Yesterday I opened up my rear turn signals on my '82 R65 LS to do a little fix so the wouldn't drop down. I unplugged the lights to remove them and did the fix. When I put it all back together they did not work. A little research showed no power going to the light. This was on both of them after only unplugging the 2 wires for each and replugging them. Now I have no idea why there would be no power going to them. Anyone have any thoughts? The front signal lights still work fine and the rear worked fine a couple of days ago.
Very strange that the front turn signals work but the back don't because they are all fused to the same fuse. Or not having the wiring schematic handy I believe this to be so.
So, near the tool kit under the seat is the connection for the rear lights and the main wiring harness. It is possible corrosion or what ever has happened at this plug and I would check there after checking the fuse. St.
Beware! I do not suffer fools gladly! St.
Yesterday I opened up my rear turn signals on my '82 R65 LS to do a little fix so the wouldn't drop down. I unplugged the lights to remove them and did the fix. When I put it all back together they did not work. A little research showed no power going to the light.
Is that the collective "they" ? Are you saying BOTH signals failed to work after the "repair"?
• The only thing that connects both sides is not the power-side (Green/Wht or Green/Red) of the connection, but rather the Brown "return" side of the connection. The tail lamp is mounted on a plastic fender, so nothing electrical back there will work without a solid return connection.
• 5 wires come back to the rear tail lamp: tail lamp, brake lamp, L turn signal, R turn signal, and Return. Obviously, when the Brown wire reaches the tail lamp housing it needs to slip up to do all the assigned tasks. You must have broken or inadvertently disconnected one of those splitter connections.
• This is one of those tasks where anti-oxidation compound needs to be employed at every connection terminal to insure the best electrical connections possible. Think of all the evenings you've been caught riding home in the rain. Now realize that the illumination of ALL those rear end lights and with it... your personal safety all hinge on a connection to that single Brown wire.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
I had another person suggest checking the ground. I had a look at the wiring diagrams in my manuals as well. When I went to look for the ground low and behold I found the first connector disconnected which fixed the turn signal issue but then I discovered the brake light is on continually and I have no idea why that would be.
One of the 2 brake light switches is hung up or out of adjustment. Starting with the rear switch, unplug 1 wire from each switch and see which one makes the light go out.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Thank you.
Ok, I finally got around to checking the brake light switches. I went by unplugging connectors for both with no result. The brake light still stays on with either or both disconnected. Another strange thing is with the ignition just switched on with the headlight off the brake lights work as per normal. When the ignition is turned up to turn on the headlight the brake light goes on full time. Now I'm even more confused.
What other electrical work have you done to the bike? Did you do any work in the headlight shell? Did you look at the connection for the rear lights under the seat to see what kind of shape it is in? As Richard asks, what kind of shape is the rest of the system's connections.
If you were working in the headlight shell on anything it is very easy to get a connection plugged into the wrong spot on the main board.
Does everything else work as it should? Good hunting, St.
Beware! I do not suffer fools gladly! St.
Went back at it having a look and now it seems to be just fine. The problem was probably one of the wires on the bars being unplugged. All good now. Thanks for your help folks!
Glad to hear it !
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Glad to hear it, and thanks for letting us know, happy for you it was a simple fix. St.
Beware! I do not suffer fools gladly! St.
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