Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing


Information and questions on GL1800 Goldwings (2001-2017)
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IcemanB
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Location: Suffolk
Motorcycle: 2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 and 2006 Honda CBR 600rr

Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »



Hello Everyone,

I actually have two questions. The first is not really a problem.
1. What are the two wires connected to my front mirrors for?
2. The really problem. Mirror mounted running light/turn signal. The running lights come on with the bulb replacement, however, my turn signal still does not work. I've tried two different bulb both will light for running light but not turn signal. I checked the voltage at the connector and the voltage is good. Checked filaments on bulbs and they are good. I will be getting new bibs just in case. Any help would be appreciated.


Techdude2000
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Techdude2000 »

Are you sure there’s only two wires at your mirror? There should be three wires, 1. running power, 2. Turn signal power, 3.Common ground. If one is missing, you will have a function missing. Ground is the green one. Running power is solid orange on the left side and solid light blue on the right side. Turn signals are orange with a white stripe on the left and light blue with white stripe on the right.
Do your hazards flash?
IcemanB
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Motorcycle: 2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 and 2006 Honda CBR 600rr

Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »

The two wires I mention are extra wires. I realized the previous owner added a signal light kit to the mirrors. The funny thing is you can't even see them because it sits inside the mirror housing. So I took those off since they were unless.
Yes I have hazards. When I turn on the hazards all signal lights flash as they should. However, my right turn signal still does not flash. Left side one works fine. Bulbs are all good. The voltages seem to be good. When on running light only there is 11v on left orange/wite and 0v to pulsing on orange when signal is pressed; 10v on right light blue/white and pulsing on light blue when signal is pressed.
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Rambozo
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Rambozo »

Sounds like dirty contacts in your hazard switch. They can get that way from lack of use.
When you say the right doesn't work, is that both front and rear that are out?
IcemanB
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »

Just the right front is turn signal is not flashing.

I think I may have lost focus. I just checked my voltage again. I don't appear to be getting voltage at the right bulb.
The rear right flashes, the front right does not.
Techdude2000
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Techdude2000 »

IcemanB wrote: Sat Aug 03, 2024 7:49 pm Just the right front is turn signal is not flashing.

I think I may have lost focus. I just checked my voltage again. I don't appear to be getting voltage at the right bulb.
The rear right flashes, the front right does not.
But all four lights work in hazard mode and both rear lights work with the turns? Very odd. The wires that carry power for the hazards are the same wires coming from junction connectors that feed the same filaments for the turns. If it was the turn signal switch, the rear right wouldn’t work. If it was the cancel unit none of them would work. I’ll go study the schematics and see if I can find a possible culprit. Are any of the bulbs LED?
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Rambozo
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Rambozo »

Boy I'm at a loss. The front and rear bulbs should have a common wire, so how you are getting hazard but not turn on one end is a head scratcher. Something like LEDs or an odd ground problem. Any chance this bike has some kind of aftermarket light flasher? I saw one years ago that lit up both rear turn signals when you hit the brakes. Doubt it was legal but it sure made that bike stand out in traffic.
Techdude2000
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Techdude2000 »

Rambozo wrote: Sat Aug 03, 2024 11:09 pm Boy I'm at a loss. The front and rear bulbs should have a common wire, so how you are getting hazard but not turn on one end is a head scratcher. Something like LEDs or an odd ground problem. Any chance this bike has some kind of aftermarket light flasher? I saw one years ago that lit up both rear turn signals when you hit the brakes. Doubt it was legal but it sure made that bike stand out in traffic.
I am at a loss as well. Something has to be wired(rewired) wrong or there’s something extra in the circuit. The pulsing power for the right side comes from the flasher relay, runs through the handlebar switch contacts, goes to a junction connector and is split to the rear light, the front light, and the hazard diode. This is how the turn signal flashing power is shared to both lights. When the hazards are turned on, the pulsing power comes from the flasher relay, routes through the hazard switch contacts, then to the hazard diode and out to the same wire that runs back to the junction connector and bulbs. The pulsing power for the turns and the pulsing power for the hazards is on the same wire at the junction connector and both front and rear bulbs. I would confirm the bulb socket in the mirror is wired correctly. Green wire should be in the middle and good continuity to the battery ground on it. I would have the bulb and socket pulled out and watch which filament is lighting in hazard mode and watch it closely when you activate the left side and the right side turn signals. When you turn on the key, one of the filaments(position/running light) should come on solid. When you turn on the hazards, that filament should stay on and the hazard/signal filament should flash. When you turn on the turn signal for the right side, the running/position light filament should turn off and the hazard/signal side filament should flash. Let me know what you find.
IcemanB
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »

Aftermarket light flasher NO, only brake lights come on when brake is pressed. Lights are not LED'S.

Okay here is what I see. All running lights are on.Turn Signal left side front/rear flash when switch is pressed. Turn Signal right side front will not flash, right rear does the quick flash. On the bulbs I see the two filaments (filament 1 at top and filament 2 just under the other). The filament 1 lights up both side for the running lights. When the left turn signal is activated the filament 1 turns off and filament 2 flashes. PROBLEM: When the right turn signal is activated the filament 1 turns off and filament 2 does not flash. When hazard switch is pressed left side filament 1 will stay lite(no flash) and filament 2 flashes. However, on the right filament 1 flashes (does not on the left side) and filament 2 stays off.

So the right side flash filament does not flash at all, but the running light will flash when on hazards and it shouldn't. So what will make the running light flash but not the flash light when on hazard?
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Rambozo
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Rambozo »

Sounds like lack of ground and/or internal bulb problems.
Filament one should not be turning off when flashing.
Check green ground wires going to the bulb socket. Ideally use an incandescent test light over a multimeter so there is some load.
You might want to pull all four bulbs and test them with jump wires to the battery.
Techdude2000
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Techdude2000 »

Rambozo wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:59 pm Sounds like lack of ground and/or internal bulb problems.
Filament one should not be turning off when flashing.
Check green ground wires going to the bulb socket. Ideally use an incandescent test light over a multimeter so there is some load.
You might want to pull all four bulbs and test them with jump wires to the battery.
I agree, the ground for the right side socket may be open.
IcemanB
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »

Techdude2000 & Rambozo,

Thank you both for your help. The problem has been fixed. While checking the ground there was an open. When I looked at the connector it look fine. I pushed it together to make sure it was tight. After that right turn signal started working.
Thank you for the help.

If you're ever in Suffolk I'll buy you a beer.
Techdude2000
Posts: 671
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
Location: Lexington, KY
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Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by Techdude2000 »

IcemanB wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 10:18 pm Techdude2000 & Rambozo,

Thank you both for your help. The problem has been fixed. While checking the ground there was an open. When I looked at the connector it look fine. I pushed it together to make sure it was tight. After that right turn signal started working.
Thank you for the help.

If you're ever in Suffolk I'll buy you a beer.
The socket itself was apart? I’m glad it turned out to be something simple, because the symptom was trying its best to defy logic. :D
IcemanB
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:44 pm
Location: Suffolk
Motorcycle: 2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 and 2006 Honda CBR 600rr

Re: Running light ON, Turn Signal not Flashing

Post by IcemanB »

You are so right. It is amazing how odd things work when you have a poor ground. 8-)
Thanks again for the help!


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