Turn signals not latching on

[JustAddHP]

I have a problem where my turn signals do not latch on. If I hold the signal switch over, they work fine and flash. As soon as I let the switch go, they turn off. This is the same with either direction. Any ideas?
This is on a 1981 XS1100 Standard.

[crazy steve]

If your signals haven't been altered (OEM flasher, canceller in place, etc), try unplugging the canceller. If that fixes it, the canceller may be bad. If that doesn't, you've got issues in the switch, likely broken wires.

[GLoweVA]

Steve, doesn't the switch have two tabs on either side that can get bent a little too far and not make contact, thus when the switch goes back to middle/neutral then the light would turn off?

[cywelchjr]

Steve, doesn't the switch have two tabs on either side that can get bent a little too far and not make contact, thus when the switch goes back to middle/neutral then the light would turn off?

If those get bent it either causes the turn signals to never cancel or to not turn on at all because they are in contact all the time (never cancel) or never contacted (never turn on). His symptom does sound like it may be the auto cancel unit canceling as soon as the turn signal on signal is released, that is unless the switch has something wrong and the switch is not latching into either the right or left position and is flipping back to center inside as if it were being pushed in as soon as the lever is released.

[JustAddHP]

Thank you very much guys! It was indeed the cancelling module. Luckily there was one on a spare harness I had purchased to cut up for connectors. I had tried replacing the wrong module at first. There is a 4 pin mocule just to the left of the air snorkel I had tried replacing first. Then of course I figured out that it was the module next to it with the small 6 pin connector with 5 wires. I still am not quite sure what the 4 pin module is. :P

Thanks again!
B

[jayel]

Thank you very much guys! It was indeed the cancelling module. Luckily there was one on a spare harness I had purchased to cut up for connectors. I had tried replacing the wrong module at first. There is a 4 pin mocule just to the left of the air snorkel I had tried replacing first. Then of course I figured out that it was the module next to it with the small 6 pin connector with 5 wires. I still am not quite sure what the 4 pin module is. :P

Thanks again!
B

most likely the headlight relay, headlight doesn't come on until engine starts ... black, white, blue/black, and red/yellow wires