XJ Electrical problem

[trbig]

I rode the bike home from work to grab some lunch and everything was fine. When I started it up to head back, every warning light on the dash is on along with the red light that's steady and can't be turned off. The gas gauge is working and so is the tach. I checked the alternator and it's charging fine. The battery is sitting at 12.9 volts while off and doesn't go below 11.5 when starting. I have a fairing on and unplugged that to see if something there shorted out and it changed nothing.

I hate electrical stuff.

[BA80]

Try hooking up the dash from one of those other XJs. It might just be the ash itself.

[Cobia]

It obviously sounds as if something shorted out. Do you have the rat nest in one of those "pouches" to keep them in when you're using a fairing? Regardless, it sounds as if a wire chafed and is now shorting.
I know what you mean about electrical gremlins, they're a biatch.
You know the drill, trace every single wire until you find the culprit.

[natemoen]

Ask James maybe he can help you..........

Or maybe he is just good at melting all the wires

[MPittma100]

Electrical

Could the ignition switch be the problem?

MP

[trbig]

I wondered about the ignition switch also, but there seems to be a short drawing some amps somewhere. When I hook the headlight up, the blinkers while riding will get slower and slower blinking over time like it's drawing more than the alternator can put out and the lights aren't as bright at the dash. If I unhook the headlight, everything acts like it's charging back up. I haven't checked the alt. brushes in a while. I wonder if maybe they could be going bad too?

I'll get out and mess with it in the morning. If you guys think of anything else, holler.

[Cobia]

Todd,
If I remember correctly, and not having the factory schematic at hand, I think there's a headlight relay in the mix somewhere in there. Where it ties into the harness and what effect it has on the system I don't know. But they're designed to manage a good load such as the headlight that might affect other circuits.
I don't know, but I still think there's a chafed wire somewhere.
Good luck

[trbig]

Can someone go turn their key on and tell me what dash lights come on? I'm thinking I have an ignition switch problem. When I turn my key on, everything is on.

[CaptonZap]

Can someone go turn their key on and tell me what dash lights come on? I'm thinking I have an ignition switch problem. When I turn my key on, everything is on.

Do you have a Yamaha manual? They do a nice job of segregating the various circuits. CZ

[cruiser]

Key on-not running.
Speedo, tach, neutral and all monitor lights are on, headlight, tailight, front marker lights-Vetter

[cruiser]

One more thing, No red light for monitor is on though.

[trbig]

Thank you, Arlan.

[trbig]

Well, it's not the gauge cluster and it's not the ignition switch. Frack...

[BA80]

Just start going through all the wiring and wiggle wires until something makes a difference and you'll have a starting point.

I'm guessing some wire has broken or grounded somewhere. You should be able to make the lights flicker or go out by moving things around.

What was the last thing you worked on that was near wiring or that you had to disconnect wiring to work on?

[trbig]

I haven't had to work on anything on the bike in a long time. And like I said, I rode it home for lunch and it was fine. Turned it on to go back to work, and it was doing it. That's why I thought maybe it was the ignition switch.