04 gs500f missing parts/wiring mahem

[Ryanstalin]

to update, tried what I said and Nothing changed, so now I'm thinking the starter solenoid is bad. also the only connection to the battery is just a wire touching it with not much pressure, so maybe the bike is not getting enough juice, starter sounds weaker as well. plus the battery is bad, it was completely dry when I got it, I filled it up with water only. but its not charging, so instead I use jumper cables attached to a car battery then attached to a battery charger. so Im going to be getting a new battery, and getting good connections.

[adidasguy]

1. Get battery
2. Make sure good connections
3. get HAYNES manual - has a colored wiring diagram
4. Get a meter

Now you can trace the wiring and locate problems.

http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-1989-2008-Haynes-Service-Repair/dp/1844258815/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347307686&sr=8-1&keywords=gs500+haynes

[Ryanstalin]

I just said I was doing all that? and I already said I have a haynes manual. why buy two? 

[adidasguy]

I just said I was doing all that? and I already said I have a haynes manual. why buy two? 

Sorry I missed that.

You can never have too many manuals.
I keep one in the Bike Cave. One by the computer when on GStwins. One on the night stand to put me to sleep. One by the toilet if I have nothing to do. 

actually 2 in the Bike Cave. One is always misplaced. 

[Ryanstalin]

well the one I have is plenty at the moment. but I cant do anything about the battery yet. gotta wait til I have more money to spend.

[adidasguy]

Be sure you have good connections. You can trace out the wires with a meter.
OK to jump from a car battery. Be sure you have good connections. Spray all connections with contact cleaner lubricant available at most hardware stores or electronics store.

Push connectors in and out a few times so the contacts wipe themselves clean.

You should be able to get it going.

[Ryanstalin]

I dont have a meter yet. I am getting one soon as I get my next check. but it sounds like I just have a bad solenoid, wonder where i can buy one of those, THAT have fast shipping, a day or two at the most. thats why I like autozone and orileys, I can ussually get whatever I need in 24 hours or less.
I have to get a connector for that positive wire, maybe even a new wire, I do have some 4 gauge wire in the shed. wonder if thatll change anything.

[adidasguy]

Does it start by shorting the starter relay?
You can use a 12v light or LED as a simple tester.
With that or a meter, is there +12v going to the starter relay coil when you press the start button? If not then trace wires as it is not the starter relay. It is either the clutch switch or the start button.

Reading past posts where you say the wiring was all hacked up and things were spliced together, it might save some headaches to get a new wiring harness. Pinwall Cycles on ebay often has them for $10 plus postage. Get the same year. If 2004, then 2004 or 2005 will  work. Right hand control changed the connector in 2006 to route the headlamp through the start button (turns off headlight when starting)

From what I have found wiring harnesses fall into these ranges:

1989-1996 with only change being the clutch safety switch going to 1997-2000
2001-2002 is different.
2004-2005
2006+ the change being the right hand control connector as stated above.

Some models have a "Pass" switch on the left control. The connectors are compatible (keep in mind the years, but with or without PASS is compatible) as it only turns on the high beam when pressed and headlight already goes through the left connector.

Some models had headlight control on the right control switches. Whether there or not, controls from the same era are compatible as the headlight wires are bypassed when there is no headlight switch.

This is important to remember the era of the wiring harness when looking for replacement handlebar controls.

I think you said you have a 2004? If so, and you get a 2006+ harness you might have to change the right hand control connection. Otherwise the same.

as mentioned, a new correct wiring harness can save a lot of headaches. Check this search:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sadis=200&_ipg=50&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sacat=0&_samihi&_samilow&_fpos&_ftrt=901&_udhi&_oexkw&_sabdhi&_udlo&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo&_adv=1&_dmd=1&_okw&_fsct&_nkw=%22gs500%22%20wiring%20harness&_sop=15

[Funderb]

You know, i don't often quote myself, or even more rare; have useful things to say but:

other than that, having a good battery is key,

its like the 3rd thing i wrote, dude! 

[Ryanstalin]

well I have to wait til thursday for a new battery.