Turn signals just stay on, no blink

[Guest]

I've tried searching under several threads but have not found this particular issue. When i turn the signals on, they just come on and stay solid. No blinking at all. Do I need to replace a relay? If so where would it be located. Thanks.

[tom203]

And this bike is...? stock signals, not LED's ?? the stock flasher needs to see the correct bulbs (wattage) or no flash!

[BTWilliam04]

Sorry for some reason i thought I had a sig with that on here...

1983 GS1100E with stock everything so far as I know.

[BTWilliam04]

I'm also having a charging issue with the bike so maybe just not enough juice? It's heading back to the shop on the next warm day

[chuck hahn]

Maybe low voltage..charge the battery fully and try. Second is a mix match of bulbs. Third is a poor connection with the back plate thing in the socket. I have had to take the signal apart and give the wire some slack so the center electrode thing would actually touch the bulb. Try pressing in on all the bulbs to see if they make better contact and start blinking.

[Steve]

It's heading back to the shop on the next warm day

The best shop would be your garage.

Maybe next-best would be my garage.

Send me some contact info, maybe we can arrange a personal visit.

If your bike can not make it here, I can probably come down there.

.

[cowboyup3371]

Check your grounds as well for each turn signal and any others throughout the bike.

[Redman]

I've tried searching under several threads but have not found this particular issue. When i turn the signals on, they just come on and stay solid. No blinking at all. Do I need to replace a relay? If so where would it be located. Thanks.

Steve can fix it up for you.

Or if you want to work on it further.:

When you say "they come on", by "they" do you mean both front and back?

If one of the front or back is burnt out (or bad wiring) the other on that side will come on but not flash (assuming stock flasher, and correct bulbs).

If both front and back come on but do not flash, that indicates (no pun intended) too low of current to operate the flasher. This could be because:

- too low wattage of bulbs. Turnsignal bulbs should be about 23 watts each, if someone put in LED bulbs those are much les wattage.

or

- charging system / battery at too low a voltage for the bulbs to draw enough current to operate the flasher. Try reving the engine. Check battery voltage at about 4 thou rpm, should be mid 13s, but flasher not operate if really low like 10 or 11 volts when the next thing to happen is you will have dead bike on side of road.

If signals used to flash, but now they don't .... may not be a turnsignal problem, but a charging problem ... so check that before you get stranded somewhere.

.

[BTWilliam04]

When I move the switch over, both front and back come on but do not flash. Same for both sides. I guess there's just not enough voltage. They put a brand new battery in and it did the same thing. Rode today for 45 minutes. Stopped at a friend's. When I came back out the battery was dead. Frustrating because when the bike is going its a blast. Just put some new tires on it and its like a whole new bike.

[cowboyup3371]

Check your grounds before you replace the battery. Take advantage of Steve's offer and come up north for some assistance.

[Redman]

When I move the switch over, both front and back come on but do not flash. Same for both sides. ...
..
..

Okay.
So like was said,
either low wattage bulbs,
or,
charging not working, causing too low of battery voltage ... and bike about to die.

...
...
...They put a brand new battery in and it did the same thing. Rode today for 45 minutes. Stopped at a friend's. When I came back out the battery was dead. Frustrating because when the bike is going its a blast. Just put some new tires on it and its like a whole new bike.

Two comments:

- IS an electrical problem. No where in anything you have said did you say anything about any voltage readings here or there. You need a volt meter to troubleshoot electrical problem. Can not really troubleshoot and fix an electrical problem with your eyeballs.

- SOunds like charging system not functioning. Need voltmeter (mutimeter) to check things out better. Find the Stator Papers on GSR main page.


.

[trippivot]

assuming you have a complete circuit --- you need more resistance to make the relay flash. what ever the relay has printed on it. like 24 watts total or more

try this, put 1 more bulb in one of the flasher circuits just as a test. instead of 2 bulbs front and rear (not)flashing make it 3 with a test light -- see what happens. if you have small watt after market signal bulbs they do not pull enough to make the flasher flash.

some times flasher that does not flash WILL flash if you revv up the bike but htat is a false diagnosis if you think it is lack of voltage.

[tkent02]

They put a brand new battery in and it did the same thing. Rode today for 45 minutes. Stopped at a friend's. When I came back out the battery was dead.

This tells you everything you need to know. You have a charging problem.

Do the tests in The Stator Papers and fix it.

[tom203]

"....Frustrating because when the bike is going its a blast.. .."

Be a real blast when it runs for hours!
start here and please report results step by step

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1272192#post1272192

If you get bored read this

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1138531&postcount=1

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Your electrical system need maintenance.

From http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/:

Stator Papers

Fusebox Cleanup

Stator Test

Stator Replacement

Regulator/Rectifier Replacement
More On The Stator Papers
GS Charging System Health+Quick Test


Also have a look in the *Electrical Section*.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff