Right indicator not working (SOLVED)

[jeff1974]

Hi all

For some reason, my right indicators aren't working.

I figured it's not the relay as the left ones intermittantly work, so figured it was the left handlebar switch. So I replaced that and same problem exists.

So the only thing I can figure is it must be the relay.

I took the headlight off to get to the wiring when I changed the switch, so assume it's all in tact. Unfortunately couldn't find a voltage tester, so didn't get the riesults of that.

Here are the symptoms:

Rights don't work
lefts work if I rapidly hit the reset a few tmes, then drag it left.
Bulbs look fine
When I go from left to right, the highbeam indicator light flashes slightly then goes off.

I'm no sparky so am flummaxed!

Hope you have a few good ideas as thinking of buying a cheap relay to eliminate doubt.

[Wesso]

I had a problem with the left indicator on my XV250 which sounds like it was identical to what is happening with yours.
I pulled the bulbs and found that there was a fair bit of white corrosion in the rear indicator light fitting. It took quite a bit of soaking with WD-40 to get the old bulb out of the fitting but once I got it out and cleaned the fitting thoroughly the indicators have worked flawlessly since.
Basically the fault was a bad ground on the rear indicator fitting.

[totallyredvirago]

the relay (flasher) needs a ground to work. there are at least 3 wires to the flasher. brown, brown/white, white/green
brown is the 12v feed
brown/white feeds 12v to the switch assy through the flasher once the switch is pressed to right or left the power travels through the switch to the bulb through the bulb to ground.. if there is no ground then the bulb does not light. now that said.. this is for the majority of our xv's.. yours being a 99 xv125 i do not know what colors you will have. so what i need to know.
1- the color of all the wires going to your flasher.
2- the color of the wires out of your turn signal switch connector..
like wesso said check all your sockets.. turn a signal light on and wiggle that side of the bulbs. see if you get a flicker. if you do then you have bad sockets. if no flicker then check the ground wires wiggle them and see if they flicker. if they do then you have a loose or bad ground. do this to the front and rear lights.. post back your findings. best to start off easy then dive into wiring......dan

[arnie]

When mine didn't work, I disconnected the signals and used a test ligjt. Light was bright and signal wern't. Cleaned sockets and all connectiona and they work like new. Also use seperate ground on each rear signal and brake/tail light. Much brighter now.

[jeff1974]

Cheers to one and all!

Especially you TRV as I didn't expect a rply so quickly

When I checked the bulbs, I did notice alot of white corrosion. Am at work with access to a screwdriver, so will give that a bash first and see what happens. If that fails, I'll get home and start noting wire colours etc and get back to you all.

If I fix it at lunch, I'll be posting in about 2 hours!

Thanks again. If not for all this information, I think I would be clueless without you guys!

Jeff

[jeff1974]

Right! I grabbed a can of WD40 and some woman's emery board (I work in an office) and went to town on the front light bulb. It was sparkling by the time I finished and I still have the problem

I noticed that one of the wires was brown, so that helps a little.

the only problem was, the screwdriver I had was like a kid's one, so I couldn't get the headlight off to have a look at the wiring behind it.

Had a look under the seat as well as I know it all connects there, but the only dodgy thing I could see was some duct tape around a ceramic 13 amp fuse that is still working quite well (took it out and the neutral light went off).

That is all I can do till I get home so if you have any more ideas, please let me know

[totallyredvirago]

just do not focus on the front. look at the rear also.....dan

[Wesso]

In my case it was the rear indicator bulb that was corroded. The rear ones seem to corrode the worst because they cop all the spray off the back wheel whereas the front ones are up and out of the way mostly.
I have a rule of thumb... Whenever I have a grounding problem I start from the back of the bike because that gets the worst of road grime from the rear wheel and then I work towards the front.
Mine also had a lot of that white corrosion on it. I found a good way to clean up the lead contact of the bulb is to drag it lightly across an unpainted cement surface turning it as I drag it. This works better than any emery board and keeps you out of trouble with the women

[jeff1974]

Hi again. I did actually check the back one and it looked absolutely fine. The front orange indicator cover has a small hole in it so that explains the corrosion.

I couldn't get at the insides properly so will have a crack at it tomorrow and let you know.

Also, a mate suggested doing all four to be sure. If i get time, I'll give that a go as well

[jeff1974]

Well after all my Mucking around, I disconnected the rear indicator, and that made the front one blink fast. So, knowing that it was have been the rear one with the problem, I ran my hand under the mudguard to check.the wiring. As soon as I gave it a bit if a pull, and released some if its tension, all started working again.

Only thing I can think is that when.I put ut on again after painting the bike a few months ago I must have fed the wire so tight, that it pulled in the connection at the indicator.

Will have a proper look under there at some point, but for now, they are all working again.

Thanks guys

[Wesso]

Congratulations Jeff. It's good to see that your fault finding worked in the end.
I'm glad that we could help in some small way.

[jeff1974]

Well, before you send the kudos, it happened yet again, so I removed tthe indicator and this is what I found under some old tape. Must have been shorting out cos I have fixed it now and its working a treat.

[totallyredvirago]

not shorting out.. a short will blow the fuse. wire was going open (no current flow).......dan

[NewModder]

Hi,

I have an 83 XV750... Im doing a complete rebuild and have taken all halogen lights off and am replacing with LED. Initially when I wired everything up I just twisted wires together and didn't cover them. All LEDs lit up but then I feel maybe some of the other wires crossed while live and now the whole right indicator system doesn't work.

Nothing wrong with the LEDs
I've even changed gauge and the left indicator LED on the gauge works but not the right.

Ive looked at the actual switch and doesn't seem to be a problem there.
The fuses are a little old a dirty but seem to be ok.

I have taken all LEDs off now. Would this impact the system? EG if there is only 1 LED light on the whole indicator system would that mean they wouldn't work?

I am at a loss as to what is going on here. Have I cooked the right indicator wiring?

Thanks

[Jake]

Newmodder, start a new thread in Electronics. You are thread jacking a (SOLVED) thread that is five years old.

(SOLVED) threads should only be revived to add new information, in addition, this is an XV125 thread.

I'm locking this one.