Turn signals and indicators not working

[cheeterpasteen]

SO, i just got this 2006 gs500f running after she sat for a few years. Cleaned the carbs and all that mess. One thing is the previous owner had chopped off the rear turn signals and installed flushmount front signals. The flushmounts were working when I bought the bike, but now they aren't working at all. The turn signal indicator no longer works when i thumb the switches. Also, the neutral light only rarely comes on and as such I can't start the bike unless the kickstand is up. I have to warm her up on the center stand.  I really need to get the signals running to pass inspection (and to feel safe). What steps could I take to remedy these problems? I have no clue where to start and as the bike only has 3k on her I think its just bad connections...

problems:
no turn signals operational (only have front right and left anyways)
neutral light/kickstand shut off doesn't work
high/low beam indicator light isn't on but lights work fine

everything else is hunky dory

[adidasguy]

A Haynes color coded wiring diagram will help trace all wires - that and a meter. If you don't have it, get a Haynes manual that goes at least through 2004. Oh, just get the newest - 1989-2008 edition.

problems:
no turn signals operational (only have front right and left anyways)
1. Turn signal (flasher) relay bad
2. Dirty connections on flasher relay
3. Disconnected wires to most anywhere turn signals go

neutral light/kickstand shut off doesn't work
1. Check wiring under the seat.
2. Check side stand relay - on right side next to flasher relay
3. Possibly the dual diode - kind of buried in the harness under the seat but rarely goes bad
4. Wires neutral switch. You can short it to ground (the frame or negative terminal) at the connector under the seat to see if it is the neutral switch itself or further along (side stand relay or other wiring). Since neutral light connected to neutral switch then I guess neutral switch or its wire

high/low beam indicator light isn't on but lights work fine
Burnt out high beam light. Replace with an LED. Get a blue T-5 size wedge base.

[yamahonkawazuki]

if theyre led's they go out quickly if not wired in properly. are the flush mounts led or incandescent ( normal bulb)?

[cheeterpasteen]

the flush mounts appear to be incandescent. They were going out intermittently the day they failed. Thats what leads me to think its a bad connection.

Also, my high beams are functioning fine. As well as my low beams. Just the indicator is out.

So im going to have to really get into the wiring to fix this huh? For some reason the diagram and the obscurity of the wiring locations are really intimidating to me. I went to a shop to get a quote on the work and they said 90 bucks to even diagnose if I choose not to do the labor. So eff that, it looks like im doing it myself.. haha

[adidasguy]

Correct on bad connection for the turn signals. If both were acting up, possibly the connection to the turn signal switch. It might be  the connector to it or could be a bad switch. Look for connectors to the replacement turn signals. maybe   that's where the problem lies.

High beam indicator you can easily replace. Pull the rubber bulb socket out with pliers - gently wiggling by pulling the wires. Then replace lamp - test - shove back in.

The wiring is not as intimidating as you might think.

The Haynes wiring diagram is color coded - in color - which makes it easy to trace wires. Can you read a map? That's all a wiring diagram is. It is a map. Follow I-90 from Seattle to Spokane: in other words, follow the orange wire from the ignition switch to the whatch-ya-ma-call-it. Really is the same thing.

You can connect the minus probe of the meter to ground (the frame is grounded) and use the other probe (red one) to check for +12 where it should be. You can't damage anything doing that.

Check continuity? Call Spokan from Seattle with your land line. Or, for wiring, use the resistance setting on the meter. Put onbe probe on Seattle (point A) and the other on Spokane (point B) If the call goes through, wire is good. Or in wiring, if the meter reads nearly zero resistance, the connection is good.

Take your time. Don't let wiring scare you. It isn't that hard.