Neutral Light Remains on Issue

[ThatOtherGuy]

Tried searching in the FAQs, couldn't see anything there that might help.

Thought I'd throw this out there in case someone else has had the same issue and has a solution before I get a chance to go home and consult the wiring diagram.

Basically bike was fine, yesterday I washed it and everything seemed fine when putting the bike away, or at least I noticed nothing wrong since the bike was rolled into the garage after its wash, though I did have it running as I always do after a wash to let the engine warm up and evaporate water.

This morning I go to leave for work and everything is fine until I put it into gear (clutch in off course) and flick the kick stand up.  Suddenly the neutral light comes back on but at a very dimmed level.  It stayed on for the whole ride in to work and only went full brightness when actually in neutral.  Kickstand goes down and light then goes out if in gear, full brightness if in neutral, dimmed if kickstand goes up.  All other warning lights work fine and as they should.

As I said, Haven't had time to consult the wiring diagram yet to look for a potential cause, but thought the collective wisdom here may have an idea so I can go home and look with some confidence for a cause.

[adidasguy]

The neutral light and the side stand switch are connected via dual diode. (See a wiring siagram) That is buried in the wiring harness in the area around the battery.

Your problem can happen quire easily of you have LED indicators.

Some water in the area can get into the dual diode, which is buried in the wiring harness, usually upside down and all taped up. When water gets in there, it conducts a minute amount of electricity. If you have LEDs, that is enough to make an LED light the neutral light when the side stand is up.

Try to locate it and unwrap some of the tape to dry it out.

I have had it happen to 2 bikes after washing them. If nothing done, eventually it will dry out.
It does not harm anything.

[ThatOtherGuy]

Cool, I think you've hit it on the head with that inkling of information.  I usually wash the bike sans seat, so the area where the diodes are would be exposed to ingress of water.  And if your memory is good (which I assume it is based on your post) you have remembered I put all T5 LEDs in the warning lights (I assumed that is what you meant by indicators ).   This is also the first time I've washed the bike since the T5 install so it may have happened before but the warning lights were just a lot dimmer than now.  My only real concern was not being able to start the bike again to ride home this arvo.  Then again if it is what you say, the water may even have evaporated by then. That would be even more frustrating.

[mitch79]

Nice little fault finding guide in the wiki here: http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Troubleshooting.NeutralLight

[ThatOtherGuy]

mitch79, thanks for that link, wasn't aware of the wiki pages, I only looked in the FAQs section.  will try that at home tonight, assuming the problem is persistent.

[mitch79]

I just noticed the wiki link doesn't have pictures, here's the thread it came from. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=26746.msg329595#msg329595

Good luck 

[ThatOtherGuy]

That's better.  Wonder why it didn't come up in my search, I'm usually better at searches than that?  Really didn't want to start a thread if I didn't have to.

[adidasguy]

Cool, I think you've hit it on the head with that inkling of information.  I usually wash the bike sans seat, so the area where the diodes are would be exposed to ingress of water.  And if your memory is good (which I assume it is based on your post) you have remembered I put all T5 LEDs in the warning lights (I assumed that is what you meant by indicators ).   This is also the first time I've washed the bike since the T5 install so it may have happened before but the warning lights were just a lot dimmer than now.  My only real concern was not being able to start the bike again to ride home this arvo.  Then again if it is what you say, the water may even have evaporated by then. That would be even more frustrating.

That has no effect on the bike.
Current is jumping across the diode contacts - a couple micro amps probably. Enough to light the LED and that is all.
Like I said - been there - done it - had it happen - to 2 bikes with LEDs. One was that way for a couple months as the diode dried out.

[ThatOtherGuy]

The neutral light and the side stand switch are connected via dual diode. (See a wiring siagram) That is buried in the wiring harness in the area around the battery.

Your problem can happen quire easily of you have LED indicators.

Some water in the area can get into the dual diode, which is buried in the wiring harness, usually upside down and all taped up. When water gets in there, it conducts a minute amount of electricity. If you have LEDs, that is enough to make an LED light the neutral light when the side stand is up.

Try to locate it and unwrap some of the tape to dry it out.

I have had it happen to 2 bikes after washing them. If nothing done, eventually it will dry out.
It does not harm anything.

right on the money adidasguy.  whilst the dual diodeox b was not exactly where it was supposed to be I did eventually find it.  had a form of heat shrink material on it which I carefully removed to expose the diodes.  it was obviously a little damp going by the sheen.  bit of compressed air from the gun and bingo, problem solved.  resealed the unit, rezipped the wiring and all is good.

thank you very much.

[ThatOtherGuy]

LOL, had an oh crap moment this morning, bike wouldn't start after last nights fiddlin'.  Starting to think what did I not plug back in?  Did I accidentally flatten the battery?  Then realised after about 2 minutes of head scratching and looking  I had simply accidentally flicked the kill switch on the grip to off.

Gave myself an uppercut, started the bike and left.