Neutral indicator stuck on

LazinCajun · August 27th, 2009, 07:56 PM

Thread title tells most of the story. My neutral indicator is stuck on even when I'm clearly in gear. It rained for a few hours today, and I went riding shortly after it stopped so I'm was a little worried that it was a short, but during my ride I noticed it would flicker a little bit if I shifted from neutral to first and pressed fairly hard on the shifter. As soon as I released pressure it would go back to being stuck on.

Any suggestions? I just got my service manual in the mail, so I'm going to go search through it, but I was hoping this was something fairly common with an easy solution.

Alex · August 28th, 2009, 05:50 AM

Huh, that's a strange one. I gotta say that I haven't seen mention of this issue before. The more common neutral indicator problem is that it stays off and won't light...

kkim · August 28th, 2009, 10:35 AM

anyone know offhand where the neutral switch is physically located?

LazinCajun · August 28th, 2009, 10:50 AM

Er, I should've specified that this was for an '08, but..

If you have the service manual, it's on page 16-16, and it's labeled as #8 in the diagram. If not, it looks like it's on the left side just above the front sprocket, with light green wiring.

Small update -- I started it after I was sure everything was dry, and the neutral indicator is still showing the same behavior. Well, I can't get it to flicker anymore, but I'm not even 100% sure what caused the flicker to be honest.

randomwalk101 · August 28th, 2009, 10:52 AM

may be it's a bad sensor or lose connection? try to wiggle it or remove it and clean it or something and see if that works...if not, prob need replacement? still got warranty?

LazinCajun · August 28th, 2009, 11:17 AM

Yeah, I'm sure it's either a bad switch or a bad connection. TBH I panicked a little (having owned the bike for all of a week) and wasn't thinking clearly. Plus, living in an apartment I don't have a garage, so it's a pain to pull fairings off and poke around.

For Kelly: There's also a picture of the neutral switch connector on 17-12 in the service manual.

kkim · August 28th, 2009, 02:06 PM

if you know where the switch is, disconnect it from whatever connector it leads to, either shorting it or having it open at the harness side connector should make the light go on/off. If you get consistent, steady results, the problem is in the wiring leading to the switch or the switch itself.

sorry, I don't have access the service manual at the moment.

LazinCajun · October 17th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Just an update... By checking continuity with ground while in 1st and in neutral, my neutral switch is working fine. Unfortunately, the neutral light stays on even when the neutral switch connector is disconnected, so it looks like there must be a short somewhere. (just for completeness, the neutral switch connector has continuity with ground even when disconnected.. Definitely smells like a short). I don't know how to diagnose this any further, so I may take it to a mechanic. Any suggestions before doing so?
Posted via Mobile Device

kkim · October 17th, 2009, 04:00 PM

have you had a look at the schematic on pg 16-10, 16-11?

LazinCajun · October 18th, 2009, 12:38 PM

Yes, it's pretty scary. I'm assuming the slashes under the neutral switch represent ground, is that correct? If so, I think that means I need to open up the wire harness to check for a short. That's the point where I'm not really comfortable doing it myself.

A few more things--I checked that the diode in the relevant circuit is working, and the kickstand switch logic thinks the bike is always in neutral. I should also mention that I had a malfunctioning turn signal relay, but I replaced it and that problem never returned, so I think it is safe to assume that these are two separate issues.
Posted via Mobile Device

HKr1 · October 18th, 2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazinCajun

I'm assuming the slashes under the neutral switch represent ground, is that correct?

Yes.

Sounds like your gonna have to pull the tank and check the wiring harness/connectors.

randomwalk101 · October 5th, 2010, 03:25 AM

did you resolved this issue?

HKr1 · October 5th, 2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomwalk101

did you resolved this issue?

Your's doing it now??

randomwalk101 · October 5th, 2010, 02:22 PM

No but was just curious

ariemeir · December 5th, 2010, 01:54 PM

Hi guys,

i have a 2007 ex500 ninja.

Having a similar problem to described in this thread.
Now i haven't done my practical test yet and i am about to with
this bike in 2 weeks.
Do you think it will be a problem to do the test having the neutral light constantly on ?

Another thing - i tried to look under the panel board - the wires seems to be fine... If someone had the same problem and managed to resolve it - what was the cause in your case ?

Thanks.
Arie

sLick415 · June 29th, 2013, 12:28 PM

Well, here was my problem. Crushed by the cover.

mtp084 · December 6th, 2014, 07:23 PM

Had the same problem wiring harness was rubbing on the frame on the left side right near the indicator wires.

August 27th, 2009, 07:56 PM	#1
LazinCajun ninjette.org guru Name: Anon Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488	Neutral indicator stuck on Thread title tells most of the story. My neutral indicator is stuck on even when I'm clearly in gear. It rained for a few hours today, and I went riding shortly after it stopped so I'm was a little worried that it was a short, but during my ride I noticed it would flicker a little bit if I shifted from neutral to first and pressed fairly hard on the shifter. As soon as I released pressure it would go back to being stuck on. Any suggestions? I just got my service manual in the mail, so I'm going to go search through it, but I was hoping this was something fairly common with an easy solution.

August 28th, 2009, 05:50 AM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Huh, that's a strange one. I gotta say that I haven't seen mention of this issue before. The more common neutral indicator problem is that it stays off and won't light... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

December 5th, 2010, 01:54 PM	#15
ariemeir ninjette.org newbie Name: Arie Location: berkeley Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): ninja ex500 Posts: 1	Neutral light is stuck on.... Hi guys, i have a 2007 ex500 ninja. Having a similar problem to described in this thread. Now i haven't done my practical test yet and i am about to with this bike in 2 weeks. Do you think it will be a problem to do the test having the neutral light constantly on ? Another thing - i tried to look under the panel board - the wires seems to be fine... If someone had the same problem and managed to resolve it - what was the cause in your case ? Thanks. Arie

December 6th, 2014, 07:23 PM	#17
mtp084 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mark Location: Gold Coast, Australia Join Date: Dec 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r 2012 Posts: 1	possible fixed Had the same problem wiring harness was rubbing on the frame on the left side right near the indicator wires.

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August 28th, 2009, 10:35 AM	#3
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	anyone know offhand where the neutral switch is physically located?

August 28th, 2009, 10:50 AM	#4
LazinCajun ninjette.org guru Name: Anon Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488	Er, I should've specified that this was for an '08, but.. If you have the service manual, it's on page 16-16, and it's labeled as #8 in the diagram. If not, it looks like it's on the left side just above the front sprocket, with light green wiring. Small update -- I started it after I was sure everything was dry, and the neutral indicator is still showing the same behavior. Well, I can't get it to flicker anymore, but I'm not even 100% sure what caused the flicker to be honest.

August 28th, 2009, 10:52 AM	#5
randomwalk101 self wrencher Name: john Location: houston Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.	may be it's a bad sensor or lose connection? try to wiggle it or remove it and clean it or something and see if that works...if not, prob need replacement? still got warranty?

August 28th, 2009, 11:17 AM	#6
LazinCajun ninjette.org guru Name: Anon Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488	Yeah, I'm sure it's either a bad switch or a bad connection. TBH I panicked a little (having owned the bike for all of a week) and wasn't thinking clearly. Plus, living in an apartment I don't have a garage, so it's a pain to pull fairings off and poke around. For Kelly: There's also a picture of the neutral switch connector on 17-12 in the service manual.

August 28th, 2009, 02:06 PM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	if you know where the switch is, disconnect it from whatever connector it leads to, either shorting it or having it open at the harness side connector should make the light go on/off. If you get consistent, steady results, the problem is in the wiring leading to the switch or the switch itself. sorry, I don't have access the service manual at the moment.

October 17th, 2009, 03:47 PM	#8
LazinCajun ninjette.org guru Name: Anon Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488	Just an update... By checking continuity with ground while in 1st and in neutral, my neutral switch is working fine. Unfortunately, the neutral light stays on even when the neutral switch connector is disconnected, so it looks like there must be a short somewhere. (just for completeness, the neutral switch connector has continuity with ground even when disconnected.. Definitely smells like a short). I don't know how to diagnose this any further, so I may take it to a mechanic. Any suggestions before doing so? Posted via Mobile Device

October 17th, 2009, 04:00 PM	#9
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	have you had a look at the schematic on pg 16-10, 16-11?

October 18th, 2009, 12:38 PM	#10
LazinCajun ninjette.org guru Name: Anon Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488	Yes, it's pretty scary. I'm assuming the slashes under the neutral switch represent ground, is that correct? If so, I think that means I need to open up the wire harness to check for a short. That's the point where I'm not really comfortable doing it myself. A few more things--I checked that the diode in the relevant circuit is working, and the kickstand switch logic thinks the bike is always in neutral. I should also mention that I had a malfunctioning turn signal relay, but I replaced it and that problem never returned, so I think it is safe to assume that these are two separate issues. Posted via Mobile Device

October 5th, 2010, 03:25 AM	#12
randomwalk101 self wrencher Name: john Location: houston Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.	did you resolved this issue?

October 5th, 2010, 02:22 PM	#14
randomwalk101 self wrencher Name: john Location: houston Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.	No but was just curious

June 29th, 2013, 12:28 PM	#16
sLick415 ninjette.org guru Name: Danny Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 263	Well, here was my problem. Crushed by the cover.