turn signal/directional/blinker question

[artyc264]

I've got an 03 Valkyrie Standard, on cold weather days only, I've got issues. When activating the turn signal switch, I get an 8 to 10 second delay before the blinkers come on. I also noticed the parking light stops working then the blinker comes on. Seems like it's searching for a ground. Hope someone out there knows right where to send me. Thanks in advance, Arty

[Michvalk]

The switch needs cleaned and lubed up. There are a few dozen threads on this board that will give you step by step. I don't know about your running light going out. Maybe they are supposed to? Someon else will be able to tell you

[Ricky-D]

Yes, not an uncommon little problem.

It's the grease within the switch.

When the temperature gets cold and the grease gets old, this ailment will happen.

The quickest cure is to spray some contact cleaner into the switch.

The better cure is to dismantle the switch and clean it properly assembling it with some new non-conductive grease.

Be extra careful to not lose any parts.

***

[mmurffy03]

i have an 03 also when i installed my cobra lightbar with the blinkers that came with the lights as a set and put either blinker on the same thig happend there was no delay to speak of i would think that problem is inside the switch and would go away with a good cleaning but the running light would go out when i turned on either blinker i didnt like that setup and reinstalled my stock honda blinkers on the cobra lightbar and it all went back to normal dont know why it did that its all wired the same way but for some reason with the cobra blinkers turned my running light off

[RP#62]

What Ricky said.  When the OEM grease gets old, it gets a consistency like wax, that is when its cold, its hard and interferes with switch operation.  When it warms up, it softens and lets the switch start working.  Try spraying it with a contact cleaner first, as suggested.
-RP

[BF]

Ditto what everybody else said. 

It's not that hard to take the switch apart and spray out alll of that old gunk and relube it with freash grease. 

What you want is "dielectric grease". 

You can get it at most any auto parts store such as Autozone.  I've even seen little bitty tubes of it next to the checkout registers at Autozone. 

Your turn signal switch will work better after you clean it out and relube it with freash grease too. 

[mmurffy03]

maybe a hair dryer might help ? if you dont have the skills to take the switch apart

[indybobm]

It is normal for the front running light to turn off when you select the turn signal. The bulbs are two elements and the switch has two sections (poles)
By shutting off the running light for that side it makes the flashing turn signal more visible

[artyc264]

Thanks for the awesome tech tips. This site is AWESOME!  Thanks, Arty

[valky1500]

Ditto what everybody else said. 

It's not that hard to take the switch apart and spray out alll of that old gunk and relube it with freash grease. 

What you want is "dielectric grease". 

You can get it at most any auto parts store such as Autozone.  I've even seen little bitty tubes of it next to the checkout registers at Autozone. 

Your turn signal switch will work better after you clean it out and relube it with freash grease too. 

What becomes confusing is that dielectric grease is not a grease per se.

To put it in layman's terms:
Regular grease is a petrol-chemical based substance used for the lubrication of moving metal parts that touch each other and such purposes. It will also soften and shorten the life of plastic, rubber and gasket material.

and...

The dielectric grease is a silicon base substance to be used on switches, terminals, bulbs, wire fittings and other electrical uses. It will also prevent the corrosion of and can be used on battery terminals.  Grin

You don't want to confuse the 2 when using them.