Troubleshoot LED cornering light replacement

[Marianne]

I have a 1993 Honda Goldwing GL1500 Aspencade
I am having trouble with replacing the cornering lights
The new LEDs do not light up when plugged into my cornering lamps

SCML50WC-2
50-Watt LED Replacement Cornering Light Bulbs

I removed the existing Peace A12V35 25w bulbs

One was burnt out the other still works
I tried the old bulb in both sides, the light comes on with the key turned to the on position and the turn signals on
But the new LEDs do not light up on either side
FYI: Cornering lights are set up to only come on with the turn signals

I have emailed Cyclemax asking for suggestions

[Rambozo]

Looks like the socket is damaged. There should be two contacts. See if you can push up the disc in the bottom to ensure the wire is attached. You might just be able to add a blob of solder to the missing contact so it touched the bulb better.
One other thing is that LEDs have a polarity while incandescents don't so you might have to try the bulb both ways in the socket to find out which way it works.

[DenverWinger]

Looks like the socket is damaged. There should be two contacts. See if you can push up the disc in the bottom to ensure the wire is attached. You might just be able to add a blob of solder to the missing contact so it touched the bulb better.
One other thing is that LEDs have a polarity while incandescents don't so you might have to try the bulb both ways in the socket to find out which way it works.

Cornering light only socket only has one contact, but the bulbs ARE polarity sensitive. Try the LED in both directions (remove, turn 180 degrees and reinsert). Or you may need to swap the two wires going to the socket. One to the contact, the other goes to the socket shell.

I have these LED's in my '93 Aspy.

I also pulled the ground contact (green wire) out of the two cornering light relay plugs (one on each side near where the light fixtures sit) so the lights are on full-time.

[Marianne]

Thank you for the fast response.
Both sides of the lamp sockets are the same with only one solder contact point.
That does seem like a problem with only one point of contact.

I did manually push the LED buld and socket contacts firmly together and with no luck in lighting the bulbs.
I also tried to rotate the bulb to a different position.
It appears to only fit in to the socket one way due to the base of the bulb.

[Marianne]

DenverWinger
Thank you for confirming there is only one contact point in the cornering light socket and that the LED bulbs do work in your 93 Aspencade.

Try the LED in both directions:
I bent the three small tabs on the LED bulb and inserted the bulb 180 degrees
But still no luck (unless the metal tabs need to make contact also)

[DenverWinger]

Then the polarity of the wires going to the socket must be reversed.

[Marianne]

I reversed the wire contact by rotating the inner brown disk with the wire contact 180 degrees in the socket allowing me to put the LED bulb in properly (no bent tabs)
Still no light

[DenverWinger]

That's not what I meant.

The two wires going to the socket may be reversed.

[Marianne]

Got it. It seems that I would need to cut and re-splice the two wires as pulling on them in every direction did not detatch them in any way.

Also, Cornering Lights on full time
I did watch several videos about changing the cornering lights to continuous run
I am not sure where those relays are (in the front above the cornering light in the videos)
Not sure what the wiring that I am holding in the photos is (on both sides of the bike)
Does not look like a typical rely to me.
And I have not looked for the main relay box or fuse box yet.
This is my first bike, and I figured I could change a light bulb (Ha Ha)

[DenverWinger]

If you unplug the green connector with wires to the socket, you may see a way to release the connector pins from the plastic connector so you can swap them without cutting and splicing.

That little black box dangling with 4 wires going to it looks like it might be the relay. Doesn't look like the cornering relays on my '93, but might just be different style. If you unplug it and the cornering light on that side doesn't come on anymore (once you have working lights, that is) that confirms it is the relay. You should hear/feel it click when you switch turn signal on that side. If you pull back the black rubber boot at the white connector you should find the green wire I'm talking about, with the relay unplugged you should be able to get it out of that white connector without cutting it.

[Marianne]

Green connector with wires to the socket:
I even tried needle nose plyers to move those wires with no luck.
Maybe I can make a set of jumper wires to cross the power over to the oposite wires to test the LED.
Then cut and splice only if it lights up.

Relay:
I will follow up with your suggestions tomorrow and post the outcome.
I can use the standard bulb to test the relay.

Thank you you so much

[Charlie1Horse]

Look carefully at the pins in the plastic connector. There is a small tab that is bent outward just a bit that catches on the plastic connector. You can use a tiny jeweler's screwdriver or maybe a paper clip to push the little tab inward to release the pin. then just pull it out and swap it with the other pin. That will reverse polarity properly to make the LEDs work.
Russell

[Rambozo]

A tool like this makes removing the pins without damage, pretty easy.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08295ZWL2/?tag=goldwingdocs-20

The hardest part is to figure out which one...

[Marianne]

Cornering lights
I made a set of jumper wires and crossed the wire connections
The LED would not light on right side of the bike
I tried with the standard bulb (filament still looks ok) would not light on either side with and without wires crossed
The turn signals still work on both sides

Troubleshoot
The standard bulb is bad
The corning light relays are damaged
Fuse?

Connectors
Charlie1Horse – thank you for the pin connector tips, I tried to find and bend the clips with a dental tool with no luck
Rambozo – thank you for the link to the pin removal tools

Possible relay connector
I pulled the black boot back and did find a green wire

[Marianne]

One of my cornering light standard bulbs (Peace A12v35 25w) tests ok with multimeter.
So I guess the relays are the next thing to figure out.

I have the Clymer Honda maintenance book for gl1500 1993-2000

[Marianne]

Wiring diagram with more colors added

Possibly the 93 GL1500 Aspencade did not come standard with cornering lights
As they are listed as an option in wiring diagram
Hense the odd looking relay

[Marianne]

Cyclemax just responded to my email.
"I think the issue is that you ordered the lights for the SE Model and not the Aspencade.
Can you send me a picture of the light bulb you are trying to replace?
It would make it much easier for us to match up the correct bulb you need."

Hopefully it is as simple as the wrong light bulb.
But I will still need to get the electrical circit working again, and try to figure out what relay replacements I need to try next.

Presummed relay
The only markings are QC 5 on the connector
Encased in resin in a generic boot

[Marianne]

One of my questions answered
By DenverWinger - Cornering/driving lights thread Dec 2022
“93 Aspencade comes without cornering light but has the relay connectors without relays and the connectors for the light fixture built into the harness.”

Hollisco Group GL 1500 relay G8MS-H30
I am guessing that I can replace those odd-looking relays with the Hollisco Group GL 1500 relay G8MS-H30. I have one new relay and placed an order for more of them so I can replace both sides of the cornering light relays and order the correct bulbs from Cyclemax (when they let me know what to order).

Thank you to the forum members, especially DenverWinger for all your time and patience. I would have been lost without your help.
I have learned more about my GL1500a, and that’s a good thing!

[WingAdmin]

One of my questions answered
By DenverWinger - Cornering/driving lights thread Dec 2022
“93 Aspencade comes without cornering light but has the relay connectors without relays and the connectors for the light fixture built into the harness.”

Hollisco Group GL 1500 relay G8MS-H30
I am guessing that I can replace those odd-looking relays with the Hollisco Group GL 1500 relay G8MS-H30. I have one new relay and placed an order for more of them so I can replace both sides of the cornering light relays and order the correct bulbs from Cyclemax (when they let me know what to order).
replacement relay.JPG

Thank you to the forum members, especially DenverWinger for all your time and patience. I would have been lost without your help.
I have learned more about my GL1500a, and that’s a good thing!

I have no idea if those relays will work in that position. It's possible! Will it physically plug into the connector?


....ok, after a bit of research, looking at the colors of the wires in the connector, lining it up with the relay, and checking the relay pins...my verdict is that it SHOULD work. Believe it or not, all the pins are in the correct place! If the relay will physically fit into the connector, then it should work fine - make sure the locking tab on the relay matches with the locking tab on the connector.

Please let me know if this works for you!

[Marianne]

Thank you WindAdmin for your comments
As luck would have it, everything lines up perfect.
But I am afraid to plug it in just yet.

I found another clue
It looks like my add on cornering light kit closely resembles the Cyclemax kit:
GL1500 Clear Cornering Lights
Item: 15673-221B
Same odd-looking relays

Cyclemax
I spoke with Mike at Cyclemax
He is trying to come up with a plan
I gave him the information about the Hollisco Group GL 1500 relay G8MS-H30
He asked me to test the power to the relay connectors

Multimeter test DC lowest setting 20
No power to 4 prong relay connector
No power to 2 prong green socket connector
Tested both sides with key on and turn signals on for each side

Position relay
Wiring diagram shows tie in to relay #7 (Position relay) in main box via turn signals
I am trying to get the relay box cover off now (side saddle box in the way)
Not sure how to test the actual relay yet (this requires more research on my part) but I could put the new relay in that position (#7) in the main box and see what happens.
I have the battery disconnected now before messing with the main box.

[DenverWinger]

The Hollsco Group relay will NOT work in the cornering light function. Normally OPEN contacts.

The Cornering Light relay is a normally CLOSED contact, that's why disconnecting the green (ground) wire from the relay coil causes the cornering light to be on full time.

[Marianne]

Thank you DenverWinger
For clarifyingy the positioning relay information

Thank you to newday777 for the relay test post
GL 1500 relay testing thread
Response by newday777 on Feb 27, 2019
How to Test a 3, 4 or 5 Pin Relay - With or Without a Diagram


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Thanks to Mike at Cyclemax
who continues to work on a solution for the cornering light bulb
He is contacting the company "AddOn" to inquire more about the kit sold by Cyclemax
GL1500 Clear Cornering Lights
Item: 15673-221B

[Marianne]

Correction
To DenverWinger
The Hollsco Group relay will NOT work in the cornering light function
I posted "positioning relay" by mistake

[WingAdmin]

The Hollsco Group relay will NOT work in the cornering light function. Normally OPEN contacts.

The Cornering Light relay is a normally CLOSED contact, that's why disconnecting the green (ground) wire from the relay coil causes the cornering light to be on full time.

Ah of course, that makes sense. It actually will work then, just in reverse.

[DenverWinger]

Correction
I posted "positioning relay" by mistake

Which happens to be the single "blue" relay in the relay box which is also normally closed contacts..... Cornering light relays by the lights and position light relays are all normally closed contact.