Headlight and turn signals stopped working

[Anonymous]

Hello, I have a 1981 GS1100 and I love it. However while riding last year the headlight and turn signals suddenly stopped working. The brake light does still work though. I looked for a bad fuse but they were all good. Then I took off the seat and looked for a loose or disconnected wire but I could not find anything. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Brian

[Hoomgar]

Open the headlight and look for a disconnected/loose/corroded wire in there. If everywhere else checks out OK it is most likely in there. The headlight housing is the central wiring point for the bike.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip , I will try looking in there.

[chuckycheese]

Yes

Yeah, I think Mark is right, almost for sure. There are lots of plug-in connections in there that can come loose or get corroded because of water getting into it.

Also, I suspect that BOTH turn signals quit working because they may share the same ground wire....maybe the headlight, too!

[Anonymous]

I'm all excited! I can't wait to get off work and open up the headlamp.
Thanks!!

[frosty5011]

Hoomgar wrote:

If everywhere else checks out OK it is most likely in there.

Excellent deduction, Mark.......Sorry, couldn't resist

[jimcor]

I'm all excited! I can't wait to get off work and open up the headlamp.
Thanks!!

Things kinda boring at the jobsite, eh, hotrod 8O ?

[Anonymous]

You too Jimcor? 45 min to go!!

[earlfor]

You might (just as insurance) replace the "good" fuse with a new one.
I have seen my share of fuses that looked perfect that did not work. :-)

Earl

[Anonymous]

Thanks I'll try that too! I'll let you know on Monday if anything worked.

[Anonymous]

that headlight bucket is a real birdsnest..I connected the ground wires to the green wire and ended up with emergency flashers..I have spent the whole day in that birdsnest and have created a lot of blue air today!!!

[focus frenzy]

a important place to check is the connector for the dimmer/turnsignal switch it is located under the fuel tank on the right side, the heat from the engine causes the plastic of the connector to break down and cause loss of power to the head light and turnsignals.
also clean the fuse holder clips, the tarnish that forms on them does not conduct power very well.

[KGB]

I've had the same problems with my S. The headlight fuse just blows.It may look ok, but those BUSS type fuses sometimes crack at the silver connector.
More than once the glass will spin around inside the connectors, it's no good. I also run a 90w/100w headlight.
Not any more......back to a 55w/60w headlight.
The fuse block connectors will also corrode. Remove all the fuses, disconnect the battery first and clean those connectors.

As Earl said, clean em up!

I'm looking for another fuse block if anyone has one.
I already posted in the wanted section.......no reply

You might (just as insurance) replace the "good" fuse with a new one.
I have seen my share of fuses that looked perfect that did not work. :-)

Earl

[argonsagas]

You might (just as insurance) replace the "good" fuse with a new one.
I have seen my share of fuses that looked perfect that did not work. :-)

Earl

I had to do exactly that only two weeks ago. Rode the bike one day, electricals dead the next day.

The fuse looked perfect.....it just quit somewhere inside.