Gah!! strange electrical issue

[posthuman]

XJ1100

right now:
Starts fine.
Has runing lights.
no blown fuses.
no short to ground measured from battery positive to frame when switch is off.

got one red warning flash on the instrument panel, now :

instrument panel shows nothing.
Tac needle moves a little but on RPMs, is way off, just a small amount of movement, makes a few blips.
turn signal doesn't flash.
brake light doesn't initiate on brake levers activation.
neutral light shows its in neutral when its in first.

I don't have a wireing schematic so its hard to tell whats what.

have a feeling its a short in the handlebar switches, but who knows?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey PostHuman,

Have you checked your voltage at battery, idle and at Estimated 2500 since your tach isn't working?? Do you mean the instrument dash readout is BLANK? How did you check your fuses...are they glass, did you just look at them, instead of pulling out and testing for continuity? How are your grounds, battery, engine to frame?

You say running lights are working, how about headlight when engine running? BTW, there is a link in the LINKS section to wiring diagrams, I'm sure there's one for the XJ, and someone recently posted a link for a complete online manual for the XJ!!
Alt brushes may be worn, or REG/RECT not working?? There are good tech tips, and check out Geezer's web site listed in the FORSALE section for his REG/RECT unit for a good charging T-shooting process!

T.C.

[posthuman]

Thanks for that tip, I really needed that diagram, this is a wierd one (to me anyway), much appreciated, ill do much investigation with the meter now that I have a diagram.

to answer some of your questions:

I had recently replaced the reg rec, as well as the rotor. (it was very hard to find a replacement rotor for the XJ)

(it might have failed yet again I suppose... damn)


SO:

It starts strong, the headlight works great.

I road the thing home 6 miles.

The last time the reg/rec failed the monitor as all indicators full and the red warning light was constant, however this time the computerised monitor shows nothing except the backlight.

NO warning light, the green neutral gear indicates its in neutral when its in first, and turns off when in neutral.

the tack will get a peep of an indication if reved high, but just sits at nothing while idle.

brakes lights do nothing.

turn signals don't signal

high beam indicator works.

I'm suspecting the main switch?