[TeeDubs]

Hey guys, any advice on this electrical problem?



My running lights flicker when the bike is idle and the timing is off on the turn signals and occasionally both will blink at the same time...its all messed up! This is a fairly new problem, it all started after I replaced the tail light (new bulb and plastic cover)



I'm thinking it might be grounding out somewhere in the tail light assembly or have a blown fuse...?



I replaced the battery three years ago but it never seemed to fully charge even after riding it daily to and from work. So I was suspicious of some electrical issue then



Check out the videos



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVpQ73KaR1M&feature=youtu.be[/media]





In this second video the turn signals are off and in the neutral position





[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6tMMFUrnOA&feature=youtu.be[/media]

 

[qwerty]

If you did not properly and completely charge the new battery before it was installed and used you probably ruined it before you ever installed it. Live and learn.



If your electrical problems began when you installed a new tail light, you probably screwed something up when you installed the tail light. Revisit the workmanship involved.

 

[TeeDubs]

I had the battery installed at Batteries Plus, they sell it to you fully charged and conditioned before they install it so I have a hard time believing that was the issue... but either way would a dead battery cause this?

 

[pgilles]

I had the battery installed at Batteries Plus, they sell it to you fully charged and conditioned before they install it so I have a hard time believing that was the issue... but either way would a dead battery cause this?

Yes. My bike would flicker all the lights at idle because the battery was bad. At upper RPMs it was fine. But the load was too great for the generator at idle.



Give it a re-charge and see what happens. But since it happened at the same time as your new taillight, double check your wiring.

 

[FortPayne]

I doubt its the battery. Bad batt can cause blinkers to only work sporatically, but just 1 at a time. Just installed a new one on my bike and before I did mine performed opposite pmtg's, lights good at idle but non existent at higher rpm's.

That looks like a shorted out wire. Did you mess with turn signal wiring at all? Maybe pluged a hot wire to a ground on one side. Disconnect the tail light wires and see if the problem persists. If not then qwerty was right. If it still persists, reconnect tail light wires and unplug rear turn signal wires one side at a time. It's somewhere back there.

 

[triple3jrb]

I know its silly but....from having done this...double check the battery terminal connections. Mine where flickering and i was freaking out that the cdi was going or something like that. Took off the seat and noticed that the negative battery connection was slightly loose. tightened it up and all was ok..felt like a dumbass but it was fixed!





Just a thought!

 

[mekdad]

Sounds dumb, But check and see if the bulb you just put in is backwards.

 

[TeeDubs]

checked the wiring and battery connections and everything was how it should be... I'm hoping it's just the battery, I'm taking it in to batteries plus to have it tested tomorrow. I won't be able to troubleshoot for a while now because I tore the bike apart to install my sweet new blaster shock! sorry to get off topic but check these pics out. Wasn't too hard and I really like the bike's new stance.







Low riding

stock is on the left and the new one is on the right

and with the new blaster shock installed

 

[TeeDubs]

Oh and by the way that's my 2006 DRZ400sm in the background under the black/silver cover

 

[TeeDubs]

I put the bike on a charger and tried the lights with the engine off and when it was running, they worked fine as long as the charger was on





So I left it on the charger for a couple hours and the battery didn't even hold enough of a charge to light up the instruments.... So I guess it's f&[email protected]'d





I've heard about adding a 12v outlet that have a trickle charger connection, I don't know anything about this but a 12 v outlet would be nice to have and an easy way to charge the battery and keep it working and charged



I'm assuming I'd have to buy a new charger with something like a 2,3or4-prong connection?

 

[admiral]

Does sound like your battery may have gone to the dark side, so you may need a new one.



Here on the forum many members get some type of battery tender they leave hooked up the battery when not in use for long periods of time. Some of them come with a plug-in type

system where a pigtail plug-in is connected to the battery allowing for quick disconnect when you want to go ride. I personally don't have one, but after reading other threads on the

forum, should you decide to get one, do your research for a good quality one. So I've heard!

 

[n2o2diver]

I bought mine at Autozone for like $22.

Brand is Schumacher...comes with everything you'll need in the little box.

Wire up the pigtail so it is under the right side compartment for easy access.

Mine works great, I plug it in on cold nights. Bike starts up first go in the am now.

 

[TeeDubs]

Diver does yours have a 12v outlet or is it just the trickle charger connection? And pigtails=? Are those the wires that hook directly to the battery?

 

[n2o2diver]

Diver does yours have a 12v outlet or is it just the trickle charger connection? And pigtails=? Are those the wires that hook directly to the battery?

Not sure what you mean by a 12v outlet!



It comes with a pigtail to permanently connect to the battery and route to under the right side cover for easy access.

It also came with 50 amp clamps to connect to any battery post. Everything you would need is in the box.



This is it here! $19 with free shipping, or run down to Walmart or Autozone they both carry them.

 

[admiral]

You may be referring to a 12v outlet as a cigarette lighter outlet, or now days a 12v power adapter outlet similar to a cigarette lighter outlet. I'm not sure if battery tenders come with a 12v battery adapter connection or what we are referring to as the pigtail connector. Either way, both can be connected to the battery.



Additionally, many forum members including myself, have connected 12v adapters to our batteries to power accessories such as small tire inflater's and GPS's which use the 12v power adapters. My 12v connector wiring came with an in-line fuse, so one doesn't blow out the accessory needing the power should a power surge occur.

 

[TeeDubs]

I was actually talking about both I've seen some systems with in-line fuses that you can disconnect the accessory outlet (12v outlet/cigarette lighter) and plug it in to a charger so you get both add on's with one somewhat simple mod

 

[Rainman]

I think you are looking for something like this to hook to your battery. I have one and I have it hooked to my battery and tucked into the right side with just the end sticking out.



You then could get something like this to run your 12 volt accessories which will plug into the battery tender cord.

 

[TeeDubs]

Yeah something like that rainman, and I like the smart charger that diver suggested

 

[n2o2diver]

Yeah something like that rainman, and I like the smart charger that diver suggested

This comes with it.