Mystery wires in headlight

[Strick]

Well now that my project ('79 GS1000L) is all sorted out mechanically and cosmetically, I am now out to get the accessories working. Left side turn signals will not turn on (right works fine), the front brake lever does not activate the rear brake light, and the headlight low beam does not work.

Here are the non-attached mystery wires: white with a red sleeve on it, brown, and orange with a green stripe on it. All of these unattached wires are female connectors. I have done a little manual reading and it looks like the brown may indeed be un-mated from the factory.

Any experts out there? Regardless, all advice is welcome and appreciated!

Thanks guys!

[ryonker]

Go to this thread I started and look at the pictures. It might help.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=142439

Rick

[TheCafeKid]

Well now that my project ('79 GS1000L) is all sorted out mechanically and cosmetically, I am now out to get the accessories working. Left side turn signals will not turn on (right works fine), the front brake lever does not activate the rear brake light, and the headlight low beam does not work.

Here are the non-attached mystery wires: white with a red sleeve on it, brown, and orange with a green stripe on it. All of these unattached wires are female connectors. I have done a little manual reading and it looks like the brown may indeed be un-mated from the factory.

Any experts out there? Regardless, all advise is welcome and appreciated!

Thanks guys!

White with a red sleeve and the orange with green tracer i do believe to be your front brake light switch wires...The brown is INDEED unconnected from the factory, its an "aftermarket" accessories wire...

[Strick]

Thanks guys great advice. I looked a little more closely at my front brake and right side switch housing. I have no front brake sensor (wires). It seems to have been removed. I will try to find one on e-bay. Also, I still can't get the left side turn signals to work. I think it is in the switch.

[TheCafeKid]

Thanks guys great advice. I looked a little more closely at my front brake and right side switch housing. I have no front brake sensor (wires). It seems to have been removed. I will try to find one on e-bay. Also, I still can't get the left side turn signals to work. I think it is in the switch.

I would suggest picking up a HYDROLIC brake light switch. Easy to wire in to your stock system using the existing wires, and you dont have to futz around with them like the stock switch...Its simply a new banjo bolt that you use in place of the stock one on the master cylinder...it contains a pressure switch. When you pull the lever, the pressure closes the switch and the light comes on...no slider BS...

What happens when you turn the left signals on??

[Strick]

What happens when you turn the left signals on??

Nothing!

I have replaced bulbs with new ones. I used a light stick to determine if the connections were hot = nothing! I am pretty sure now it is at the switch. That is unless you have a thought?

Thanks again!

[TheCafeKid]

Well, i dont believe that model had self cancelling signals, which complicated things a bit. If it didnt, the set up is rather simple. Did you check the flasher unit??

[Strick]

update: the prior advice was correct about the front brake switch wire being the orange (with green stripe) and white (with red tube). I installed the new switch and front brake now works.

Left turn signal - the flasher unit is hit and miss on the right side. The left signals won't even turn on, which is what happens with NO flasher or is the flasher unit is dead. I have not looked to see if this has a signal cancellation unit, but I will. I have done a little troubleshooting at the switch with no luck so far.

Has anyone just purchase a low amp car flasher as a replacement?

Thanks!

[BassCliff]

Has anyone just purchase a low amp car flasher as a replacement?

Thanks!

Yes, some generic three-prong flashers will even fit into the existing socket. My stock flasher relay quit working so I replaced it, and the socket, with cheap off-the-shelf parts from my local auto store. Read about it here:

Turn Signal Relay Replacement


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[argonsagas]

update: the prior advice was correct about the front brake switch wire being the orange (with green stripe) and white (with red tube). I installed the new switch and front brake now works.

Left turn signal - the flasher unit is hit and miss on the right side. The left signals won't even turn on, which is what happens with NO flasher or is the flasher unit is dead. I have not looked to see if this has a signal cancellation unit, but I will. I have done a little troubleshooting at the switch with no luck so far.

Has anyone just purchase a low amp car flasher as a replacement?

Thanks!

If it is "hit or miss" on one side, and not working on the other, I would take a closer look at the switch.

You can use a trouble/test light, but I prefer a volt-ohmmeter.

The meter can save you a lot of time and answer questions for you.


If you have to do so, you can take the switch apart. Do that inside a large, clear, plastic bag, like one from the cleaners, so you can work on it inside the bag......and avoid the otherwise near-inevitable loss of tiny parts.

[Griffin]

I used the extra brown wire on my 1000G to power the third wire on a set of front turn signal/running lights from a later model GS.