View Full Version : Suzuki Intruder - Left indicators not blinking
Bike: Suzuki Intruder 1988 700cc
Problem : Left indicators turn on (both back and front) but don't flash. Right indicators work as normal.
I've had a look in the forums and this seems to be a fairly common problem but I don't know a lot about bike mechanics/electrics.
In other threads the Flasher unit has been a problem but apparently this would affect both sides if it was faulty. The switch has also been mentioned and looks like it could be the most likely culprit. The problem been i have no idea where the flasher unit or switch is? I've taken the seat off and had a look but there are a lot more wires than i expected....
Can somebody please point me in the right direction as to where to look. Thanks
cowboyz
2nd May 2007, 09:25
could be as simple as the wire to the indicator has come out or loose. If the circuit is not complete then they will not flash. I get it all the time cause the left hand front indicator has a dogegy connection and a few bumps and the indicator gives up. OR have you disconnected them recently? Could be the wire are the wrong way around. Start with the basics and get those right and then move on if that doesnt solve your problem.
Could be a loose connection, i didn't mention as i haven't been able to reproduce it but yesterday going home i'm pretty sure the left indicator started flashing when exiting the motorway (around 100km'h and a bit more vibration).
I took the indicator switch casing (on the handlebars) off last night and all the wires looked to have a solid connection.
I had my bike serviced a couple of days ago and as part of the process the battery was removed and descaled. Coincidently they were the ones that mentioned the indicator wasn't flashing, i can't say for sure if it was working before i took it in. They did have a quick look at it , changed the bulbs and dried the connections but no luck.
surfer
2nd May 2007, 09:37
Did you take the indicators off or is this something that has just started to happen by itself?
You may want to try doing the simple stuff first before you pull apart the flasher unit and switches.
Check that the faulty indicators are earthed properly. They may be self earthing to the frame, or may be earthed via a wire connection with the rest of the wiring loom which then goes back to the frame. Depends on your indicators so you will need to consider doing the following:
Check whether earthing ok by looking for a good clean connection that is free from rust. If there is a wire held beneath a nut make sure that it is tight. If there is a bit of rust sand it off lightly with some emery cloth. Also check the end of the wire connecting the indicator to the fame or the connection back to the wiring loom to ensure that this is free from rust and is connecting ok. If there is some rust here, cut the wire back and rejoin it. If your connectors are rusted then cut these off and replace them.
If this is the problem then it is a five minute fix.
Let us know how you get on.
surfer
2nd May 2007, 09:39
Could be a loose connection, i didn't mention as i haven't been able to reproduce it but yesterday going home i'm pretty sure the left indicator started flashing when exiting the motorway (around 100km'h and a bit more vibration).
I took the indicator switch casing (on the handlebars) off last night and all the wires looked to have a solid connection.
I had my bike serviced a couple of days ago and as part of the process the battery was removed and descaled. Coincidently they were the ones that mentioned the indicator wasn't flashing, i can't say for sure if it was working before i took it in. They did have a quick look at it , changed the bulbs and dried the connections but no luck.
Sounds like a loose or bad connection at the indicators that are not working. Try there first.
cowboyz
2nd May 2007, 09:45
I concur.........
I suspect it is either where the wire meets the indicator or if there is an inline connection that could be faulty. (In every case I have seen there is a breakaway not far from the indicator so removing them is easier.)
I'll check the connection at the indicator tonight along with the earthing and let you know. Thanks for the quick replies.
Macktheknife
2nd May 2007, 16:35
Almost always an 'earth leak' problem. Check all contacts near the indicators, work back towards the flasher unit which is usually under the seat on the intruders.
Ok, so after checking all connections and contacts and finding them to be be fine i took the bike into an auto electrician for a quick look. He immediately said that all bulbs need to be of a particular voltage/wattage for the flasher unit to work correctly. After swapping a few bulbs in and out he got the indicators flashing correctly, well mostly. When i drove away i discovered the right indicator only works when a little throttle is supplied and even then it only blinks slowly. When i got home i checked the voltage/wattage of the right hand side bulbs and sure enough the front right had a lower wattage than the left. I haven't gone and got an equivalent bulb yet but I'm sure this will fix the slow flashing right indicator. At least it fixed the left indicators :)
FYI, these are the voltage/wattage of the current bulbs vs those recommended in the manual.
Front Left- 12V8/23W (manual = 12V8/23W)
Front Right- 12V6/21W
Rear Left- 12V6W (manual = 12V3W)
Rear Right- 12V6W
I'm not sure but maybe the reason my left indicator came on at 100km/h was because of the revs somehow supplying enough power to the flasher unit, overcoming resistance???
surfer
3rd May 2007, 15:22
Ok, so after checking all connections and contacts and finding them to be be fine i took the bike into an auto electrician for a quick look. He immediately said that all bulbs need to be of a particular voltage/wattage for the flasher unit to work correctly. After swapping a few bulbs in and out he got the indicators flashing correctly, well mostly. When i drove away i discovered the right indicator only works when a little throttle is supplied and even then it only blinks slowly. When i got home i checked the voltage/wattage of the right hand side bulbs and sure enough the front right had a lower wattage than the left. I haven't gone and got an equivalent bulb yet but I'm sure this will fix the slow flashing right indicator. At least it fixed the left indicators :)
FYI, these are the voltage/wattage of the current bulbs vs those recommended in the manual.
Front Left- 12V8/23W (manual = 12V8/23W)
Front Right- 12V6/21W
Rear Left- 12V6W (manual = 12V3W)
Rear Right- 12V6W
I'm not sure but maybe the reason my left indicator came on at 100km/h was because of the revs somehow supplying enough power to the flasher unit, overcoming resistance???
Wow, fancy that. Glad you got it sorted and thanks for the sharing of your findings.
cowboyz
3rd May 2007, 15:49
good to see you got an outcome. I never would have found that...
johnnyflash
3rd May 2007, 16:12
Ok, all bulbs need to be of a particular voltage/wattage for the flasher unit to work correctly. :)
I'm not sure but maybe the reason my left indicator came on at 100km/h was because of the revs somehow supplying enough power to the flasher unit, overcoming resistance???
Dead right, the flasher unit is normally rated to drive XX watts, so a mismatch will cause no flash or overflash depending on the load.. NICE fault finding :-) as is usually the case we tend to overlook the basics so easily LOL
FruitLooPs
11th May 2007, 17:41
The left indicator on my RG150 stays on these days too, unless i pull the clutch in when i'm going 10km/hr and it starts to blink. I can see small variations in the intensity of the light on the dash and when it changes enough the indicator starts blinking until i give it some gas again and it sticks on.
Sounds like the wattage thing? never used to happen and I don't think i've changed the bulbs since it was going fine. If I tap the relay box it starts working, but when i pulled it and opened it up it looked pristine.
I'll go check the bulbs tonight. Ta people :yes:
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