Flasher relay diagnosis

[Gregory]

78gs1000e

Yesterday my right turn signals stopped working.

I took off the side plate and found that the flasher relay made a buzzing sound when I turned my right signals on.

In diagnosing it I put on a flasher relay from orielly that I had previously purchased. The left worked fine but when I put the right signals on it blew a fuse. (green neutral is on same circuit)

I had an extra fuse so I tried it again. this time the top fuse blew !!!

When I put the old oem flasher back on, left works and right buzzes.

Any ideas?

[Eric]

Sounds like there's a short in the right turn signal wiring. I'd do a visual inspection of the wiring going to the handle bars and headlight bucket to make sure nothing rubbed through (I had it happen to me recently, so it's my first instinct and its easy to check). After that I'd suggest checking the connections to the turn signals - one in the headlight bucket and one at the tail (between the tail piece and the rear fender for me).

[Gregory]

Thanks Eric, much appreciated. It is best to know what and where to look before digging in.

[rustybronco]

Don't forget that a internally shorted bulb could cause the same issue.

[Steve]

Does the '79 E have self-cancelling signals?

... (green neutral is on same circuit)

...

What "green neutral"?

The only green wires that I am aware of are:
- a dark green wire goes from the horns to the horn button
- a light green wire is the "hot" wire for the right turn signal.

.

[rustybronco]

Does the '79 E have self-cancelling signals?

Yes it does have and no it doesn't have a flasher relay. It does have a turn signal relay as Suzuki calls it.

[Steve]

Yes it does have and no it doesn't have a flasher relay. It does have a turn signal relay as Suzuki calls it.

Basically the same thing, isn't it?

Would a replacement from O'Riley work?

I know that it won't on the newer, '80-and-up systems, I just have no experience with the older ones.
I do seem to remember that it's a royal pain to try to eliminate the self-cancel feature on the older ones.

.

[rustybronco]

Basically the same thing, isn't it?

Would a replacement from O'Riley work?

I do seem to remember that it's a royal pain to try to eliminate the self-cancel feature on the older ones.

It's proper name should have been turn signal flasher, not a 'relay' as Suzuki called it.

Although I haven't tried one yet, it should work just fine.

Easy-peasy to circumvent the original turn signal control unit.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=15195&d=1323780825

Normk's iteration...http://thegsresources.com/_forum/sho...28&postcount=6

[Gregory]

The OEM "turn signal flasher" buzzes when I turn on the right signal, the oreilly "turn signal flasher" blows a fuse when I turn on my right signal. Once it blew the fuse for the lights and the green neutral light on the cluster, next it blew the top fuse which is the lights and everything.

I just got back home so I may go take a look at everything here in a bit.

[Gregory]

Basically the same thing, isn't it?

Would a replacement from O'Riley work?

I know that it won't on the newer, '80-and-up systems, I just have no experience with the older ones.
I do seem to remember that it's a royal pain to try to eliminate the self-cancel feature on the older ones.

.

Mine is a 78, and the self cancelling function has been not working forever. I just manually switch it off by pressing down on the lever.

[Fjbj40]

It's proper name should have been turn signal flasher, not a 'relay' as Suzuki called it.

Although I haven't tried one yet, it should work just fine.

Easy-peasy to circumvent the original turn signal control unit.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=15195&d=1323780825

Normk's iteration...http://thegsresources.com/_forum/sho...28&postcount=6

Where does the IN 4001 diode go?

[rustybronco]

No where at this time.

[Gregory]

MYSTERY SOLVED, MUCH APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE.

I started with the simple check bulbs and they were ok. I noticed that the right rear signal wire was actually smashed against the plastic fender. (the custom rack I installed must have been enough of an addition to make it not clear well enough)

Even though I didn't see any exposed metal on the wire, there must have been in that flat smashed part. When I wiggled it, the blinker started working again.

I took the light bracket off and electrical taped the smashed spot. I reattached it all with a thick washer to set the fender away from the bracket enough to clear the wire without rubbing.

Thanks again guys. This forum rocks!

[chuck hahn]

Liquid electrical tape..available at Lowes and Home Depot works great and is less gaudy looking than tape. And its permanently on and wont come undone like tape can.

Wipe it on and let dry real good..done forever.

[Gregory]

Liquid electrical tape..available at Lowes and Home Depot works great and is less gaudy looking than tape. And its permanently on and wont come undone like tape can.

Wipe it on and let dry real good..done forever.

good info ! I will remember that if it fails again .... because it is a PITA to put all that stuff off and on with the custom rack involved.