When indicators flash the head and sidelight , dash light, rear lamps all go dim and sort of flash alternately . I have fitted a new flasher relay and no better . New fully charged battery . Cleaned earth lead from battery at both ends refit and no better. Checked all bulbs in indicators head lamp and rear lights and no better. checked wiring in headlamp and no shorting wires . Checked the little earth wire that comes off the main battery earth and cleaned in the multiplugs for any corrosion, non found. Checked in the indicator switch itself , cleaned with contact cleaner and that did not work. Made up and fitted a new separate earth lead and fixed it on battery and tried other end at various points around the bike on chassis , engine and lamp earths and fekking nothing has made any difference at all . :confused1: :frustrated: :cheers: So its down to the bike shop and hope they can fix it next week when they have it for an MOT , dreading a bloody big hourly rate bill if they dont have any clues either.
Any suggestions welcome and will be tried before it go,s in to them. :cheers: :cheers:
Definitely sounds like a bad earth doesn't it? I know there's other earth points around the bike, but I can't think where.
If you haven't already got it, have a look in the download section on here for the official workshop manual as I know all the earth points are marked in there.
I hate faults like this!
It could be a faulty earth on one of the indicators itself. Try disconnecting each indicator one at a time to see if that resolves it (so you only have one disconnected at any one time). Also check the earth to the rear light. I know that sounds odd, but I had a similar issue on a 14 a few years back and it was the earth to the rear light that was the issue, causing the indicators to go doolally.
If neither of those, then disconnect the headlight and see if that fixes it, then the clocks etc - essentially disconnect one thing at a time to see if it makes any difference, if it does, then it narrows it down
I think the lads are on the right track with an earth problem.
Ive had a read thru on this prob. Seems very common on lots of bikes, all brands. Earths cleaned, connections checked etc etc. on all the forums/ discussions havent found anyone who has solved the problem. Very strange one.
I suggest to do voltage drop testing.
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Automotive-Voltage-Drop-Testing (https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Automotive-Voltage-Drop-Testing)
Check the generator first, may be weak and it's an easy test.
I was going to ask, does it happen when engine is running? Then could be rectifier (AC to DC converter) or generator having a winding fault somewhere. if it happens when engine is off would indicate an earth fault in the loom somewhere. Does the display flash in tune with the indicators? That would indicate crossed wires or common short somewhere. Check relay too, been known to get faulty ones.
okay 1st Barmy, disconnected indicators, back lights , headlight and sidelight all one at a time in turn and nothing found , then brake light switch and front brake switch in turn with no result.only one i need to check tommorrow is the clocks and display
2nd Hooli found the download of wiring diagram only earth i found marked was the one from the battery to the top of engine on right hand side which is clean both ends.
3rd Eric it happens when engine off as if as soon as you switch indicators on they steal voltage from the lights and brake lights, i have not checked it with engine running but will do tommorrow now tank is back on.
Andre will look into the voltage check , it it something i will look at doing.
Thanks for your replies :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Just thinking after reading your above post, You say it happens when the engine is off, all those lights going & no engine? I'd say that's normal the lights dim when you activate the flasher without the engine running, you're asking a lot of the battery to run all those lights & not see any fluctuation when more load (the indicators flashing) is applied.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Saturday, 15 July 2023, 01:44 PMJust thinking after reading your above post, You say it happens when the engine is off, all those lights going & no engine? I'd say that's normal the lights dim when you activate the flasher without the engine running, you're asking a lot of the battery to run all those lights & not see any fluctuation when more load (the indicators flashing) is applied.
+1
Having re-read your original post
@dave55 i agree with the comments above. I remember on my 14 that there was a slight dimming of the lights when the indicators were on, even with the engine running at tickover.
I suspect you may be chasing a problem which doesn't exist! As they say "they all do it"
I noticed at the MOT this week with the bike ticking over there was a slight dimming of the lights when the indicators were used, not much.
The battery has only just been replaced and is charging okay, so perhaps they do all do it?
They all do. Mine does it a tiny bit. Wouldn't have noticed until I tried it in closed garage with overhead-lights off. I think, I did it with engine running.
There will be a drop in any circuit when a load is added. There are regulators that will prevent it, but in these cases the voltage will be higher, at least for a moment, then the no-load voltage.
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/581096/does-the-voltage-always-drop-when-adding-a-load (https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/581096/does-the-voltage-always-drop-when-adding-a-load)
If the dimming of all lights is strong I would check for an unusual high resitance. Voltage-drop-testing is far superior to resitance/continuity testing.
I have been told all Gsx 1400 do this thing, i know 2 people whose bikes failed the mot on this so called Thing
i have been told by my mot garage it wont pass with this THING.
Anyway this afternoon i cut the earth wires from the back stop/tail lamps and run a complete separate earth to the frame, no different. Bugga ! Then run an extra earth wire from the battery to the frame no different :furious: Bugga ! Will disconnect the clocks next.
meantime put a meter on the new battery, 12.5 v then with meter still connected turned on ignition and on this bike lights come straight on automatic and no switch to turn them off. So with sidelight and headlight on dipped, two tail light and clock lamps battery reading 11.5v to 11.6 v
Start engine and battery reading straight back up to 13.9v and when indicators switched on the lights still going dim :confused1: :furious: :furious: :furious:
worth a try but take the headlight bulb out and see if it changes, or try another bulb.
i have now disconnected the clocks and that did no good, then took headlight and sidelight completely off and that did no good so we will see what happens Monday/Tuesday when its in for Mot. Thanks for the help, will let you know the outcome. :cheers: :cheers:
Quote from: hard road on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 02:52 AMworth a try but take the headlight bulb out and see if it changes, or try another bulb.
Good thought, we're all assuming it's a standard bulb drawing standard current, could be a higher wattage bulb drawing more current than it's designed for.
It wouldn't be unknown for an owner to want a brighter headlight . . . :whistling:
Quote from: KiwiCol on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 06:04 AMQuote from: hard road on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 02:52 AMworth a try but take the headlight bulb out and see if it changes, or try another bulb.
Good thought, we're all assuming it's a standard bulb drawing standard current, could be a higher wattage bulb drawing more current than it's designed for.
It wouldn't be unknown for an owner to want a brighter headlight . . . :whistling:
yeah thats what I thought, and ive seen this before.
Quote from: dave55 on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 05:39 AMi have now disconnected the clocks and that did no good, then took headlight and sidelight completely off and that did no good so we will see what happens Monday/Tuesday when its in for Mot. Thanks for the help, will let you know the outcome. :cheers: :cheers:
From what I can determine
@dave55 unless the lights and switches are not working properly, then the lights dimming slightly when the indicators are turned on cannot be classed as an MOT failure. I appreciate you said that 2 others have had failed MOT's because of this, however, I seriously would query that with the DVSA if yours is failed due to this https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/problems-with-your-test-result
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 07:41 AMQuote from: dave55 on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 05:39 AMi have now disconnected the clocks and that did no good, then took headlight and sidelight completely off and that did no good so we will see what happens Monday/Tuesday when its in for Mot. Thanks for the help, will let you know the outcome. :cheers: :cheers:
From what I can determine @dave55 unless the lights and switches are not working properly, then the lights dimming slightly when the indicators are turned on cannot be classed as an MOT failure. I appreciate you said that 2 others have had failed MOT's because of this, however, I seriously would query that with the DVSA if yours is failed due to this https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/problems-with-your-test-result
I agree, if its worse when the engine is off but better when running then the MOT tester should check them when the bike is running. you don't use indicators with the engine off ;)
Removed headlight and took bulb out and makes no difference , still dimming lights when engine running or switched off. Checked the bulb and thats correct one a H4 12v 60/55w .
Not understanding why Suzuki made the dammed bike with lights coming on with ignition though, are they all the same ?
Quote from: dave55 on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 07:56 PMRemoved headlight and took bulb out and makes no difference , still dimming lights when engine running or switched off. Checked the bulb and thats correct one a H4 12v 60/55w .
Not understanding why Suzuki made the dammed bike with lights coming on with ignition though, are they all the same ?
pretty much all modern bikes have their lights on permanently, been like that for much longer in the USA way back to the early 80's. the headlight on the 1400 should go out for a few seconds when the starter button is pressed to help with battery power, as it does on other bikes.
Quote from: hard road on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 08:20 PMQuote from: dave55 on Sunday, 16 July 2023, 07:56 PMRemoved headlight and took bulb out and makes no difference , still dimming lights when engine running or switched off. Checked the bulb and thats correct one a H4 12v 60/55w .
Not understanding why Suzuki made the dammed bike with lights coming on with ignition though, are they all the same ?
pretty much all modern bikes have their lights on permanently, been like that for much longer in the USA way back to the early 80's. the headlight on the 1400 should go out for a few seconds when the starter button is pressed to help with battery power, as it does on other bikes.
Correct, been around for a long time. Headlight on is a mandatory requirement here in Oz. Mine dims slightly when I start, it does not switch off. Led headlight and lithium battery.
EU requirement from 2002 or 2003 as far as I recall.
Checked mine this morning and yes it does near go out when pressing starter :whistling: :doh: I have only had the bike 20years and never noticed that before ....well how would you when your sat behind it, Thats my excuse and i am sticking to it, not like anyone would have a mirror in the garage and sit looking at themselves sat on the bike is it :laugh: :cheers:
Quote from: Hooli on Tuesday, 18 July 2023, 01:23 AMEU requirement from 2002 or 2003 as far as I recall.
Must be 2003, because my K2 has a light switch instead of the hazard switch.
the headlight goes out on bikes that DON'T have a light switch, but not on bikes that have a light switch.
:boogie: :boogie: Well my 14 has just passed its MOT :cheers: :cheers:
Barmy you were right , the tester said he technically would have a hard job to fail the bike as each of the lights checked separately and as they all work that is good enough to meet mot requirements. If back light had been going out all together it would have failed.
Thanks again everyone :cheers: :cheers:
That's great news Dave.
I've watched this thread only, as I have zero technical knowledge. A win is a win 🥇
Good result dave55
Quote from: dave55 on Friday, 21 July 2023, 07:29 PM:boogie: :boogie: Well my 14 has just passed its MOT :cheers: :cheers:
Barmy you were right , the tester said he technically would have a hard job to fail the bike as each of the lights checked separately and as they all work that is good enough to meet mot requirements. If back light had been going out all together it would have failed.
Thanks again everyone :cheers: :cheers:
Excellent news
@dave55 :onya: :onya: