Turn signals work when they want to...

[vv0350]

1997 GL1500se...For several years now, we have encountered this issue...Sometimes the turn signals work, and sometimes they don't..The first time we notice was after spending the night at a park and waking up to a humid day...Another GL rider that was camping near by told us it had to do with the humidity...and it would dry out and they would work fine...a couple of hours later they began to work. BUT, that was about 4 years ago and the problem still exists and I just cannot really say for sure it is due to humidity affecting the electrics...It happens, for a while at least, almost every time we ride..summer, winter, fall or spring. They never actually totally fail to work during a ride, they just work when they want to...

[newday777]

The cause is dirty switches usually from people using power washers that force in dirt and water that gum up the old grease.
You need to clean all your switches yearly.
Go to wally world or auto parts store and get a can of CRC electrical contact cleaner and spray in the switches and work the switches back and forth, in and out, spray again and work the switches more.
Be sure to cover the windshield and painted plastic to protect from over spray and drips! Do not get it on plastic lenses of your eye glasses. Use safety glasses.

https://www.amazon.com/CRC-05103-Electr ... ref=sr_1_2

[vv0350]

Thanks....got a can and now to "clean"...

[newday777]

Thanks....got a can and now to "clean"...

Post a reply of your results here.

[Snowmoer]

The CRC is just a band aid on these types of switches. To do it right, you need to pull the switch apart, clean out the old grease, clean the contacts, then put in new Dialectic grease. My older bikes including my 88 wing had this problem. After replacing the grease, I have not had any problems. On the 88 I just sold, this was done 10 years ago and they were still working like they should without any additional cleaning. If you do take the switch apart, there is a ball bearing in there that you need to make sure you do not loose!

The CRC is great on the radio volume, channel, cruse up and down switches. These are dry (no dialectic grease) momentary switches and the CRC is great for cleaning those contacts.

[vv0350]

Took the switch covers apart enough to get in there with the eletronics cleaner...and cleaned well...A week later, took a ride and nothing was any better...just the same...Sees like they never works when you first drive off....an hour or so into a trip, they both begin working...this has happened several times the same way...then, after a bit, they fail again... BUT...

Could it be the turn signal relay..???? On a straight bike I see it is on top of the rear fender...as this is a trike, I guess I will have to search around and see where it was put...

[MikeB]

A dirty turn signal switch is only one of the possible problems. Since you have taken yours apart and cleaned them, that eliminates that switch as the source of the problem. The turn signal flasher is another possibility. If you want to check the turn signal flasher relay, it should be mounted in the same place on your trike as a non-triked GL1500.

When I had problems with my flashers, I found some bad connections in a multi pin connector under the seat.

This is on left side of the bike under the seat near the frame tube. I separated the connector and this is what I found:

I cleaned it up found that only one of the connector pins were beyond repair. So, I added a wire that bypassed the connector.

[newday777]

A dirty turn signal switch is only one of the possible problems. Since you have taken yours apart and cleaned them, that eliminates that switch as the source of the problem. The turn signal flasher is another possibility. If you want to check the turn signal flasher relay, it should be mounted in the same place on your trike as a non-triked GL1500.

When I had problems with my flashers, I found some bad connections in a multi pin connector under the seat.
Connector_Location.jpg
This is on left side of the bike under the seat near the frame tube. I separated the connector and this is what I found:
Connector_Female.jpg
Connector_Male.jpg
I cleaned it up found that only one of the connector pins were beyond repair. So, I added a wire that bypassed the connector.
repaired_connection.jpg

Was that the green/silver(dash) ground wire?

[vv0350]

Ok, more things to check...thanks... Say, you did a real neat job on your connector bypass....

[MikeB]

Yes, it was the ground wire that was connected to the burnt connector pins. I bypassed it with a bit of surplus wire I had available.

[newday777]

Yes, it was the ground wire that was connected to the burnt connector pins. I bypassed it with a bit of surplus wire I had available.

This happens on bikes with added lights that used the plug and play harnesses that were sold. The stock harness on the bike was wire sized for few lights that came on the bike. The addition of side lights in the trunk, bags and extra tail lights to the rear have taken their toll on the ground.
Swap out all incandescent bulbs to LED to save more damage from continuing.

[MikeB]

Yes, it was the ground wire that was connected to the burnt connector pins. I bypassed it with a bit of surplus wire I had available.

This happens on bikes with added lights that used the plug and play harnesses that were sold. The stock harness on the bike was wire sized for few lights that came on the bike. The addition of side lights in the trunk, bags and extra tail lights to the rear have taken their toll on the ground.
Swap out all incandescent bulbs to LED to save more damage from continuing.

Very true. I have nothing but LED's now in the bike and my trailers.