Electrical failure on GS1100ED

[Flaming Chainsaws]

As the title says, my 1983 GS1100E's electricals do not work. Only the headlight (both low and hi-beam), hi-beam indicator light on gauge cluster, starter motor, coils, and igniter work. Everything else is dead which is the turn signals (all 4), brake/tail/license light, and the entire gauge cluster (except for hi-beam).

All fuses are good. The oil temp and oil pressure switch is connected. I bought a working check panel control unit from a member here and installed it but that didn't do a thing. OK... Pulled the gauge cluster off to check all of the bulbs and wiring but all was good. Checked the turn signal and rear light bulbs and those were good as well.

Now with the wiring diagram in hand, I traced all of the wires and they are in the correct places. No frayed and broken wires. All connections are clean.

Here is the weird part. There are these two ground wires that is connected to the starter motor relay's left mounting bolt. If I pull one ground wire, the oil, side stand, and neutral light work. If I pull both ground wires off the headlight turns off and the hi beam light no longer works. Also, the oil temp gauge goes all the way up to 360 degrees. Damn! It's like the bike is telling me to choose between the half of the gauge cluster or the headlight!

I tried shifting it into gear to see if the neutral light is working as it should but the oil, side stand, and neutral light all turn off!

Next I tried testing the side stand. Flipped the side stand up but the light was still on...


This has really gotten me stumped. What else can I do? This is the only thing that is stopping me from registering the bike .

[Redman]

I can answer one of these mysterys.

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Next I tried testing the side stand. Flipped the side stand up but the light was still on...
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If bike was off, engine not running, that would be normal, becasue the low oil pressure switch lights the low oil light AND the sidestand light (or at least it does on 850G and 1100G).

All that other stuff sounds quite strange. And will take some seroius troubleshooting.

ANd I dont know what you mean by "check panel control unit".

On 850G and 1100G there is only one ground wire on the solenoid bolt, is there to ground the battery box so the R/R and solenoid has a ground. Is a black/white wire that comes out of the wiring harness and in the wiring harness is connected to all the other black/white wires, one which goes to batt- and one which is connected to the frame. DOes one of the two wires that you have seem to match that description?
And the other one seem like something someone has added?, if so track down that one and see where they connected the the other end.

>>later note:
Oh, is the check panel control unit have to do with that graphic thing of the bike with the indicators lights in it...?

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[Flaming Chainsaws]

I can answer one of these mysterys.



If bike was off, engine not running, that would be normal, becasue the low oil pressure lights the low oil light AND the sidestand light (or at least it does on 850G and 1100G).

Al that other stuff sounds quite strange. And will take some seroius troubleshooting. ANd I dont know what you mean by "check panel control unit".

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Check panel control unit is the black box under the gas tank. It controls all of the gauge cluster lights.

All of these tests were done with the engine NOT running. I will try again with it running to see if there is any difference.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

I know that it may hard to picture this with words but I will make a video of it tomorrow to show you my problem... Or maybe tonight.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

I guess you guys are all stumped too . I'm thinking about just shelling out the $200 and buy a brand new wiring harness, which is still available.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

The red circle are the ground wires that I am talking about. If I unplug them, then half of my gauge cluster works but my headlight turns off. It's like its telling me to choose between the headlight or the gauge cluster .

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Damn... No one has anything to say about this

[JEEPRUSTY]

The side stand light is configured to be a fallback for the oil pressure light in some models. The particulars are in some post on here.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Does the bike have to be running for the lights to work? I know that the check panel control unit depends on the oil pressure switch...

[JEEPRUSTY]

Does the bike have to be running for the lights to work? I know that the check panel control unit depends on the oil pressure switch...

Someone must have a rundown on this bike.
I think posplayr has one.
Do a search under his posts mebbe?

[JEEPRUSTY]

Were the magical connetors in red ever attached on your bike?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=179778&highlight=electrical

may indicate something.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Were the magical connetors in red ever attached on your bike?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=179778&highlight=electrical

may indicate something.

As far as I know, everything is connected correctly.

[JEEPRUSTY]

page 75 of the manual has flowcharts of the troubleshooting.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

page 75 of the manual has flowcharts of the troubleshooting.

Which manual are you looking at? Page 75 on mine shows transmission pictures. It's the Hayne's. I must download BassCliffs!

[Flaming Chainsaws]

OK. I downloaded the factory service manual from BassCliff's site. I'm on page 75 right now and am currently looking at the flow chart.