Radio issue on my 99 Interstate

[deadvelvet]

Problem is can't figure out why my radio will go off while riding in the rain and if it's damp out but when I stop and put it in neutral it comes back on can't find any short or anything just wondering if anyone else has had this issue thanks

[MarcusS]

I found that My interstate had a weak ground. This causes the whole ground system to have a positive potential of about 2-3 volts.  The neutral switch goes to ground when the light comes on and this may drop the system ground resistance just enough for the radio to work. To check this, use a good multimeter and measure the potential of your wiring harness to the motor or frame at various points when everything is on. There are few actual points that the wire harness actually goes to ground on the frame. I was using the Radio power outputs for the CD and CB for auxiliary systems and discovered this. The radio may have an internal power filter to reduce static that will also add resistance. I added some ground points and all problems went away. Remember that these bikes tend to use thin wire and resistance builds up fast. If you have 4 systems that have the same guage wire as the ground system then the ground system loses and has the higher voltage drop. Any addition of load like higher power lights or amps makes this worse.

[Bighead]

There is a connection in the wiring harness that will corrode and cause this also,I have had the same happen on my IS. There is a solution that someone can post a link to and I am sure someone will before long.

[deadvelvet]

Thanks a lot guys

[Grumpy]

Below the battery box and above the swing arm pivot the wiring harness has a bulge in it. That is the grounding terminal block for all the grounds on the IS. I had intermittent electrical problems with mine several years ago,  started out kickstand switch not working part of the time, then neutral light same thing. then radio and finally started cutting the engine off. It would die then catch and run. I traced the problems to the grounding connection, when I unwrapped it, it was green with corrosion.  I cleaned every thing with a small wire brush, then coated every thing with electrical grease. Never had another problem. Honda mounted it in the worst place, where the rear wheel throws all the water and trash on it.

[Bighead]

Below the battery box and above the swing arm pivot the wiring harness has a bulge in it. That is the grounding terminal block for all the grounds on the IS. I had intermittent electrical problems with mine several years ago,  started out kickstand switch not working part of the time, then neutral light same thing. then radio and finally started cutting the engine off. It would die then catch and run. I traced the problems to the grounding connection, when I unwrapped it, it was green with corrosion.  I cleaned every thing with a small wire brush, then coated every thing with electrical grease. Never had another problem. Honda mounted it in the worst place, where the rear wheel throws all the water and trash on it.

This is the one I was speaking of