Volt meter drops 90 flhtcu
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Easley, South Carolina
Greetings George Williams
You said:
My Volt meter drops drastically when I use my turn signals.
You already know something is different from normal by noticing your volt meter dropping when your turn signals are used.
You have to determine what is the problem, (wire) (turn signal switch) (light)
You have a wire from your battery to your turn signal switch then it goes to your light.
Knowing your lamp comes on says your bulb is good but there is a problem with either the wire or the turn signal switch.
To determine which one is the problem you have to use a volt meter.
1st you need to know which one of the wires at the light is hot and which one is ground.
Use the volt meter and place the volt meter to measure dc volts.
Place the black volt meter lead on a good ground of your frame turn on your turn signal and take the red volt meter lead to one of the leads of your light, when you see dc volts you will know which one of your wires is the hot wire.
Now your ready to search for the problem.
Disconnect the battery hot (Red) cable and tape up your battery cable end and use a volt meter to test each wire to each light for resistance.
Place the black volt meter lead on a good frame ground and place the red volt meter lead on each wire going to each light
90 FLHTCU
When my turn signal is working it causes my volt meter to drop drastically
I don't have a flasher it is controlled through the module.
Does anyone have any ideas?
You said:
My Volt meter drops drastically when I use my turn signals.
You already know something is different from normal by noticing your volt meter dropping when your turn signals are used.
You have to determine what is the problem, (wire) (turn signal switch) (light)
You have a wire from your battery to your turn signal switch then it goes to your light.
Knowing your lamp comes on says your bulb is good but there is a problem with either the wire or the turn signal switch.
To determine which one is the problem you have to use a volt meter.
1st you need to know which one of the wires at the light is hot and which one is ground.
Use the volt meter and place the volt meter to measure dc volts.
Place the black volt meter lead on a good ground of your frame turn on your turn signal and take the red volt meter lead to one of the leads of your light, when you see dc volts you will know which one of your wires is the hot wire.
Now your ready to search for the problem.
Disconnect the battery hot (Red) cable and tape up your battery cable end and use a volt meter to test each wire to each light for resistance.
Place the black volt meter lead on a good frame ground and place the red volt meter lead on each wire going to each light
90 FLHTCU
When my turn signal is working it causes my volt meter to drop drastically
I don't have a flasher it is controlled through the module.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,742
From: South Carolina
This is a 9 year old post...
What issue are you experiencing that makes you think you need to add a relay?
What model and year bike?
What issue are you experiencing that makes you think you need to add a relay?
What model and year bike?
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: pennsylvania
1993 FLTCU 90th Anniversary model.
This has been getting progressively worse for years and I've suspected a voltage supply problem and heard of a work around by an old timer and this sounds like what he was describing as a remedy.
It started with not having enough power to run the sound system for a few years then the turn signal would work intermittently. The voltage meter would never read the true voltage in the battery and now won't even show 10 volts and the battery is always fully charged and starts with no problem. The turn signals, brake lights sound system and cruise control aren't being supplied with enough voltage to function.
This has been getting progressively worse for years and I've suspected a voltage supply problem and heard of a work around by an old timer and this sounds like what he was describing as a remedy.
It started with not having enough power to run the sound system for a few years then the turn signal would work intermittently. The voltage meter would never read the true voltage in the battery and now won't even show 10 volts and the battery is always fully charged and starts with no problem. The turn signals, brake lights sound system and cruise control aren't being supplied with enough voltage to function.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,742
From: South Carolina
Is the sound system an OEM unit (factory wiring)?
It should not be too difficult to clear up the issues you describe, the 1993 model has a very simple electrical system.
Do you have a factory service manual, and a voltmeter (the one in the dash does not count as a voltmeter, it is just a doodad the factory put in the fairing to make the owner think he actually had a voltmeter) ?
It should not be too difficult to clear up the issues you describe, the 1993 model has a very simple electrical system.
Do you have a factory service manual, and a voltmeter (the one in the dash does not count as a voltmeter, it is just a doodad the factory put in the fairing to make the owner think he actually had a voltmeter) ?
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 3, 2019 at 08:49 PM.
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