Today I noticed that I don't have any turn signals or horn. There is a ground wire that is screwed into the back of the tree and connected to the rise bolt underneath the tree. I pulled the bolt to check if it fits into the new set of risers I recently bought. I made sure to put the ground wire back on when I reinserted the bolt. Until now, I had signals and horn and now I don't.

I thought perhaps the ground wire was broken so I took another wire and ran it along side the other one - nothing.

First: What is this ground wire for that runs from the back of the tree to the riser bolt underneath the tree, and

Second: Where should I start looking for problems?

I just checked something else out. I have tail lights, but no brake light.

 

Check out the diagrams here and see if you can locate the ground you are talking about. Have you checked your fuses yet?

 

Always start with fuses

 

The ground wire you're referring to is for the bars. Otherwise the bushings would isolate them from the rest of the bike.

I'd check fuses first. Save yourself a lot of headache if they're the culprit.

 

15 Ampere Accessories Fuse Circuit.

The Orange Wire with the White Tracer (O/W) coming from this fuse is the power (+) feed to the Turn Signals, Horn and Brake Light circuits. This is the only thing these three circuits have in common. There is a Red Wire with a Grey Tracer (R/GY) that feeds this fuse. This wire (R/GY) comes from the Ignition Switch. It should be Battery Voltage with the Ignition Switch in either the "On" or the Accessory" positions.

My best guess is that you either accidentally had (past tense) or have (present tense) grounded the O/W wire at or around the Handlebars. If the problem is current (fuse keeps blowing) then I'd remove both the left and right controls and see what is touching the Handlebars.

 

As I was sitting in the garage looking at the bike (do that often) I finally realized this. Duh, dummy me. I'm no electrical expert, but I know enough to figure some things out from time to time and this should have been easy for me to figure out. Guess I just wasn't on my game on this one - LOL.

I just checked the fuses - all ok. If a wire was grounding out at the bars I would have blown a fuse. Any other ideas and thanks for the help guys - truly appreciated.

 

bump to top

 

Check the wires going to the horn?

 

Ignition switch

 

lets see, turn signals, horn and brake light doesn't work.. fuse ok and grd strap ok. other then the fuse, the only thing in common to them all is the connector under the fuel tank. check and make sure it didn't come loose. when pushing a connector together always listen for the sometimes faint "click" sound of the connector fully seating.