Electrical Issue

[eefer_24]

Good afternoon all, I am having a issue with my '03 Gl1800. Started at end of last riding season:
First indication (last year) turned on left turn signal and both indicators on dash flashed (dimly). Couldn't get it to repeat last year. Also noticed CB would work great for a while then transmit volume fell to almost nothing. I could hear fine though.
Unpacked her this year, first few (short) rides were fine. Then signal thing started up again (haven't used CB yet). No problem has become way more frequent with other symptoms. . . .
Turn on left or right signal, both flash on very dimly. Also front and rear signals both flash dimly.
Pull brake handle both dash indicators light up along with all 4 bulbs (front & rear). (Same problem when using foot brake pedal).
Try to set cruise, dash light comes on but cruise wont set.
I'm sure CB issue is still there.
There is also a whine in MP3 player when using while plugged in and charging.

I believe this is ground-related but not sure. Other problem is: I'm not much of a mechanic beyond being a "filter jockey".
If it is ground related where the heck does a shade-tree filter jockey start looking?

Thank you all in advance!
Ed

[DaveO430]

You have a ground problem probably in the connector under the seat on the right side between the relay box and the trunk.

[KG5KS]

Same problem here on 2005. However the wires or connector aren't burnt . Cleaned the contacts and still the same problem. Took a VOM and checked and the green wire doesn't show to ground on either Green wire on the connector. Applied Ground to the Green terminal at the connector and everything worked. Now, I would like to know Where the Green wire goes before it gets to the connector ? Can't seem to find it. Any and all help is Greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Ken

[rstoops1]

Had a similar problem on my 2001A. Turned out there was an intermittent short in the left switch harness.

[Techdude2000]

Same problem here on 2005. However the wires or connector aren't burnt . Cleaned the contacts and still the same problem. Took a VOM and checked and the green wire doesn't show to ground on either Green wire on the connector. Applied Ground to the Green terminal at the connector and everything worked. Now, I would like to know Where the Green wire goes before it gets to the connector ? Can't seem to find it. Any and all help is Greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Ken

The green ground wire comes to the rear lighting connector from the G1 grounding point on the frame under the gas tank. This grounding point is prone to corrosion and should be cleaned up anytime there’s grounding issues apparent in the electrical system. Some folks have found the G1 point clean and tight, pointing to this ground wire being broken somewhere in the harnesses between the connector and G1. In these cases, a ground wire jumper has been installed between G2 at the reverse cables and battery grounding plate on the right rear of the engine and running it up to the lighting connector. For those that would like to know where this connector is in the schematics, on the 01-05 bikes this connector is called C15, on the later bikes it’s called C31. The green wire is basically almost overloaded by design and carries all of the ground side current for the whole rear lighting on the bike.

[KG5KS]

Appreciate it, so if I were going to check G1 or G2 to make sure there is good contact I would need to remove the right side engine cover ?

Thank you
Ken

[Techdude2000]

Appreciate it, so if I were going to check G1 or G2 to make sure there is good contact I would need to remove the right side engine cover ?

Thank you
Ken

The only thing at G2 is the battery’s ground/negative cable. All of the small circuit grounds are attached at G1. G2 is right there under the right side engine cover, but G1 is only accessible by pulling the gas tank out of the frame. If you get high resistance(more than 1/2-1 ohm) from the green wire at the connector under the seat to the battery’s negative post, then G1 is either really corroded or the wire has a break in it. If this was my bike, I would pull the tank and check G1. If it looks good, then install a jumper from there or from G2 up to the connector under the seat, bypassing the broken ground wire. If G1 is corroded, then remove the bolt and clean up the ring terminals and the attachment point and recheck the continuity to the battery post after reconnecting all of the wires.

[KG5KS]

Appreciate it, looks like tear down of gas tank might be too much for me. When I checked voltage from positive to the Green wire under the seat I had .03 volts..

Thank you

Ken

[Techdude2000]

Appreciate it, looks like tear down of gas tank might be too much for me. When I checked voltage from positive to the Green wire under the seat I had .03 volts..

Thank you

Ken

Ok, if you leave the key off and measure the resistance from the green wire in C15 to the battery negative post, what does it read in ohms? If you have ever pulled the shelter off to change the air filter, pulling the tank out is not much more.

[KG5KS]

No, never done changed air filter. Was done just before I purchased it. haven't owned the GL1800 long. Never ohmmed it, but ran from battery positive to frame was 12.56 volts, Battery positive to green wire was .03.. I did take a big straightened out paperclip from Ground to Green wire on plug and all lights worked as they should on the back.

Thank you
Ken

[Techdude2000]

No, never done changed air filter. Was done just before I purchased it. haven't owned the GL1800 long. Never ohmmed it, but ran from battery positive to frame was 12.56 volts, Battery positive to green wire was .03.. I did take a big straightened out paperclip from Ground to Green wire on plug and all lights worked as they should on the back.

Thank you
Ken

Ok, that definitely sounds like a broken ground. You can probably get away with doing a jumper from the battery grounding plate(G2) to the connector until you have to change the filter or have the time to get someone to pull the tank to check G1. If you start seeing other strange symptoms, you may have to dig into it sooner. If you do the jumper, go with 12-14 gauge wire with a large ring terminal to attach it to the battery ground and solder it to the wire coming from the front of the C15 connector. That way you can still unplug the connector if you need to do other stuff under the seat.

[KG5KS]

Appreciate all of your help. Would like to fix it factory, but I know my limitations.. Will make it nice though. Now to see why horn or low beam lights don't work. Wondering if person that did the air box filter, maybe left something unhooked. humm

Thank you

Ken

[Techdude2000]

Appreciate all of your help. Would like to fix it factory, but I know my limitations.. Will make it nice though. Now to see why horn or low beam lights don't work. Wondering if person that did the air box filter, maybe left something unhooked. humm

Thank you

Ken

Lights and the horn have nothing in common, so if your brake lights are working the horns could be dead from the handlebar switch. Check for power and ground at one of the horns while you push the button. The only relay in the circuit will kill the brake lights and the turn signals if it goes bad. The headlights could be the bulbs, they tend to die very close to each other. Make sure your starter button switch is clean and fully returning to the out position when released, it cuts the head lights off when pushed for starting. If it sticks, your head lights will stay off. You can engage reverse to see if both lights are still out, the reverse system supplies an alternate power source for the low beams that bypasses the starter switch circuit. If they work with reverse activated, then the most likely culprit is the starter button switch.

[KG5KS]

I figure bulbs, or fuse. Checked the starter button and it seems to release fully. Will check for voltage to them though. Will try the reverse also, to see if they work. This bike seems only to be rode during the day.. Horn will see if fuse or relay maybe. Will check voltage on the horn on it also. Seen a small picture of G1 on different forum too. Wondering if the fuse block, battery, battery tray was removed that I could get to G1 ? What about from back tire " maybe removed " ? If headlight bulbs, think will go with an led replacement. Any great choices over others ? Want to replace all in the rear too, except flashers as would have to add an flasher !!

Appreciate all your advice.

Thank you

Ken

[tamathumper]

G1 is well and truly buried under the gas tank.

[KG5KS]

Thank you, I appreciate it
Ken

[Techdude2000]

G1 is well and truly buried under the gas tank.

Yep, the rear inner fender blocks it through the tire route and it’s on top of a crossmember where the tank sits that keeps it out of reach through the battery box hole. I think Honda was ashamed of it.

[KG5KS]

If not, they should be. Will be addressed next time fairing etc comes off and will pull the tank then and clean it.
Appreciate it

Thank you

Ken

[Techdude2000]

Good afternoon all, I am having a issue with my '03 Gl1800. Started at end of last riding season:
First indication (last year) turned on left turn signal and both indicators on dash flashed (dimly). Couldn't get it to repeat last year. Also noticed CB would work great for a while then transmit volume fell to almost nothing. I could hear fine though.
Unpacked her this year, first few (short) rides were fine. Then signal thing started up again (haven't used CB yet). No problem has become way more frequent with other symptoms. . . .
Turn on left or right signal, both flash on very dimly. Also front and rear signals both flash dimly.
Pull brake handle both dash indicators light up along with all 4 bulbs (front & rear). (Same problem when using foot brake pedal).
Try to set cruise, dash light comes on but cruise wont set.
I'm sure CB issue is still there.
There is also a whine in MP3 player when using while plugged in and charging.

I believe this is ground-related but not sure. Other problem is: I'm not much of a mechanic beyond being a "filter jockey".
If it is ground related where the heck does a shade-tree filter jockey start looking?

Thank you all in advance!
Ed

Since you are hearing extra noise in the system, I definitely would pull the gas tank and check the G1 ground for corrosion.

[tamathumper]

IIRC, Fred H. or someone posted pictures of soldering a new wire across the top of all the tabs that come to roost at G1, and then ran that wire somewhere more accessible, even.

[Techdude2000]

IIRC, Fred H. or someone posted pictures of soldering a new wire across the top of all the tabs that come to roost at G1, and then ran that wire somewhere more accessible, even.

Not sure about the soldering part, but some have installed a large jumper from G2 to G1 to provide a better ground back to the battery instead of relying on the engine block/frame ground path.

[eefer_24]

Good afternoon all,

After much investigating I found that the large white connector (under passenger) wassnt "tucked" out of the way well enough.
This had allowed the weight of a passenger to ride directly on the connector itself. This in-turn [very slightly] deformed the connector.
This deformation caused the grn/wht pin of the connector to make/break contact.
Cutting the grn/wht on either side of the connector and "jumpering around" the connector as well as better securing the connector back against the trunk face solved the issue.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions. They "bulls-eyed" where to start looking for and ultimately find the problem.

Ed

[Techdude2000]

Good afternoon all,

After much investigating I found that the large white connector (under passenger) wassnt "tucked" out of the way well enough.
This had allowed the weight of a passenger to ride directly on the connector itself. This in-turn [very slightly] deformed the connector.
This deformation caused the grn/wht pin of the connector to make/break contact.
Cutting the grn/wht on either side of the connector and "jumpering around" the connector as well as better securing the connector back against the trunk face solved the issue.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions. They "bulls-eyed" where to start looking for and ultimately find the problem.

Ed

Hopefully, this fixes the noise issue as well. Usually, the ground back there will only affect the lights. Keep us posted.

[eefer_24]

Haven't had a chance to check the noise or the CB yet, due to monsoon summer here in NW PA.
Hopefully weather will break and I'll get the chance soon.