Warning lights off and on.

[Don Fonzarelli]

It's something that occurs the last couple of months, but begins to be very irritating.
When I set my ignition to ON and do not statr the engine, sometimes my oil and temp light do not light up.
When I kill the engine after a drive, they sometimes work again, but not every time.
I guess it might be one of the connectors that fails or is dirty.
Does anybody know which connector that is, or do you guys have another opinion?
What's the trick here?

[zlMark]

try wiggling the key and steering side to side that might give you an idea of where to start. If yuou haven't gone through and cleaned and di-electric grease the electrical connections you may as well get that out of the way. It will save you lots of headaches

[Don Fonzarelli]

Just checked, and it does have an influence when I steer completely to the left and right.
So what can that be?

[Wyldstreak]

Sounds like some sort of intermittent contact with either the switch or in the wiring harness. I would check the connectors and where the connectors attach to the wiring and switch first. If that ends up OK, the next almost has to be a problem in one of the wires. Stranded wire, as we all know, has lots of tiny wires and after flexing for a while, those wires break one by one, till finally the all go. Sometimes when flexing stranded wire, you can make contact even with a broken wire, and the circuit will work then while the contact is made, but will cease once that wire flexes again.

Could be other things that I'm not familiar with, but I have fought that above problem more times in my professional life than I care to recall. . . :pistols: :laughing7:

[zlMark]

Just checked, and it does have an influence when I steer completely to the left and right.
So what can that be?bad connection or bad wire. Start by checking the connections like I said earlier and see what happens. Keep us posted on what fixes it please :nike:

[Don Fonzarelli]

As soon as my hands don't freeze off outside, I'll get my can of contact spray out and keep you posted.
I kinda hoped that you guys recognized the prob and knew which connector causes this malfunction.

[zlMark]

I kinda hoped that you guys recognized the prob and knew which connector causes this malfunction. sorry....but we soon will know
:laughing7:

[Wstar425]

Just start moving wires around until it does or doesn't do what it is supposed to do. If that doesn't work, get a bigger hammer!

Did I just say that?

When it looks like this, you know you are getting somewhere. I'm not sure where that is......but somewhere. That stuff on the walls in the background is the solution to the cold hands. Well, at least the first step anyway.

[Don Fonzarelli]

sorry....but we soon will know
:laughing7:

Ok, ok, I'll keep you posted on this one.....................:laughing7:

[Don Fonzarelli]

That stuff on the walls in the background is the solution to the cold hands. Well, at least the first step anyway.

I have to juggle my tools around out on the streets here.
Kinda cold now..................

[tmdoth]

Ok, ok, I'll keep you posted on this one.....................:laughing7:

Do you have the service manual in order to consult the wiring diagrams?
That should help to pinpoint the general area, if not the exact wire.

[Don Fonzarelli]

Do you have the service manual in order to consult the wiring diagrams?
That should help to pinpoint the general area, if not the exact wire.

Nope.
How many connectors are there in the area that can be influenced by steering?

[tmdoth]

Nope.
How many connectors are there in the area that can be influenced by steering?

I'm at school right now, so I will try to check for you later tonight when I make it over to the shop. Can you see the bottom of the ignition switch? does it look loose or cracked in any way?

[Don Fonzarelli]

At the moment it's 20.00 h over here in the Netherlands.
Can't see anything now, it's pretty dark and freezing over here outside.
I will look tomorrow morning.
Thanks for your help. :notworthy:

[Wstar425]

I have to juggle my tools around out on the streets here.
Kinda cold now..................

That bites! I gave up trying to work even inside the garage with heat. Much nicer with a little insulation and without the gloves.

I hope you get it figured out. Are you going to be riding it now, when you get it fixed? I'm guessing you have comparable weather to what we have here. COLD!

[Don Fonzarelli]

I'm riding it everyday.
Although it's about 5 below zero Celsius now.
With this cold outside, I don't worry about the temp of my bike anyway.
And the oil light? Checking oil everyday and checking for leaks works good.
It's just irritating.

[Wstar425]

I'm riding it everyday.
Although it's about 5 below zero Celsius now.
With this cold outside, I don't worry about the temp of my bike anyway.
And the oil light? Checking oil everyday and checking for leaks works good.
It's just irritating.

You are tougher than I am, or more desperate to get somewhere. :rotf:

[Don Fonzarelli]

Tough guy I guess.
Plenty choices of public transport here.
Just love riding.................

[zl900_moab]

Obviously...
moab...

[jmac]

I would start with all of the connections in the headlight bucket.All of that stuff plugs in there.My gauges and lights were all brighter,after I cleaned and greesed them.Just pop out the light and everything is there.Aside from the turn signal wires,all the connectors are different,so you can't mix them up.Should be pretty easy.A little WD-40 will help get some of them apart.Some of mine were tough to get apart.Take your time,its easy to break 24yr old plastic.

[lowlife]

Don't forget the ignition switch. Wiggle the key, Grab the wires and tug. Might get you closer to your issue. I had one that was thsi issue, it got to the point where it would backfire on occasion. Also related to the same problem.

[Don Fonzarelli]

Don't forget the ignition switch. Wiggle the key, Grab the wires and tug. Might get you closer to your issue. I had one that was thsi issue, it got to the point where it would backfire on occasion. Also related to the same problem.

What did you do to fix that?

[lowlife]

New switch, check all connections first as thats cheaper

[Don Fonzarelli]

You mean a complete new ignition switch?
New keys and all?
How much are they?

[kawboy]

You mean a complete new ignition switch?
New keys and all?
How much are they?

The switch can be disassembled and cleaned. I had some intermittent problems with starting and indicators, then it got worse and would die while riding, as lowlife said. Took the switch apart, cleaned and lubed, no problems since. Don't try squirting anything into the keyhole, the electrical switch is a separate piece mounted to the bottom of the key barrel.

[Don Fonzarelli]

So your advice is to take the whole switch off, take it apart and clean it?
Is that a fairly simple task?

[kawboy]

So your advice is to take the whole switch off, take it apart and clean it?
Is that a fairly simple task?

Not difficult, no. Just go slowly in a clean area - there's a spring and a ball bearing in there that could pop out as you're disassembling. Search "ignition switch" for more details.

[Don Fonzarelli]

Thanks for the help.
I will look into this as soon as I can.
It's snowing now.
And I really hate snow.
Especially when I have to toss my tools around on the street at my front door.

Thanks for the help so far, I'll keep you posted!