Blinker Trouble

[Blues]

I just started having trouble with my blinker lights and haven't been able to figure it out yet.  Wiring or electrical problems always stump me!  Typically my rear blinkers continuously burn as running lights and whichever blinker side that is activated blinks on and off.  A week or two ago, I noticed that when I activated the blinkers, the rear lights would either go into blinker mode with the running lights off, or after canceling, would burn as running lights.  Most recently, the rear blinkers work okay as blinkers but do not burn as running lights at all.  The front blinkers work fine as running lights that blink when a particular side is activated.  I've thought bulbs?, or relay?, but still haven't solved the problem yet.  Any suggestions on an easy fix that I'm just missing???

[Ricky-D]

If you have added lights you must say so.

If the lights on your bike are stock unmodified, then say that!

Using stock bulbs in all the correct sockets is a start. Using different bulbs can can cause problems, especially non matching bulbs in corresponding left-right sockets.

A cleaning of the turn signal switch parts is easy and should be the first course of action.

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[Valkpilot]

I just started having trouble with my blinker lights and haven't been able to figure it out yet.  Wiring or electrical problems always stump me!  Typically my rear blinkers continuously burn as running lights and whichever blinker side that is activated blinks on and off.  A week or two ago, I noticed that when I activated the blinkers, the rear lights would either go into blinker mode with the running lights off, or after canceling, would burn as running lights.  Most recently, the rear blinkers work okay as blinkers but do not burn as running lights at all.  The front blinkers work fine as running lights that blink when a particular side is activated.  I've thought bulbs?, or relay?, but still haven't solved the problem yet.  Any suggestions on an easy fix that I'm just missing???

If they are stock, the rear stalk lights should not work as running lights, only as turn signals.  The front signals are both.

So, if they are unmodified, the fact that the rears are on all the time indicates a problem.

[Blues]

Good things to consider.  Valkpilot, you may have answered my question.  I am the second owner of this bike: '03 Standard with no lighting mods as far as I know.  I truly thought both the front and rear stalks operated as running lights but now I'm questioning myself.  I'll keep a close eye on it and see if it was acting up again like last week... sounds like an excuse for a ride.


Ricky-D, when you say "a cleaning of the turn signal switch parts", do you mean the handlebar controls?  I haven't thought about that, but have had to replace the starter button assembly on the other side.

[sandy]

Yes; Ricky was referring to the turn switch on the handlebar. Take the housing apart and clean out the old grease. Use contact cleaner and then relube with dielectric grease. I've done it once on my '98 with 129K on it. No more problems.

[Blues]

Great advice!  Thanks to each of you for the ideas.

[Momz]

Also check your blinker fluid.   

[Blues]

It looks like my bike has been modified to the newer, more trouble-free, "dry" blinker connections...javascript:void(0);