turn signal problems, and where do the wires go?

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around here for the last month and a half or so, and I've already learned so much. I've solved a couple of problems with my bike already, but I have a question that I could use some help with.

I have a 1985 XJ700. The turn signals don't work. When I got the bike, the wiring for the signals were really messed up. The pos and neg were basically wired together. I clean things up, and it worked fine for a while. Then, two or three weeks ago, they stopped working. Occasionally, when I first start the bike the signals will work, but they always stop within 30 seconds, and they don't work anymore. The rear signals are off, and the front signals are always on (no flashing).

I've been replacing different signal-related parts. The turn signal relay looked almost melted, so I replaced it (with a stock relay). That didn't work, so I replaced the left hand signal controls. The switch felt broken, but when I put the new one on, it still didn't work.

Any ideas for what to do next?

Also, I just got a new set of signals this afternoon, because I really don't like the ugly ones the PO slapped on when he dumped the bike. The question about these I have is how to hook them into the wiring. The rear seem straight forward, just two wires.

But when I took off the front signals, it had three wires: two hooked up for pos and neg (I assume, but to be honest I may be wrong), and a third wire just sitting by the bulb. The end of the wire is bare, but not hooked to anything.

Where does this third wire go? I tried to read the schematic (first time I ever did this), and I think I found the right pos and neg wires. I didn't see for this third wire, though.

Thanks in advance for any help. I am totally new to all of this, not only electrical, but working on anything period. I am a total novice, so if you can possibly "dumb it down" for me, I'd appreciate it.

 

Ok, the first one... I bet the common lead on the rear signals is not making a good connection somewhere... which would make the rear signals cut out completely, and the front would stay on solid since there's not enough current to flip the signal relay.

second: I wonder if the bike was originally wired for running lights in the front (which would require a dual filament bulb and socket). I know XJ1100 had this setup, but not 100% sure on the XJ700. You can test that theory by putting a volt meter on that third wire and see if it has 12V when the bike is on.
If your new signals are single-filament, don't worry about the extra wires, just insulate them really good.

 

Did this get worked-out?
How are those Turn Signals doing?

 

yes the 85 700 have the front running lights and the turn signals in the same housing so you will have a constant 12v when the ign is in the on position and another that will only have power when the signal is on.

 

Thanks for the help so far. When I got into things and got the signals out of the package, I saw they shipped me the wrong ones for the front signals. So, it will be a few days until I get the replacements to get this going. I'll let everyone know how it goes after I get the others.

 

Well, I'm still waiting for the new signals, but in the meantime I bought some used ones. These have all three wires, and of course plug right in with the same colors. It's still doing the same thing: when I turn the bike on, the lights come on in front (running lights). When I try to turn on either signal, nothing at all happens. I don't hear the relay, and there is nothing happening at all.

If it is a problem with the common lead on the rear, how do I check this? Do I just trace the wires and look for some sort of break?

Or is there anything I should try?

 

Test the whole works.
Use a Test Light.

See if there's juice coming to the Light Leads from the Switch.
Test the functions of the Switch and see what the Test Light does.

Use a 9 Volt Smoke Detector Battery and Test the Leads and the Socket and Bulb.

It there's no juice coming from the Handlebar Control Switch
Check the Fuse
If the Fuse is good ... and, it's a Stock Fuse Panel ...
Get rid of the Fuse Panel and take a bold step into the Future.

 

Well, just got done checking things out.

The lights themselves definitely work.

I could get no juice from the switch.

And it IS a stock fuse panel, so it's time to get a replacement.

Thanks Rick.

 

Test for Current passing through that Old Fuse Panel.
They can be the problem even though they look perfectly normal.

Sometimes the Clips that hold the Fuse in place aren't doing the job because they have lost their gripping force on to the ends of the Fuse.

 

right now isn't the time for the fuse panel, the signal fuse runs more than the turn signals(horn, panel lights)something, i don't have your diagram
if something else off of that fuse works, the fuse is good
fix one thing at a time

 

I went back out, and I bent the clips holding the fuse in a bit, and then the signals started to work. They're still not working all the time, but they seem to be most of the time now. I haven't had a chance to take it out since I did that, to see if it will still work, but it seems like the fuse panel has something to do with what's wrong.

 

One other thing about these signals: they flash at different rates. The left signal flashes at a rate about double than the right one. Why would this be?

 

well there ya go, change the fuse block
one blinks faster because you have a running light hooked to the flasher wire
the faster one is probably right, the flasher should be brighter than the running light

 

You should really upgrade the Fuse Panel.
The OEM Fuse Panels are at the heart of many electrical problems on our bikes.
They just get old and die.
Before they die; they fake being dead and cause nothing but trouble.

As soon as you get that old Fuse Panel replaced you'll see an improvement in the way electrical systems and the Ignition Circuit behave.

Put Fuse Panel right on top of the list of things you need to do.
Having a new and completely reliable Fuse Panel working for you will be a major improvement to the bike.

 

Yesterday I was finally able to take the bike out again. I went out there, turned on the key, and the blinkers were working fine. But as soon as I started it up, the blinkers wouldn't work. My running lights were on, but no left or right signal.

I wrote to Chacal to ask about a replacement fuse panel, and his reply was: "However, be aware that the standard replacement fusepanel that I sell does NOT work on any XJ700 models.....their fusebox is up on the steering crown, just under the indicator lights panel below the gauge cluster.....and they already use the modern style ATC push-in fuses. Only the older XJ models used glass fuses, and which were located under the seat, and are thus a good candidate for replacement/upgrade to the modern style fuse box that I offer."

He also gave me some good advice about cleaning up the existing fusebox, which I will do, but I would still like to replace it. When I started looking at some of the OEM websites, anything pertaining to the fusebox says "call us," which means they can't order it anymore (at least that's what I was told). Does anyone know where I could get a new fuse panel for a 1985 XJ700?

 

If you have the Yamaha part number, try: http://216.168.60.165/speedandsportinc/index.tpl or these folks http://www.nwvintagecycleparts.com/search-parts.php I have found "unobtainable" NOS parts from both of these suppliers. Be prepared to pay a little MORE than what the part originally went for, though.

 

Thanks. I did find it at one of the sites, and it WAS more than I thought it would be.

I'm not sure what to do now though.

I did drive around a little today, and I really tried to pay attention to what was happening.

I went out, turned the key on, and the blinkers worked. I started it up, tooled around the yard in 1st, and the blinkers worked the whole time. Then, I went out on the road, and about 1/4 of a mile down the road, went to make a turn, and the blinkers didn't work anymore.

The fuse itself seems to be making contact okay, because that fuse also controls the RPMs and brake light, and those work fine throughout it all.

I guess I'll try to tear it apart soon (this weekend hopefully), clean things up, and try to make sure all the connections are tight. It's really frustrating, though. This is the 4th or 5th thing I've found with this bike. The PO said, of course, no problems! A little problem getting the idle just right, but that's it!