Signal acting up
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 626
Likes: 2
From: The Coma
Signal acting up
I've had a problem the last couple weeks with my front running light on the right hand side intermittently not lighting up when I power the bike on. It always lights up shortly after I start the bike and sometimes flickers at first, but then eventually stays on solid. It's always just that one light. The blinker works fine too. I have tried wiggling wires and it doesn't seem to help. It's almost as if it needs more juice and finally gets it after the bike has been started and run for a few seconds, but it does it even when it's been on the battery tender all night.
Anyone have any experience with this? Does it seem like possibly it's time for a new battery? Is there something else I could check to diagnose the problem?
Thanks,
Jimmy
Anyone have any experience with this? Does it seem like possibly it's time for a new battery? Is there something else I could check to diagnose the problem?
Thanks,
Jimmy
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma
A bad battery or going bad battery would not cause an issue with just one light in particular. You would have dim lights all the way around the bike. Try replacing the bulb first. It is probably a pinched wire somewhere. I had a similar problem on a new 06 Streetbob. Turned out to be a pinched wire under the tank from the factory, warranty covered the repair.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
Only a pinched wire that is broken inside the insulation where the insulation is not compromised might cause an intermittent circuit, but that is an extremely rare situation. Usually a pinched wire shorts out to ground and blows the fuse even if it breaks.
Honestly this sounds like you had a simple loose connection somewhere or bad bulb and this repair shop hit MoCo warranty for a more expensive repair, a more likely and all too common scenario for shyster shops.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 626
Likes: 2
From: The Coma
I can't believe I didn't think of that. Worst case scenario, I'm out a couple bucks if that's not it. Thanks.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma
??? This sounds really strange! I have troubleshot and repaired literally thousands of intermittent wiring problems as an avionics technician and I have only seen this happen maybe twice.
Only a pinched wire that is broken inside the insulation where the insulation is not compromised might cause an intermittent circuit, but that is an extremely rare situation. Usually a pinched wire shorts out to ground and blows the fuse even if it breaks.
Honestly this sounds like you had a simple loose connection somewhere or bad bulb and this repair shop hit MoCo warranty for a more expensive repair, a more likely and all too common scenario for shyster shops.
Only a pinched wire that is broken inside the insulation where the insulation is not compromised might cause an intermittent circuit, but that is an extremely rare situation. Usually a pinched wire shorts out to ground and blows the fuse even if it breaks.
Honestly this sounds like you had a simple loose connection somewhere or bad bulb and this repair shop hit MoCo warranty for a more expensive repair, a more likely and all too common scenario for shyster shops.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 678
Likes: 15
From: OHIO
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 196
From: Boise, ID
X 2 on the bulb. I've seen the filament broken but just make contact enough for it to "work".
You could even test it with the other bulb if you needed to.
You could even test it with the other bulb if you needed to.
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