Blinkers don't work

[Pondrat]

Ok, so I tried to search but what do you call them - blinkers? directionals? indicator lights? turn signals?

Whatever they are, they don't work on my 2005 FZ6 and I need them for safety....it's either that or I quit my job and just keep riding around the track at Loudon all summer...hmmmmm, not a bad idea.

But let's I did want to keep my job and fix these lights. What do I do?
They don't work in any way - even the lights on the dashboard (again, what do you call that on a bike - instrument cluster/panel?) don't blink when I use the switch.

So, is it the switch? the wiring? the fuse? relay? poltergeist?

Where do I start? Do I finally have an excuse to buy a multimeter??? Please say yes.

Thanks as always for the insightful suggestions about to come cascading down below this, my original post.

 

[Pondrat]

Just a little more info:
Was working fine yesterday, now nothing.
I didn't crash.
I have been in riding in the rain/snow a lot this spring (boooooo to you, Punxatawney Phil!)
I know very little about electrical stuff.
The bike was involved in a zero MPH driveway crash before I bought 4yrs ago and right blinker is snapped off and rattles around in the housing - but this hasn't changed for going on 5yrs now (so I don't think we can blame FZ1inNH's wife!)

 

[Motogiro]

I would look for a fuse....But...fuses don't wear out so I would also look for the short circuit that took it out. That rattling noise maybe??? Loose lamp or socket?

 

[Pondrat]

My first thought was fuse as well. I just checked the fuse now, looked good, but replaced it with the spare - no dice. So either its not the fuse or I have a bad spare.

That rattling is just the right turn signal assembly itself, like the whole thing. It broke off at the collar and just rattles around but luckily always points straight-ish.

What should I check next? Of note, FZ1inNH did the dual-headlight mod and it looks like that entailed unwrapping the wiring harness that comes out of the hand controls on the left side where the turn signal and hazard switch is. Perhaps some moisture in there caused a short? Or the switch itself is now defective?

Also interesting to note, the hazards don't work either but everything else (horn headlights, brakelights) work fine.

Any more suggestions out there?

 

[Motogiro]

It could be the Flasher relay has failed...Or a plug/wire has become disconnected...

 

[Pondrat]

Sounds good. How does one find, get at, and/or test the flasher relay?

 

[Amorousnerdium]

Get you a multimeter and start at the switch.... Electrical problems are generally easy to diagnose, just time consuming. Start at the beginning and go through each circuit testing to see if you are getting power.

My suggestions are:

Fuse
Switch on handlebar
Blinker relay
Harness plug on rear of speedo
Harness plug next to blinker relay

Wires themselves rarely fail on their own accord. Usually heat, friction, chemicals cause the failure, so start with the junction points and just keep an eye out for abused wire.

*edit*

To get at the flasher relay, just pop off the inner left black fairing and there should be a little black box inside of a rubber band near the fuel tank.

 

[FinalImpact]

I'd print out the schematic as what they did is not intuitive:

Power from Battery + 12
through main switch (on position only)
Check for +12 at Rear Tail Fuse
Check for +12 at turn signal relay
From here it distributes as Follows: (hint any one could short and kill it)
Front/Rear L & R turn signals
Hazard Switch & Turn Signal Switch

So, with the Relay removed, key on you should measure +12 on one side of the open relay socket.

If this is true, its on to other areas for testing.

Can you confirm this???

 

[04fizzer]

Also, make sure you got the correct fuse. They're labeled kind of funny. Wouldn't hurt to check them all. If you've got a multimeter, that's the best way to do it. You can't always see the break in the filament.

 

[Motogiro]

Sounds good. How does one find, get at, and/or test the flasher relay?

Flasher relay should be in the fairing on the left hand side. I changed mine and was able unhook it from the rubber mount it was on and drop it through the bottom of the fairing where I swapped the new relay and then slipped it back on it's mount but you might just remove the inner fairing panel to get to it more easily. The plug might have even come loose!

This would be a good spot to check and see if you have 12volts to the flasher relay.
The other scenario that I doubt happened would be if any of those light circuits use a common ground and that ground got lifted/disconnected.....It could happen though....

A test prod is probably the most used tool by pros in automotive electrical to quickly figure out where a circuit went open or lost voltage.
I couldn't live without mine.

 

[turbid]

guys are you sure the flasher relay is in the front fairing? have i understood correctly? on my 06 its on the left hand side of the bike ok under the side pods

 

[Pondrat]

I think it's under the back left fairing. The one that says "FZ6" on it.

Thanks again for so many great suggestions. My electrical testing is on hold for a bit because Fizzy has bigger problems now. I low-sided in a rotary yesterday on the way to work and the rear end is twisted and torqued.

 

[Motogiro]

guys are you sure the flasher relay is in the front fairing? have i understood correctly? on my 06 its on the left hand side of the bike ok under the side pods

On my 06 the flasher relay was on the inside left of the front fairing. I actually changed it out for an electronic type without pulling the internal panel off the fairing. I know of some pictorials that say it's in the left pod but that's not where I found it. It's mounted on a rubber mount that is on a little plastic tab on the inside of the fairing. It's a little cube shaped device. Watch out for spider!

Anyone ever actually found the flasher relay in the left pod?

 

[FinalImpact]

Re: Are You OK?

Fizzy has bigger problems now. I low-sided in a rotary yesterday on the way to work and the rear end is twisted and torqued.

Ouch! Sorry to hear about that! Are You OK?

 

[Pondrat]

Good news all around!

I've installed all of my replacement parts since the crash and Fizzy is as good as new. In the process, I rechecked the blinker issues. It WAS a fuse, but not the turn signal fuse but rather the tail fuse. Replaced and working fine since.

Thanks for all the help boys.