I need help with my turn signals! Bad!

I have a 1982 XJ650 Maxim. When I use the left side signals they work fine, but the right side just stays on and doesn't flash. I tried changing the flasher unit (the dealer actually had one left) and that didn't help. I'm stumped and thought I would try you guys before I tear stuff apart. Any help would be great. Thanks again guys.

WesleyJN1975

 

Did you change out the bulb, alot of older systems will stay on if one of the bulbs in the circuit are non-operational, also try checking your grounds..

 

Sorry you bought the flasher. You didn't need it. If one side flashes then the flasher works & the switch works. Problem is on one side. Kbarmansr is right about a bulb being out. Other causes are corrosion in the system. Most common places are the bulb socket, the bullet connectors and the fuse box. I had to take my turn signal completely apart and clean the socket with sandpaper & WD-40.

 

Well I left a very important part out. When you turn the signal on the bulbs will light and not flash. The bulb that doesn't light is the bad one. If both light then check for corrosion. If both don't light then you have to check for both. I usually get out my multimeter and check the blubs first.

 

Sometimes you'll find grease in the sockets because someone genius thought troweling a shit-load of grease in there would eliminate corrosion and prevent the bulb's base from rusting itself to the inside of the socket.

Works. But, the grease is a poor conductor of electricity. Grease between the bulb's contact points and the bulb-socket current-strips, goops-up* (*that's a highly technical definition) ... the works and the light don't come on.

If you plan on reaching in there with needle nosed, and adding some tension to the socket contact strips, or cleaning-out a funky-looking* bulb socket with steel wool ... disconnect the HOT side of the battery ... or your "electrical problems" are suddenly going to get a lot worse.

 

Also not sure on your bike but the globe might have to be a certain wattage , check the side that works... in fact try swapping the globes over?...

 

globe wattage! i think has to be 27w

 

Ground line - clip a wire to the engine, touch it to the flasher housing (if aftermarket) or the ground wire at the fixture.

I had the same symptom with an aftermarket fixture - bad ground wire.

I ran a new ground wire to both fron flashers from the frame - problem solved.

 

WesleyJN1975, everyone chimed in with excellent suggestions and I think you should follow their lead. I'll also suggest that your front bulb may be installed incorrectly. An 1157 bulb has two bayonet lugs on the sides, one higher up the base than the other. This difference is supposed to be observed during installation. I have seen so many examples of folks muscleing them into the socket incorrectly. Be sure to observe this small but important detail. Rick pointed out a very valid issue. The incorrect grease can monkey up the electrical path on equipment. Should you wish to prevent further corrosion, there is a proper grease available to perform this task. It is often called Dielectric Tune-Up grease (Permatex) or silicone grease (used on spark plug boots as well). Napa sells a nice sized tube, Silicone Dielectric compound ML-2 for about $14. But be advised this stuff melts at a very low temperature and will ooz out of the sockets and drip all over the inside of your turn signal. Rather messy really. The trick is to use a very light film of the stuff, not gobs.

 

If you have two wires going to the bulb, the bulb will light up and not flash if they are reversed.

 

Guys ... does that bike have the front lights set-up that lights the amber signal lights as running lights -- and needs dual-filiment???

 

OK. all that being said. good things to look for. Does the light flash when you rev the motor? If it does then, have you changed out a bulb on the side that the light stays on? The bulbs should be a 27 watt bulb or it wont have enough draw on the system to activats the flasher. Give it a shot. I have had this problem on both my bike and my 72 Landcruiser. Replaced the bulbs with the right wattage and it works every time.

 

At this point ... I'd plug-in a fresh flasher and see what gives.

 

I tried a new flasher and that didn't help. I tried new bulbs and that didn't help. No grease of any kind appears to be on the bulbs or anything. I'm gonna try reving up the motor tommorow and see if that works, but it has 1156 bulbs in it now which I think are the correct bulbs. On tuesday I'm gonna try tracing the grounds and see how that goes.

 

On the side that lights but does not flash, make absolutely sure BOTH bulbs are 1156. If one is not, then they will light but not flash.

 

My mistake. it did not have 1156 bulbs in it. I said the hell with it and bought a pack of 1156 bulbs and put them in and eureka! My turn signals are now operational. Thanks for all the help with troubleshooting this. I hope I can help someone else down the road like I was helped. Take care.

Wesley

 

I'm sure glad we didn't have to type our way all-over trouble shooting for the electrical problem.

Whew, that was close.

 

i need a cupla billion bucks