it could be either of those also. Likewise check all your earth mountings (inc the strap from teh battery are all good and rust free (the negative from the battery sometimes corrodes a tad and a couple of minutes with a wire brush sorts it)

Just also check that the wires coming out of the headlight along the side of the headstock are all good - not unknown for those to rub through at those places either.

But my guess is the earth wire under the seat leading up to the rear light might be the culprit. That's where I'd start
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:38 AM
Will do.....
For the first time ever I stalled it twice starting off aswell and thought it was wierd....could be low volts.....
Bad weekend had a puncture and a link on the chain snapped and this issue all in one day
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:40 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 02:38 AM
Will do.....
For the first time ever I stalled it twice starting off aswell and thought it was wierd....could be low volts.....
Bad weekend had a puncture and a link on the chain snapped and this issue all in one day

I'd skip buying a lotto ticket this week then  :happy1:

Could well be battery is on the blink then rather than an earthing issue. It happens.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: seth on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 02:49 AM
Check the earth's from the engine as mine got corroded then the bike tried to earth through the small earth wires running from the gear position sensor burning them out when I tried to start it .
:cheers:
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:01 AM
What should the volts be on battery?
As it starts ok
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:05 AM
Forgot to mention if I switch indicstors on when I switch on the kill switch to start up you can here the fuel pump pulsing at same tempo as indicstors
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:07 AM
12.65v is a fully charged battery at rest.   I take it you've got a multimeter, so start the bike & check the voltage at idle, will be around 14.3 - 14.5v, add a few revs (2½ - 3,000) & it'll drop down to lower 14's or high 13's.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:10 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:01 AM
What should the volts be on battery?
As it starts ok

12.5 V minimum
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:11 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:05 AM
Forgot to mention if I switch indicstors on when I switch on the kill switch to start up you can here the fuel pump pulsing at same tempo as indicstors
I'd say you're battery is due for replacement.  How old is it?  Was also thinking, are your indicators std or aftermarket led ones?
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:13 AM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:11 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:05 AM
Forgot to mention if I switch indicstors on when I switch on the kill switch to start up you can here the fuel pump pulsing at same tempo as indicstors
I'd say you're battery is due for replacement.  How old is it?  Was also thinking, are your indicators std or aftermarket led ones?
original indicators and the battery was on it when I bought it 2 yrs ago.....
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:20 AM
You got a multimeter?
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:27 AM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:20 AM
You got a multimeter?
Just checked it now
12.7volts on resting
14.3 v idle
14.1v at 3000rpm
Looks like the battery is ok then
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:40 AM
I can also here a clicking sound 2or 3 times coming from underneath petrol tank when switching on the run/kill switch??
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:44 AM
Would appear the battery & charging system are ok.  The clicking would be the fuel pump I'd say.  Why it's clicking is the question, back to bad earth by the sound of it.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:50 AM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:44 AM
Would appear the battery & charging system are ok.  The clicking would be the fuel pump I'd say.  Why it's clicking is the question, back to bad earth by the sound of it.
Where the hell to start
Earth to battery is ok
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 03:51 AM
Could it be the indicators relay?
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 04:01 AM
Finding something like that is bloody awkward really, as you are never 100% sure that's the problem, so you have to go about it methodically, start at the easy stuff, clean all connectors (inside) to make sure it's not one of them causing it.   Check the condition of the wires (where visible) for cracks / cuts in the insulation.
As Dave said, round the headlight orifice & the rear light earth under the seat. It may not be the earth either, it can be the power wire (from something) shorting to earth causing the same things.  I'd be having a close look at the indicator wiring myself, as that's where it seems to manifest itself, then the Kill switch itself.

There can be a hell of a lot to go through to find it, just do the easy / logical stuff first & mostly that identifies it.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 04:01 AM
The clicking sound seems to be coming from near the rear end of the tank above the air box and not the fuel pump
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 04:20 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 08 August  2019, 03:51 AM
Could it be the indicators relay?

Yes, it could be turn signal/side-stand relay. Check if the indicators are LED. If they are, then the relay has most likely  been replaced with one that can handle LED (or resistor has been used). I have heard a few times that aftermarket  ones caused problems.

As said before it can be many things.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 04:22 AM
The indicator relay is under the left side panel, so doubt the clicking is coming from that. The only electrical thing under the tank is the pump & sender unit.

I'm off to work now, good luck.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: froudy on Thursday, 08 August 2019, 04:31 AM
The 7 pin indicator relay on the GSX14 is also a part of the starting system..Failure can cause all sorts of weird problems :onya:
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 06:26 AM
Still stuck.....
Had a chance again tonight to go through the bike some more after borrowing a 7 pin relay from a Busa but made no difference...
When all the indicators are disconnected it doesnt do it even if the switch/hazard is on....
As soon as I plug any one of the indicators it does it again...Im stuck
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 08:14 AM
I'm betting a poor connection or faulty wire (insulation) on the indicator circuit.  Check the wiring right through for the front indicators then the back.

Does it still do it if the back indicators are disconnected? yes? then it's the front ones that have the issue. If no, then it's the back ones.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 04:08 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 14 August  2019, 08:14 AM
I'm betting a poor connection or faulty wire (insulation) on the indicator circuit.  Check the wiring right through for the front indicators then the back.

Does it still do it if the back indicators are disconnected? yes? then it's the front ones that have the issue. If no, then it's the back ones.
It doesnt do it if all are disconnected but as soon as you re connect any one of them be it either front or back it does it ????
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 04:27 PM
The wiring to the relay? or the relay?  I know you've tried another relay, so have a look at the wiring going to the relay perhaps.  Or the switch on the bars.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 04:38 PM
Have a read to this thread, it's where I had an issue similar to yours & the cause & the fix.

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=2593.0
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 04:43 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 14 August  2019, 04:27 PM
The wiring to the relay? or the relay?  I know you've tried another relay, so have a look at the wiring going to the relay perhaps.  Or the switch on the bars.
I cant see it being the switch because it doesnt happen when the switch is on but the indicators are disconnected or when the hazzard switch is on but as soon as one indicator is connected back it hsppens...its doing my head in
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, 08:13 PM
Is it when you connect any (one) indicator, doesn't matter which?

If so then that is pointing to something common, and could potentially be the indicator switch itself (as suggested above). What it might be worth trying is just undo the switch off the handlebar and see what happens, and whilst it is off, give it a squirt of contact cleaner and check for any wires having rubbed through.

I can understand this doing your head, but whatever it is, I'm pretty sure its and earthing problem somewhere, i.e. one of the power wires to one of the indicators has worn through and earthed out
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 15 August 2019, 01:43 AM
Will give it a go and update :onya:
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 15 August 2019, 07:28 AM
Having followed the wiring diagram in the haynes manual I have narrowed it down to the circuit that is labelled E which does the indicators,horn,brake lights etc and all these create the original problem ...having checked continuity on everything and all is good except that there is no continuity between the orange and green wire that supplies the feed to all the above from the fusebox and the last connection on the relay that does the indicators.....my only concern is that its labeled as a negative on the relay but cant be as its just a loop thats joined back onto the outgoing positive from the fuse box( if this makes sense)
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Thursday, 15 August 2019, 07:34 AM
My plan tomorrow is to trace this wire from the relay through the loom until I can see where the break is ......this must be the problem Id have thought any feedback would be great
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Will14 on Friday, 16 August 2019, 06:53 AM
Quote from: Gixerkid on Thursday, 15 August  2019, 07:34 AM
My plan tomorrow is to trace this wire from the relay through the loom until I can see where the break is ......this must be the problem Id have thought any feedback would be great

If you haven't done so already it may be worth checking the loom behind the headlight where it is clipped to the top of the chassis under the tank, I can recall a mates 1400 having a repair done there by the dealer when it was only a couple of years old, it was a 2002 model

Cheers

Pete
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Friday, 16 August 2019, 07:15 AM
Been at it for a couple of hours again snd still no joy....
If Ive checked continuity to every wire thats in this circuit and they are all ok and also checked that Im not getting continuity anywhere between the positive and negative wires(no shorting out) I cant see what else it could be...pissed off is an understatement
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 16 August 2019, 08:13 AM
maybe auto-sparky time.
Title: Re: Lights flashing
Post by: Gixerkid on Friday, 16 August 2019, 08:42 AM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 16 August  2019, 08:13 AM
maybe auto-sparky time.
Could well be as I threatened to sell the 14 tonight