Indicator Woes

[Petefelstead]

Hi, so my right hand indicators front and rear have stopped working and also the dash light isn't flashing. I have checked the rear bulb and it is fine.
On the left hand side everything workes fine including the dash light. The hazard switch is just activating the left hand side.
I am thinking it's got to be wiring or the relay. Can anyone please help me with what multimeter tests I can carry out to track down the fault?
One more bit of info the fault happend the day after I had used bungees to strap the top box shut which makes me think I have pulled on the wiring but I have taken the seat and side panels off and can't see anything. My bike is a xj900 diversion.
Thank you in anticipation!
Pete.

[UncleFester]

I'd be checking you've not pulled a wire out or disturbed an earth. What did you wrap the bungee cord around?
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[Easy-X]

Checking out the wiring diagram there's nothing I can see that would take out one side of the bike at the rear. The flasher relay generates a single signal that's redirected via the handlebar controls so if one side is still working then I doubt it's that.

I'd take a look at the indicator switch.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Islander]

Get some decent quality switch cleaner and squirt a load into the indicator switch then start working it repeatedly. If it's a dirty contact then that should produce results. My Hornet does this from time to time and the switch cleaner sorts it.

[Petefelstead]

Many thanks all for your responses.

So here are the latest developments.

As you can see from the pics I have proceeded the hunt.

As far as the switch is concerned with ignition on and switched to l/h I have 12v to brown wire measuring from centre pole of switch which I am assuming is ground.

When switched to r/h I have 0v to green wire measuring from centre pole of switch.

With ignition off I have continuity between brown and green and centre pole when switched to the relevant side.

This would seem to suggest to me that the switch is ok but that there is no power getting to the green wire.

Does this assumption sound correct and if so do I just need to look at all of the r/h side indicator wiring. 

Could it be a blown turn signal warning light ?

Many thanks!

Pete

[Easy-X]

Sounds like the switch is working but if you're getting 0 volts on one side could that suggest a short to ground somewhere?

If you put a voltmeter on the battery I'd be curious to compare the voltage drop on switch left vs right indicators.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Islander]

The centre pole of the switch is the feed from the flasher relay (brown/white) and carries 12v or 0v depending on where the relay is in its on/off cycle.

The green wire is the right hand indicator output, the brown is the left hand indicator output.

Voltages should be measured to a good earth point not from the centre pole of the switch. The -Ve battery terminal or a known good frame earth.

If you're getting 12v on both sides using that method then the fault is in the wiring between the switch and the bulbs (I see that you've already tested continuity across the switch itself). It'll be an open circuit - the output goes to earth across the bulbs themselves. As it's affecting both bulbs, if it's the wiring then it'll be between the output of the switch and the junction between the front/rear feeds.

It's worth checking the bulbs themselves and their earths if you haven't already done so...

[Petefelstead]

So, I got excited because I briefly had both side indicators working at least it proves that they can!)

This came about when \i pulled out the r/h signal warning bulb to test it, found that it was ok and then put it back in.

Alas as I put the clock cluster back and tested again it no longer worked.

I tried removing both signal warning bulbs and found that the indicators function without them in.

When I replaced them the r/n indicators no longer worked. When I removed them again , no luck.

With the l/h indicators working I get a fluctuating 0- 12 v as they flash on the centre pole and the brown white wire pole.

With the r/h indicators not working I get a steady 12 v on the centre pole and the green .

Does this mean that it's the switch or the wiring?

Thanks!

[Islander]

The wiring. The flasher relay needs a load to operate. No load (bulbs) = constant 12v output. Follow the green wire from the switch - I'm betting there's a break in it somewhere between the switch and the frame. The likelihood is that when they were both working you were lucky enough to have the handlebars in a position that pushed the break in the wire back together.