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Puzzle: Turn Signals and Brake Light just randomly stop working during a ride. It can be a cool day or a hot one. I can be riding for 5 minutes or 2 hours. I have a 2007 Dyna Wide Glide. 2 HD shops can't find the problem as they can't reproduce it. Bike is still under warranty. I know there are some smart folks on this forum cause I've read many posts. Yet, I haven't found the answer to this issue. Anybody want to prove how smart they are in figuring this puzzle out?
Thanks in advance 'ole wise ones!
Paul
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2007 FXDWG
Last edited by Shovelhead Bob; 08-21-2008 at 07:28 PM.
Is it just the rear turn signals or the front also? Does the rear running light work? If it's the rear you might have a wiring problem under the rear fender. Check the connections, fuses and try to look under the fender to see if the tire is rubbing on a wire. Kind of sounds like a bad ground.
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'06 Bob Deep Cobalt
Cycle Shack slip-on mufflers
SE A/C
FuelPak
Other doo-dads
Definitely sounds like you have a short somewhere in the wiring. Possibly when the wires reach a certain temperature they fail somehow.
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2006 Denim Black Street Bob
Kuryakyn ISO Grips and Raptor Bar
V&H Big Radius 2 into 2 Black, Forcewinder XR2 A/C, and PCIII USB
Jackyl's 2" tank lift
Yes, I did change out the grips, however, this issue was happening prior to that unfortunately. I checked visually and didn't see any exposed/rubbing wires.
When this issue occurs when I ride, I stop and shut the bike down then restart. The issue will correct and may or may not happen again on that ride or day. Thank you for your help thus far.
Paul
I'll try to help, here goes. First thing I would attempt to figure out is if it is indeed a short or an open circuit. Per your last mail, "When this issue occurs when I ride, I stop and shut the bike down then restart. The issue will correct and may or may not happen again on that ride or day.", I am guessing it is a short taking out a breaker. The breaker will reset after it cools, making everythgni normal until the next time. This would also indicate the short is sporadic, making it difficult to trace.
I believe the lights in question are on the same circuit, you should confirm that with a wiring diagram. Once that is confirmed, determine which breaker is on that circuit. Since it is not always repeatable on demand, you will then need to trace every wire on that circuit and determine its integrity. (There are not that many wires) You ned to look for any wear, it may be a minute wear spot, exposing one strand of wire and allowing it to touch ground. Once you find it, the fix should be easy, your choice on anything from electrical tape to get through the season, a temporary wire splice eliminating the problem or a complete new piece of wire in that location (my preference). My gues is it will be under your back fender, have seen this many times. Like I said, you have to get real close and personal with those wires, the damage may not be readily visible. I've seen a 1/8" long flat spot that you could barely see the strand through cause this problem.
The other option is to bypass the breaker so when it happens again the wire in question will weld itself to wherever it is shorting to, allowing you to determine the exact problem. Of course, this will result in having to rewire the whole circuit, you can do that ahead of time and avoid the big cloud of smoke.
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"It's not about the destination, it's the journey that matters"
I'm not too familiar with the wiring schematics, but maybe you have a bad relay that fails with heat. That would be easy enough to change if you found the one for the circuit.
when it will happen go to fuse panel and check where the fuse for the lights are.
without removeing the fuse check on the fuse if you have the test light.lights up.
you maybe have a fuse panel with a defect. saw it once....when over heat the panel would loose contact....trying to help...hope they find it...
Are your bags detatchables, if so how long have they been on there, and did you have to relocate the rear turn signals? If they were relocated, was a splice done? If a splice was done check it!
Well, how smart are you, really?
can't find the problem as they can't reproduce it. Bike is still under warranty. I know there are some smart folks on this forum cause I've read many posts. Yet, I haven't found the answer to this issue. Anybody want to prove how smart they are in figuring this puzzle out?
The other option is to bypass the breaker so when it happens again the wire in question will weld itself to wherever it is shorting to, allowing you to determine the exact problem. Of course, this will result in having to rewire the whole circuit, you can do that ahead of time and avoid the big cloud of smoke.
