Electrical Issues..... Where to Start? - Solved!

- Yesterday everything was fine
- Today I appear to have no working signals
- When everything is running properly; the turn signals double as daytime running lights. Therefore should be on solid all the time until I press the turn indicator, and they begin to flash
- Now the front two lights are on solid all the time; and pressing the turn indicator has no effect on them
- The rear two lights are off all the time; and pressing the turn indicator has no effect on them
- The bike is an XJ900; and appears to have some home wiring done on it
- It still has the old style fuse box; all of which are intact

Where do I start?
Is that scenario indicative of anything specific?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Change out the flasher relay, they are cheap, so a good place to start.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Although it's not likely to be the cause of this particular issue, you should start with replacing the fuse box, because it WILL cause you problems eventually, regardless.

Once you've replaced the fuse box, assuming the problem is still there, which it likely will be, we'll need a very clear description of all the wiring involved in your turn signal system, since, AFAIK, this DRL setup is not stock. We'll first need to understand how it was supposed to work in order to make suggestions about why it's now not working.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Awesome. thanks.

But whats a flasher relay; and where can I find it?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Thanks SQLguy.

I will do that tomorrow.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

I have done some research on Starter relays. looks pretty simple to replace.

Now to locate it. I checked the manual; It's under the seat.

I looked for it; and found 4 relays.... none with identifiable markings. How do I know which one is the Flasher Relay?

One is a starter Relay, ones a Sidestand relay, ones a flasher relay; and I can't remember the fourth.

I tried removing each one.... hoping the front signals would go out when one was removed. Nope..... the front lights stay on while all of them are removed.

What next?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Fixed to the frame in a rubber holder under the fuel tank.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

There were 3 questionable relays.

1) Starting Circuit Cut Off Relay
2) Flasher Relay
3) Sidestand Relay

I removed one; and the bike wouldn't start (Must be the Starting Circuit Cut Off Relay)

I put that one back in; removed another; put the bike in 1st; and put down the side stand.... the bike continued running. (Must be the Sidestand Relay)

So the final one must be the flasher relay. Where can I get a new one? Canadian Tire? Or a specialty store?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

What does the one that you removed look like?

Is it a Nippon Denso (ND) box with three pins? If it is, then it's the original, and you're not going to be able to find an exact replacement except from a Yamaha dealer or someone like Chacal. An aftermarket two-pin flasher can be installed connected to the Brown and Brown/White wires, with the Brown/White being the load side.

However, I don't see any way a proble with a stock flasher could cause the promblem you're describing. That's because the stock system ties the front and rear circuits together - anything that happens to front-left happens to rear-left.

Now, what could be a problem, though it still seems unlikely, would be if both of your rear bulbs had burned out at the same time. Have you checked that the rear bulbs are good? Maybe try swapping a rear bulb with a front bulb. Alternatively, it might be that there's a plug going to the rears that came loose....

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Thanks for the info SQLGuy.

I went to the store; bought a new flasher relay; it didn't do anything.

While I was changing the relay; I realized.... The horn also doesn't work. They are both mounted to the left handlebar; could there be some sort of short?

Now what do I try next?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Horns and turn signals both get power through the "Signals" fuse. If the PO did something weird with wiring up those DRL's, it could be that some of the power comes from one circuit and some comes from another. I'd check that fuse and its clips.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Excellent. I was hoping they were on the same fuse.

but if a fuse or clip is gone; why would there still be power to the front bulbs?

and whats a DRL?

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

Power to the front bulbs would be the PO wiring weirdness... since DRL's (daytime running lights) are not, AFAIK, standard for those turn signals anyway.

 

Re: Electrical Issues..... Where to Start?

So I opened the fuse box; and found which one is responsible for the flashers. I looked at it; and it's clips really hard..... everything is intact.

Confused... I replaced it into its holder...... and TA DA! everything works. There must have been some sort of loose connection in there. That old fuse box HAS to go. I'll replace it the next day I get off.


Thank you SO much guys.

This site, and it's members are awesome.

-Lawrence

 

I converted the fuse box to 4 inline fuse holders.

While doing so I noticed the Main Fuse, and the Flasher Fuse were especially loose. Good thing the Flasher Fuse came loose first; and notified me of the problem. I could have been stranded!

Thanks again guys.

 

congratulations. That was the first "custom" mod I did to my maxim