Left blinkers work, right blinkers don't

New to me '83 550. Left blinkers work good. The right blinkers don't light at all. I have replaced the switch housing as the high beam and horn buttons were broken. And the right blinkers don't work with the newer switch either.

I've moved the known good bulbs (from the left blinkers) to the right blinkers and still nothing.

Does this sound like a common problem?

 

It sounds like a wiring or connection problem, which are common to old XJs, so yes.

 

My 81 Midnight's left signals would stick 'on' and would not blink.

Discovered the bolts to the left front turn signal stem were slightly loose and not getting a good ground. Tightened them up and everything was fine.

If yours is a Seca, it may be different. I think they may have two wires running all of the way to the bulb where my Maxim got ground through the stem.

 

I had no left signal, but my front one would come on and stay on, no flash. Rear dead.

Found a ton of water in the lens...drained it and new bulb and cleaned the socket up with a battery terminal brush and it started working again.

Stopped working a couple of days later. I had to remove and fully disassemble the stem/socket, had some really rusty parts in there. Luckily it was made in a way it can all be taken apart down to basic components.

 

You have to do some "Exploratory Electrical Troubleshooting"!

Troubleshooting the Electrical System can be a challenge.
There are so many Gremlins to deal with the chore is quite frustrating.

If you have an Original Fuse Panel, ... Replace it. The stock Fuse Panel is well beyond its life span and will fail ... leaving you stuck.

Moving on to the Signals.
You need to TEST each Signal Light Assy.
Sometimes its rust. Sometimes the Socket is full of Grease.
Once in awhile ... the "Contact Platform" inside the fixture gets pushed-in and gets cock-eyed.

You will NEED to know IF there is POWER where you are supposed to have it and IF the Circuit is Open or Closed.

For doing that Circuit Testing you need a Test Light and Circuit Tester.

In my opinion, there is NO finer Tool (for the money) than this Cal-Van #72 Circuit Test Light.
Not only does it LIGHT, ... But is also BEEPS when it finds Voltage.

An indispensable Tool that belongs in the Tool Box of every Bike Owner.
Worth its weight in Gold.

http://mwpws030.marketworks.com/p-1354- ... an-72.aspx

 

Clean the sockets where the base of the bulb makes contact.
Clean all the connections on the flasher relay.

Clean all the connections on EVERYTHING.

 

Check my blinker not blinking post in my signature. It may or may not help.

 

Thanks all!! Metal_Bob, yours was one of the first things I read.

Was hoping for an easier answer than digging in but here I go!

 

i had no right turns. because the ground wire to the rear signal was broke. they wouldn't even light up untill i grounded the wire.