intermittent turn signal

drstimpy · October 31st, 2010, 11:05 AM

I have a 2004 with everything about perfect except the turn signals will very occaisionally not work at all. from time to time they just take 10 minutes off and then everything is fine

. Any quick thoughts on how to most efficiently troubleshoot this issue?

drstimpy · October 31st, 2010, 11:08 AM

Oh yeah
all 4 bulbs are fine. When I flip the switch, sometimes nothing happens. Once in a while the blinkers run a wee bit slow too.
thanks

00NissanNinja · October 31st, 2010, 12:17 PM

Maybe a bad turn signal relay

FrugalNinja250 · November 1st, 2010, 08:12 AM

Clean the corrosion out of the bulb sockets and apply some silicone grease on the bulb bases before reinstalling. Pull the turn signal relay and do the same there, as well as the connectors at the turn signal stalks. If the problem persists likely it's corrosion in the switch itself. It's not hard to work on. The switches are not waterproof.

drstimpy · November 1st, 2010, 10:41 AM

I have serched the forum and wiki...hate to admit I don't know where the relay is

I have done pretty much everything to my bike and never done any electrical stuff.

Thanks for the help

FrugalNinja250 · November 1st, 2010, 05:45 PM

It's under the right side cover, a black box about 1.5 x 1.5 x .75 inches, mounted so the wires come out the bottom and a plastic tab with one screw at the top. it's only got two wires connected to it.

Flashmonkey · November 1st, 2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00NissanNinja

Maybe a bad turn signal relay

+1...or a bad switch. Check the relay first, though.

drstimpy · November 2nd, 2010, 03:26 AM

Just examine it for corrosion and dielectric grease all connections? Or should I just replace it?
Thanks again

coolbreeze · November 2nd, 2010, 06:03 AM

Check the undertail wires. I had the same problem. When my bike was bottoming out, the tires were rubbing against the wires. Eventually, it just about cut through the wire and my blinkers wouldn't work all of the time. I repaired the wires and tucked them in more. No problems now.

FrugalNinja250 · November 2nd, 2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drstimpy

Just examine it for corrosion and dielectric grease all connections? Or should I just replace it?
Thanks again

They're a bit pricey, aftermarkets run around $20. I'd focus on the cheap fixes first like cleaning and greasing the terminals. You'll probably want to clean and grease the turn signal switch before buying a new relay. BTW, I've taken a relay apart and it's actually a solid-state flasher module inside the potting compound. I'd think that of all the things that could go wrong in the turn signal circuit (which is very simple, BTW) the relay would be at the very bottom of the list of probabilities.

drstimpy · November 5th, 2010, 04:37 AM

WOW
I cleaned and dielectric greased all the terminals on the bike and gooped up the inside of the turn signal switch. Now the signals flash twice as fast but have been working without interruption

October 31st, 2010, 11:05 AM	#1
drstimpy two wheels good Name: john Location: Wareham MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 ex250 and 08 Triumph Sprint ST and custom calfee carbon race tandem Posts: 71	intermittent turn signal I have a 2004 with everything about perfect except the turn signals will very occaisionally not work at all. from time to time they just take 10 minutes off and then everything is fine. Any quick thoughts on how to most efficiently troubleshoot this issue? __________________________________________________ Some must watch while others must sleep

October 31st, 2010, 11:08 AM	#2
drstimpy two wheels good Name: john Location: Wareham MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 ex250 and 08 Triumph Sprint ST and custom calfee carbon race tandem Posts: 71	Oh yeah all 4 bulbs are fine. When I flip the switch, sometimes nothing happens. Once in a while the blinkers run a wee bit slow too. thanks __________________________________________________ Some must watch while others must sleep

October 31st, 2010, 12:17 PM	#3
00NissanNinja I hate driving... Name: S Location: SW Ohio Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 13 Triumph Street Triple R, 09 Ninja 250r (Sold 4/20/12) Posts: A lot.	Maybe a bad turn signal relay __________________________________________________ 09 ninja 2fiddy SE Driving slow things fast

November 1st, 2010, 10:41 AM	#5
drstimpy two wheels good Name: john Location: Wareham MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 ex250 and 08 Triumph Sprint ST and custom calfee carbon race tandem Posts: 71	I have serched the forum and wiki...hate to admit I don't know where the relay is I have done pretty much everything to my bike and never done any electrical stuff. Thanks for the help __________________________________________________ Some must watch while others must sleep

November 2nd, 2010, 03:26 AM	#8
drstimpy two wheels good Name: john Location: Wareham MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 ex250 and 08 Triumph Sprint ST and custom calfee carbon race tandem Posts: 71	Just examine it for corrosion and dielectric grease all connections? Or should I just replace it? Thanks again __________________________________________________ Some must watch while others must sleep

November 1st, 2010, 08:12 AM	#4
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	Clean the corrosion out of the bulb sockets and apply some silicone grease on the bulb bases before reinstalling. Pull the turn signal relay and do the same there, as well as the connectors at the turn signal stalks. If the problem persists likely it's corrosion in the switch itself. It's not hard to work on. The switches are not waterproof.

November 1st, 2010, 05:45 PM	#6
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	It's under the right side cover, a black box about 1.5 x 1.5 x .75 inches, mounted so the wires come out the bottom and a plastic tab with one screw at the top. it's only got two wires connected to it.

November 2nd, 2010, 06:03 AM	#9
coolbreeze ninjette.org sage Name: darius Location: GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2000 250 sold; 2005 636 sold. BIKELESS IN ATLANTA Posts: 753	Check the undertail wires. I had the same problem. When my bike was bottoming out, the tires were rubbing against the wires. Eventually, it just about cut through the wire and my blinkers wouldn't work all of the time. I repaired the wires and tucked them in more. No problems now.

November 5th, 2010, 04:37 AM	#11
drstimpy two wheels good Name: john Location: Wareham MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 ex250 and 08 Triumph Sprint ST and custom calfee carbon race tandem Posts: 71	WOW I cleaned and dielectric greased all the terminals on the bike and gooped up the inside of the turn signal switch. Now the signals flash twice as fast but have been working without interruption __________________________________________________ Some must watch while others must sleep

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