GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Electrics => Topic started by: JHR9891 on Saturday, 04 March 2023, 07:57 AM

Title: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: JHR9891 on Saturday, 04 March 2023, 07:57 AM
Hi folks,

Hoping someone might have seen this before. I have absolutely no backlights on my gauge cluster. All the other lights appear to be working as does the rev counter and odometer/fuel level display.

Any ideas? Are failures of these board common? TIA
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: KiwiCol on Saturday, 04 March 2023, 03:49 PM
Hi, no it's not a common issue with these bikes.  If all your backlights are out, I'd be looking for a broken connection / wire in the back of the clocks. 
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: Hooli on Saturday, 04 March 2023, 07:39 PM
Yeah what Col said, it's probably a wire that feeds the back lights. There's a pinout diagram of the clock plugs on here somewhere, I can't think which thread to look for it in though. Chances are it's down to the multiplugs in the headlight where the clocks plug in.
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 05 March 2023, 02:31 AM
@JHR9891  Just added the pin out connections diagram up as a sticky if that helps - follow link below

https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=7356.0
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: Hooli on Sunday, 05 March 2023, 04:08 AM
Looking at that diagram, it should be the one marked 'lights' you need to check you're getting 12v to the clocks from.
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: JHR9891 on Sunday, 05 March 2023, 08:34 PM
Hi folks. So I did some checks and it looks like the 12v wire (Orange/Green trace, whatever it is on the service manual) does get 12v all the way up to the gauges. That 12v powers all lights and the gauge itself. The ground wire is also fine. Verified with a meter and also by de-pinnging from the plug; on doing so the whole lot fails.

At this point I assume we have a failed component which has taken out all of the smaller backlights (probably a capacitor or similar) do we have anybody on the forum that can fix these? Or that perhaps is breaking a GSX ...

Other thing I have noticed is the buttons for the odomoter/setting the time don't work. This looks to be because the circuit board these buttons would normally press is missing (!) not sure what happened to these gauges but assume they are second hand.

EDIT: It looks like the First edition-2004 gauges are different to the 2005-2007 editions. On the first edition we have this secondary board which is basically two buttons for the odometer/set time, on the later edition this is all one board.  Does anyone have any pics of the PCB on the earlier edition please so I could confirm. It looks like I can order the earlier editions smaller PCB board (£60 ish) but just wanted to see if it was literally a button. If so I reckon it would be trivial to wire something up to sort that.

TIA

Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: KiwiCol on Monday, 06 March 2023, 04:06 AM
Paul Thompson   @Thommohawk   is the guy for this, however, he doesn't frequent the forum much these days. 

I've put a YouTube link to one of his latest clocks conversions for the GSX, looks amazing.  He can now add Gear position, Air Temp, Oil Temp & Battery voltage in a custom built display that goes between the clocks.  Yeah, I'd have that done, but a but far away way down here in NZ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovmncQ23qPA


Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: seth on Monday, 06 March 2023, 04:52 AM
Tommo still doing his electronical wizardry look him up on Facebook
Paul Thompson  :cheers:
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: Hooli on Monday, 06 March 2023, 06:42 PM
Quote from: JHR9891 on Sunday, 05 March  2023, 08:34 PM
EDIT: It looks like the First edition-2004 gauges are different to the 2005-2007 editions. On the first edition we have this secondary board which is basically two buttons for the odometer/set time, on the later edition this is all one board.  Does anyone have any pics of the PCB on the earlier edition please so I could confirm. It looks like I can order the earlier editions smaller PCB board (£60 ish) but just wanted to see if it was literally a button. If so I reckon it would be trivial to wire something up to sort that.

TIA

I'll have a look in my old pic collection as I've been in there a few times on mine. But yes, the early clocks have two small sub-boards they carry the microswitches for the buttons. On mine currently the LH button doesn't work often, it's the rubbery bit on the back of the button (part of the front case) that's bent so it doesn't it the button right. I keep saying I'll put a collar on it but never bother.
Title: Re: No backlight on cluster gauges
Post by: grog on Monday, 06 March 2023, 06:53 PM
Yeah, Col id like that conversion. Looks so good.