Indicators (blinkers) not working - Advice please!

[AJB]

Hi everyone.  Last year my indicators stopped working - all of them.  They worked one day and the next day they didn't - nothing.  There were no warnings, no slow / fast / dim / brights flashing - they just stopped.

I At the time I just kept riding and used hand signals instead, and then took the bike off road for winter, so today was the first chance I had to have a proper look. 

I suspected either the relay or the switch, so using a wiring diagram from the trusty internet I started checking feeds atc, and this is what I found.

12V to the green/black wire at the relay
Permanent 12V from the green/yellow wire at the relay (with the relay installed - 0V without)
12V along the green/yellow wire to the switch
0V at blue/red wire after the switch (regardless of switch position)
0V at blue/black wire after the switch (regardless of switch position)

Great I thought - must be the switch.  However, to confirm this I thought I would bridge the relevant wires at the plug and see if the indicators flashed.  They didn't

However, there is red permanent live at the same plug, and when I touched this to the blue/red (or blue/black) indicator wires, the relevant side of indicator lights came on.

So that got we wondering - does this indicate (no pun intended) a relay fault, or does my initial switch diagnosis still stand up -  if it ever did?

Or do I need to do more tests.  Ideally I'd just swap in another relay but I don't have one to hand.

All earths check out OK by the way - and it's a 1982 R65LS

[Tony Smith]

What you have there is a classic failed blinker relay.

The good news is that any "classic" 12 volt, 3 pin blinker relay will replace it and that they are very cheap at your local parts peddler.

(Just replaced the same relay in a "classic" VW, not a common part and not cheap ).

[AJB]

What you have there is a classic failed blinker relay.

The good news is that any "classic" 12 volt, 3 pin blinker relay will replace it and that they are very cheap at your local parts peddler.

(Just replaced the same relay in a "classic" VW, not a common part and not cheap ).

Thanks Tony - That sounds like good news.  I shall make some enquiries tomorrow.  Back of my mind says I might have an old VW Golf one in a box of parts somewhere but I'm not 100% sure.  And going off your comments it might not suit anyway!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

And ALWAYS check your STOCK fuses for continuity and possible corrosion.  At least once a year, if you have not upgraded to spade fuses.

[mrclubike]

If you would have checked for voltage on the  GN-GE wire  with a direction selected you would have seen a loss of voltage across the Relay (Flasher) and not the switch
First rule when diagnosing electrical problems
"Check Circuit Under Load "
This is why you misdiagnosed the switch being bad

Give a man a Fish feed him for a day
Teach him how to fish feed him forever

[mrclubike]

If your brake light and horn still work it is not the fuses
But clean them anyway
Or better yet change the whole fuse panel out to something better

[mrclubike]

Here is the Flasher

[AJB]

And ALWAYS check your STOCK fuses for continuity and possible corrosion.  At least once a year, if you have not upgraded to spade fuses.

Had already checked them both, but good advice - thank you!

[AJB]

If you would have checked for voltage on the  GN-GE wire  with a direction selected you would have seen a loss of voltage across the Relay (Flasher) and not the switch
First rule when diagnosing electrical problems
"Check Circuit Under Load "
This is why you misdiagnosed the switch being bad

Give a man a Fish feed him for a day
Teach him how to fish feed him forever

Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember this rule from my last auto electrics course in 1988 - but luckily the internet has come along in the meantime, so I can avoid expensive mistakes by asking knowledgeable people like yourselves!

[AJB]

If your brake light and horn still work it is not the fuses
But clean them anyway
Or better yet change the whole fuse panel out to something better

Pretty!  5 fuses?  Have you split out the circuits?

[AJB]

Here is the Flasher

Many thanks.  I have one ordered from GSF car parts for the princely sum of £7 and some change.  BMW wanted £34 for a genuine one, and they had no UK stock so it would have to come from Germany.  Needless to say, I made my excuses and left....

[mrclubike]

If your brake light and horn still work it is not the fuses
But clean them anyway
Or better yet change the whole fuse panel out to something better

Pretty!  5 fuses?  Have you split out the circuits?

Yes
If you follow the large red wire from the battery up into the harness you will find a splice that can be cut and fuses be installed into the different   circuits

The way it is from the factory only the various lights and horn are fused (headlight isn't fused either)