Why do I have rear running lights?

[liquidblack6]

I am adding hyper-lights and electrical connection lights to the the rear of a 2000 Standard.  The LEDs work fine (brake and running), until I use the turnsignal and then LEDS will fade and slightly pulse and the turn signal won't work, but finally it will blink.  While trouble shooting, I noticed that I have rear running lights (rear turnsignals stay on) and will work, but it works in this sequence: On-Off-On.  I didn't remember having running lights in the past and searching the message boards here it doesn't look like it comes with the bike.  I did change the front turnsignals to the plug-in LED and had to change the turn signal relay to compensate for the front LEDs, this was done this winter and of course I wasn't looking at the rear of the Valk to see what changed, because I'm an idiot.  I am going to change out the relay and remove the front bulbs to see if this works. <-Didn't work-Is there anything else I can try or am I missing something else?

[X Ring]

Unless you rewired the rear signals to be running lights also, you don't have running lights.  Pull your led relay and put the stock one back in.  If you don't have those flashing running lights then, the new relay is bad.  I used this relay when I went to LED lights for front and rear running lights and turn signals.  http://www.customdynamics.com/trick_flasher.htm#Standard_DOT_Flasher

Marty

[liquidblack6]

Changed back to the stock turn signal relay and bulbs, still the same, I have rear running lights and using the turn signal alters the LEDs. 

[X Ring]

Did you take the back end apart this winter?

Marty

[Tinman]

I put some LED lights for running and brake in the trunk on my IS.
Not paying attention I put one in backwards (the last one). It did not light and the rest lit up bright.
Check to make sure they are in correctly. Remember LED's are polarity sensitive. They will not light if you put them in backwards or they will cause strange anomalies.

[TearlessTom]

Did you disconnect your front turn lights in the headlight bucket.  I found that the rear would come on solid like running lights if you cross wire your front running lights and turn signals. Problem is the signal doesn't work when like this for instance the right front and right rear my work when right is pressed but when left is pressed it may be the left rear and right front or vice versa that works.

Can't explain why it just did but Like others have said I would put the old relay back in and see what happens. I think your load is not enough to cycle the relay so it just goes to the on position.

[liquidblack6]

I took the fender just to install the Hyper-lites and electrical connection lites.  I just went through the wiring harness again, 4th time, to make sure I didn't connect to the running lights and all of my connections look good.  The orange and lt blue lines run in to the T/S lights and the green runs back into the wiring junction that connect into the fender.  I removed the cutoff from the turn signal cancellation of the electrical connection (turns it off when the turn signal is applied), so it is just turn signal in and ground out.  I have other grounds running into the ground out of the fender to the bike ground (the Hyper-lites, back-up license frame, license plate light, turn signal and electrical connections grounds on the ground side of the T/S out of the fender and to the bike), do you think that would affect the turn signal?

[liquidblack6]

Did you disconnect your front turn lights in the headlight bucket.  I found that the rear would come on solid like running lights if you cross wire your front running lights and turn signals. Problem is the signal doesn't work when like this for instance the right front and right rear my work when right is pressed but when left is pressed it may be the left rear and right front or vice versa that works.

Can't explain why it just did but Like others have said I would put the old relay back in and see what happens. I think your load is not enough to cycle the relay so it just goes to the on position.

I did put in a big bike light bar on a couple of years ago and wouldn't have noticed if the "running lights" came on then or not, I'll check that tomorrow.

[R J]

Damn it no how.   Let's try this for the 3rd time now.

Sounds like you have lost a ground.    A green wire somewhere loose.

I'd look in the rubber boot under the right side cover 1st, if not there then the headlight bucket.  From there, anyplace you have had your little fingers on the wires.    Remember, you are looking for a loose GREEN wire.

I'd promised myself if I knock mine loose again under the side cover, it will become a male female flat spade.

Success, 3rd time is a charm.......

[John Schmidt]

Keep in mind the amber indicator on the headlight. In OEM configuration it doesn't function as a separate circuit for each side turn signals when it lights up the indicator(an oversimplification). If LED's are added, depending on how you install them electrically, you will need to install the diode mod from Kuryakyn, costs less than $10 as I recall. Or, if you're elec. savvy you can go to Radio Trash and get a diode and make your own. It basically gives you two separate circuits to activate the amber indicator. Some of the symptoms you're describing seem to follow that pattern, it's a simple mod done inside the headlight bucket and took me less than a half hour. Everything on my bike is LED except the headlight and driving lights. Figure the alternator might outlast me. 

[liquidblack6]

I am adding hyper-lights and electrical connection lights to the the rear of a 2000 Standard.  The LEDs work fine (brake and running), until I use the turnsignal and then LEDS will fade and slightly pulse and the turn signal won't work, but finally it will blink.  While trouble shooting, I noticed that I have rear running lights (rear turnsignals stay on) and will work, but it works in this sequence: On-Off-On.  I didn't remember having running lights in the past and searching the message boards here it doesn't look like it comes with the bike.  I did change the front turnsignals to the plug-in LED and had to change the turn signal relay to compensate for the front LEDs, this was done this winter and of course I wasn't looking at the rear of the Valk to see what changed, because I'm an idiot.  I am going to change out the relay and remove the front bulbs to see if this works. <-Didn't work-Is there anything else I can try or am I missing something else?

Okay, so a week later and I have not made any progress.  I checked  all of the wires in the right side cover in the boot, inside the headlight and in the rear fender.  All are connected to the correct color coded wires.  I replaced the relay and still I have running lights.  I removed all of the LEDs (one wire at a time) from the rear to see if I could narrow the culprit this way.  Still I have running lights.   A couple of questions:

1. My back-off LED license plate frame is grounded the same as my rear turn signals, wouldn't this come on also, if I was missing a ground?

2. How bad do you thing the stealer will rape me to have them try to find it?

3.  Does it hurt to leave it this way or what problems am I going to run into (heat or anything else an issue)?  I have thought about just getting red lenses and enjoying the running lights.

BTW, thanks for all of the advice and help!!!!

[X Ring]

If we knew where you are, someone nearby might be able to help you.

Marty

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Both my bikes have been wired to have rear running lights. I even ran the amber lenses for years and no problems from LEO. I figure the more attention I can call to the rear of my bike the less chance I have of meeting the fellow behind me.

[Ricky-D]

1. My back-off LED license plate frame is grounded the same as my rear turn signals, wouldn't this come on also, if I was missing a ground?

That may be the problem.

Using an established "ground" and tying it in with another device and an additional ground might could cause your problem if the established "ground" is actually a switched ground that serves additional functions in parallel circuits.  By establishing a new ground with the extra device you may have formed an additional circuit that results in your "running lights".

***

[liquidblack6]

If we knew where you are, someone nearby might be able to help you.

Marty

I live in Falls Church, Virginia.