Strange action on rear turn signal

[dschmitta]

Hey everyone,

Have a strange problem with rear turn signals. L side works properly when used, but when I go to use the right side signal, all lights start blinking just like having my 4 ways on? Even the lights on the dash(high beam blue or if in neutral, the green one blinks.) I have noticed after taking off lenses, both turn signals have dual filaments. I thought they should be singles? Am I wrong on this? Any help appreciated. Dave

[petejw]

if u have running lights then you would
have dual fillament globes in the blinkers,
check that you have a good earth,
also have u changed any globes lately?
i had something similar happen after fitting a new globe on a car i was working on years ago.

[natemoen]

First things first. What year and model bike? Suggest putting it in your signature line so it never needs to be asked again. After that then we can move ahead.

[dschmitta]

1980 xs1100g

if u have running lights then you would
have dual fillament globes in the blinkers,
check that you have a good earth,
also have u changed any globes lately?
i had something similar happen after fitting a new globe on a car i was working on years ago.

Actually, I did put new bulbs in recently.

[dschmitta]

1980 xs1100g

First things first. What year and model bike? Suggest putting it in your signature line so it never needs to be asked again. After that then we can move ahead.

Sorry about that. Just put into signature.

[DGXSER]

IIRC, the standard models do have runing lights built into the trun signals, so you would have dual element bulbs. But there is nothing about the turn signal circuit that SHOULD cause your dash lights to blink unless some PO really dorked up the wiring, most likely up in the headlight bucket.

[dschmitta]

IIRC, the standard models do have runing lights built into the trun signals, so you would have dual element bulbs. But there is nothing about the turn signal circuit that SHOULD cause your dash lights to blink unless some PO really dorked up the wiring, most likely up in the headlight bucket.

thanks. i'm gonna have to get good schematic and start checking. fun fun.

[petejw]

1st id check that you have a good earth on the blinker,
you can do that by using a jump wire from a good
ground point to the blinker.

was it working fine before you change the globes?

a new funky globe can do all sorts of things to the electrical
system, ive had 2 occassions working on cars over the years where a brand new globe was fitted and caused all sorts of weired things to the lighting system, you could try removing 1 of the globes that u replaced at a time and see if it makes any differences.

[natemoen]

The standards only have running lights in the FRONT. The rear would still have single filament bulbs in them. If you do go to rear running lights you must have red lenses on the signals.

I would start by checking the grounds first.

[ManagerMike]

The front turn signal lamps should have dual filament bulbs, and the rear should have single filament ones (1157 and 1156 type respectively) if it is still an unmodified standard lighting setup. If you have a dual filament bulb in the rear lamp, that would cause precisely the symptoms you describe.
Also If you have the bulb in the front socket installed incorrectly (clocked 180 degrees out) you will also create the same fault.

[soccer4m]

Had that happen

I had that happen just recently on my xj,,,it turned out to be, of all things, the BATTERY was going bad. The signals would flash the dash and all the lights. I went through all the wires looking for a bad ground or short and it ended up being a 5 year old battery that must have some sort of wierd short inside,,,,anyway try a different battery or get a new one if its a few years old.....hope that solves it..............................Mike in Sun DIego

[dschmitta]

I had that happen just recently on my xj,,,it turned out to be, of all things, the BATTERY was going bad. The signals would flash the dash and all the lights. I went through all the wires looking for a bad ground or short and it ended up being a 5 year old battery that must have some sort of wierd short inside,,,,anyway try a different battery or get a new one if its a few years old.....hope that solves it..............................Mike in Sun DIego

bought bike 5 months ago, was told at dealer battery was new. this prob started last week, AFTER I had to jump Battery to start bike! Should I charge battery and then try? I have a trickle charger, but takes forever. I also have regular charger, but what setting should I use on? Don't want to cook battery by blasting with too much juice. Thanks for all help.Dave

P.S. Where can I locate parts to install kick start and what parts would I need? I've read different posts that on the '80g that it can be done without splitting case, from '81 on can't be done. If poss. I'd like to install. Thanks

[soccer4m]

Jump it

It would be easiest to try to jump by going directly from a car. Undo the mc battery bolts completely, hook up some umper cables to any car and try to start and also check your lights. If the bike starts and lights work its probably what happened to me, the battery developed some sort of short internally. If you want to charge it any charger is fine, you wont cook the battery. However, I charged my old battery repeatedly and the same problem with the funky all lights flashing continued. I went out, got a new battery, put it in, and VOILA, the lights, turn signals everything was fine. SO, jump it with a car, it will cause no problems,remember to totally bypass the mc battery and try it.........................as far as the kickstarter, I faintly recall its a real pain in the xxx to do,,,,,I know 3Phase has done it, maybe p.m. him for an answer. let us know........................Mike in Sun DIego

[dschmitta]

It would be easiest to try to jump by going directly from a car. Undo the mc battery bolts completely, hook up some umper cables to any car and try to start and also check your lights. If the bike starts and lights work its probably what happened to me, the battery developed some sort of short internally. If you want to charge it any charger is fine, you wont cook the battery. However, I charged my old battery repeatedly and the same problem with the funky all lights flashing continued. I went out, got a new battery, put it in, and VOILA, the lights, turn signals everything was fine. SO, jump it with a car, it will cause no problems,remember to totally bypass the mc battery and try it.........................as far as the kickstarter, I faintly recall its a real pain in the xxx to do,,,,,I know 3Phase has done it, maybe p.m. him for an answer. let us know........................Mike in Sun DIego

Went out and tried signals without starting bike. Worked perfect first five or six tries. After that, went haywire with everything blinking again. I think it may actually be the battery. Probably was holding small charge until I kept turning on and using signals. Once charge dropped off, problems started. I'm gonna try using other battery and see if works. Also, I don't like the idea of rear running lights, would it be okay to swap dual filaments for singles? Or do I have to change any wiring. Thanks, Dave

[cywelchjr]

Went out and tried signals without starting bike. Worked perfect first five or six tries. After that, went haywire with everything blinking again. I think it may actually be the battery. Probably was holding small charge until I kept turning on and using signals. Once charge dropped off, problems started. I'm gonna try using other battery and see if works. Also, I don't like the idea of rear running lights, would it be okay to swap dual filaments for singles? Or do I have to change any wiring. Thanks, Dave

Unless it's been modified it doesn't have rear running lights. And if it's been modified, they you need to change the wiring to change that, and in every state I know of, rear running lights are required to be red not yellow. And putting dual filament bulbs in single sockets could cause problems as well, so make sure the sockets have two contacts in the bottom of them if your using dual filament bulbs, and if so, you need to change out to stock setup to get rid of the rear running lights.