Help Required - Simple(?) Electrical Problem
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
Help Required - Simple(?) Electrical Problem
I just made some simple lighting changes to my Ultra LTD. I changed out the signal lights front and rear with SG signals, and I changed out the front fender tip light.
Now when I hit the right signal it flashes normal a couple of times then it speeds up and flashes quickly until I turn it off. The left signal functions properly. The rear signal light connections are solid and I have check the bulbs, front and rear. It is flashing front and rear, so it is not a burned out bulb problem (My first thought.). I haven't taken off the fairing to check the front signal connections.
I suspect there is a ground somewhere in the wiring but F-me, this is the simplest wiring you can do on your bike - the replacements from H-D are very simple plug and play.
Other than checking the connections behind the fairing, does anybody have any thoughts on where I should start looking.
Now when I hit the right signal it flashes normal a couple of times then it speeds up and flashes quickly until I turn it off. The left signal functions properly. The rear signal light connections are solid and I have check the bulbs, front and rear. It is flashing front and rear, so it is not a burned out bulb problem (My first thought.). I haven't taken off the fairing to check the front signal connections.
I suspect there is a ground somewhere in the wiring but F-me, this is the simplest wiring you can do on your bike - the replacements from H-D are very simple plug and play.
Other than checking the connections behind the fairing, does anybody have any thoughts on where I should start looking.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
I think the fact that it flashes normal a couple of times before it goes goofy is a hint as to the problem. I suspect whatever it is that makes the flasher flash is being generated by some bad wiring. To explain, if it is increased resistance that causes the flasher to flash, then there is some additional resistance being introduced into the circuit. Maybe more voltage draw, voltage drop, heated circuit...
I don't know... I'm not an electrician. <G>
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 5
From: twinsburg, ohio
When I replaced the front turn signals with the bullet style, I had a similar problem. Turns out one of the new signals was wired wrong from the factory. I switched the blue and purple wires in the connector and it worked fine.
It took me a while to figure that one out.
It took me a while to figure that one out.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Usually when one turn signal flashes fast it is a problem with the other bulb. You know when you blow out your right light, the left flashes quickly. I would look towards the other signal light for the problem.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Incorrect. When you have a blown bulb the side that has a bad bulb will flash correctly three or so times and then speed up real fast. When you have a bad ground you will get alternating problems and then it can be left or right; front or rear.
The fastest and easiest way is to swap the front turn signal bulbs left to right then check, if it is still the same then swap the rear. When the left starts flashing fast then you know which bulb is the problem.
My 09 RG had a bad front turn signal bulb on the left and I had the same problem you did.; Changed the affecting bulb and problem fixed. I still use STD bulbs NOT LED. If you went from one type to the other then you may need a equalizer, not sure what the LTD uses from the factory.
By the way both my front and rear flashed like you would think they do. What happens is when the bulb is bad it chases for a ground and then finds it thru the marker light. (other filament), thus both flash and you think all is good with the bulbs.
Last edited by hot95hog; Nov 21, 2010 at 09:32 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 435
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From: Alberta, Canada
Thanks to everyone for all the tips and suggestions.
I've pretty much ruled out the bulbs (They've been swapped out one at a time and I did grease the sockets when I replaced them.).
As EddieBlaize suggested, they may be wired wrong from the factory and I need to rule it out, too. I think I'll get the test light out and test the wiring in the billet signals or I could simply plug in the old lights to see if the problem is now also with the old lights.
The LED lights are on the way from Badlands so I need to get this fixed up before they get here. Things don't wait around in boxes very long after they arrive in the mail. <G>
I've pretty much ruled out the bulbs (They've been swapped out one at a time and I did grease the sockets when I replaced them.).
As EddieBlaize suggested, they may be wired wrong from the factory and I need to rule it out, too. I think I'll get the test light out and test the wiring in the billet signals or I could simply plug in the old lights to see if the problem is now also with the old lights.
The LED lights are on the way from Badlands so I need to get this fixed up before they get here. Things don't wait around in boxes very long after they arrive in the mail. <G>
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Incorrect. When you have a blown bulb the side that has a bad bulb will flash correctly three or so times and then speed up real fast. When you have a bad ground you will get alternating problems and then it can be left or right; front or rear.
The fastest and easiest way is to swap the front turn signal bulbs left to right then check, if it is still the same then swap the rear. When the left starts flashing fast then you know which bulb is the problem.
My 09 RG had a bad front turn signal bulb on the left and I had the same problem you did.; Changed the affecting bulb and problem fixed. I still use STD bulbs NOT LED. If you went from one type to the other then you may need a equalizer, not sure what the LTD uses from the factory.
By the way both my front and rear flashed like you would think they do. What happens is when the bulb is bad it chases for a ground and then finds it thru the marker light. (other filament), thus both flash and you think all is good with the bulbs.
The fastest and easiest way is to swap the front turn signal bulbs left to right then check, if it is still the same then swap the rear. When the left starts flashing fast then you know which bulb is the problem.
My 09 RG had a bad front turn signal bulb on the left and I had the same problem you did.; Changed the affecting bulb and problem fixed. I still use STD bulbs NOT LED. If you went from one type to the other then you may need a equalizer, not sure what the LTD uses from the factory.
By the way both my front and rear flashed like you would think they do. What happens is when the bulb is bad it chases for a ground and then finds it thru the marker light. (other filament), thus both flash and you think all is good with the bulbs.