GS500: Won't Start / Electrical Issue

[Jdonnelly59]

Hi all,

Well am new to this site and I have owned my GS500 for a about 6 months and the first 4 Months went without error.

However since winter came along I stored my bike in the shed and it has sat there for about a Month and a 1/2 with a few starts in between for the occasional ride.
But after a while I noticed the bike would not start and I checked the battery and it was done.
Giving a reading of 10.5 volts with a multi-meter, and when I charged it I got 12.8V, but it was rapidly discharging at least 0.1V every minute or so back towards 10.5V so I changed the battery which is holding its charge perfectly after charging.

But after fitting the new battery I have no headlights, tail lights, indicators or horn, and also the starter button does nothing - No Cranking/Clicking -Nothing. The only thing working seems to be my Neutral and Oil light and one click sound coming from the solenoid area when I turn the key. 

I ain't an expert on this, I'm a fairly new rider so any help would be greatly appreciated 

[gsJack]

Check the fuse, everything but the starter circuit goes thru the single 20A fuse.  You're probably hearing the starter solenoid clicking.  Look for fuse under side covers, there is a spare fuse on the outside of the fuse holder.  I've managed to go 14 years and 180k GS500 miles doing all my own maintenance and repair work without looking for the fuse, some one else will jump in with details if you don't find it.    

[radodrill]

Obviously something is shorting and draining your battery.  The starter relay should not click simply by turning the key on.  The way the 03+ models wired, the headlights/taillights are disabled when you hit the starter button.

Does the taillight come on with the ignition in the park position?

My guess is that the starter button is stuck on causing the lights to stay off and the starter relay clicking when you turn the key on.

[adidasguy]

If ant light comes on, the fuse is good.
Check all the connectors to the handle bar controls. All lights and starter go through those - especially the left one.

The click you hear is the side stand relay. It goes on if the bike is in neutral or the side stand is up.

[gsJack]

radodrill is probably right on in what he said, I zeroed in on fuse because the neutral and oil lights are in the starter pilot circuit which is upstream of the fuse as is the starter load circuit.  Found pic of fuse location hoping you need it before I do:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=61956.msg721123#msg721123

[Jdonnelly59]

Thanks for the information so far guys, I appreciate it!

I found the fuse and its all good. I will look for any shortages or connection issues with the handlebar controls like adidasguy said.

Get back to you with anything soon enough. 

[adidasguy]

radodrill is probably right on in what he said, I zeroed in on fuse because the neutral and oil lights are in the starter pilot circuit which is upstream of the fuse as is the starter load circuit.  Found pic of fuse location hoping you need it before I do:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=61956.msg721123#msg721123

No, according to the wiring diagram the starter motor is the only thing that does not go through the fuse.
The neutral and oil lights are powered with the same (orange) wiring circuit as the rest of the bike.

[radodrill]

radodrill is probably right on in what he said, I zeroed in on fuse because the neutral and oil lights are in the starter pilot circuit which is upstream of the fuse as is the starter load circuit.  Found pic of fuse location hoping you need it before I do:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=61956.msg721123#msg721123

No, according to the wiring diagram the starter motor is the only thing that does not go through the fuse.
The neutral and oil lights are powered with the same (orange) wiring circuit as the rest of the bike.

Ditto; the ignition switch is after the fuse thus all the lights/indicators are fused.  Even the output of the reg/rec is after the fuse, thus can't charge the battery with a blown fuse.  The Suzuki service manual states that the starter motor draws about 80A; and as such is the only item not fused, although the power to the coil of the starter relay is fused.

[sledge]

Get a jump lead, connect one side to the neg` terminal on the battery, the other side to one of the engine bolts and try it again.........f everything works you have a poor ground somewhere.

Solenoids can be a bit unreliable too. Try disconnecting the heavy red lead on the solenoid that runs from the battery and trying the lights horn etc. If they now work there is a short inside the solenoid. Wrap some tape around the terminal and keep it away from the frame though or there will be some serious fireworks.

A seized starter motor or one that is shorting internally or to ground flags up the same symptoms but this is a rare one.

[radodrill]

A seized starter motor or one that is shorting internally or to ground flags up the same symptoms but this is a rare one.

Which is why I didn't mention it; if the starter button and relay checked out OK, then that would have been the next thing to check 

[gsJack]

Agree with Addy and rado on the circuits, I misread diagram.  Sledge is probably right on ground problem, could have disturbed battery ground while putting in new battery. 

[boggy]

try the block conector near the solenold, the connectors in mine were corroded causing starting and running problems.   

[adidasguy]

Yes - there are 2 ground wires. One to the ignition box and a big ground to the motor.
And be sure all connections are clean.

[Jdonnelly59]

Get a jump lead, connect one side to the neg` terminal on the battery, the other side to one of the engine bolts and try it again.........f everything works you have a poor ground somewhere.

Solenoids can be a bit unreliable too. Try disconnecting the heavy red lead on the solenoid that runs from the battery and trying the lights horn etc. If they now work there is a short inside the solenoid. Wrap some tape around the terminal and keep it away from the frame though or there will be some serious fireworks.

A seized starter motor or one that is shorting internally or to ground flags up the same symptoms but this is a rare one.

Got a lead and did as you said, but still only the neutral and oil light remain on while the other lights stay off.  I've checked over a connections in the bike and made a few ones cleaner due to slight corrosion.
I would still need to double check them  them though, wouldn't won't to forget any possibility of a bad connection.

[adidasguy]

You've got a bad connection somewhere.
Get out your wiring diagram and meter. Start looking for lack of +12v (usually orange wire) and ground.

I assume the horn and headlight don't work?
Brake light? (test with rear and front brake)? Tail running light?
Turn signals?

What year is the bike? 89-2002 had all connections inside the headlight bucket. 2004+ had them under the tank on the right side which means remove the tank to get at them.

[Gs500_Rugger]

Hey, I've been having the exact same problem. Mine died on me while I was riding and now I have the same electrical issure. Only thing off that I could find was a black wire with white stripe that was cut and frayed just after a small black, block connector. Other than that, upon visual inspection (I don't deal with electrical work) everything seemed fine. Anyone else able to shed some light, also it's a 1993 gs500e

[JAS6377]

Pictures of the area and/or a description may help us pinpoint what it is.

Beyond that, if the wire looks frayed, I'd just splice a new one in with a line knot, solder, and heat shrink, depending on what it is. Otherwise you could use the crimp style quick disconnect connectors. Wiring seems overwhelming until you actually do it a few times. It's really not that bad.

[Gs500_Rugger]

I just installed a new harness and I have been left with the same issue, only neutral light works anything else electrical does not. I have checked my fuse and its fine, nothing blown. I now have two wires which I don't know where they go. Any advice on what might be causing the problem if its not from the two unconnected wires?

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[JAS6377]

I'll have to tinker with mine tomorrow night to see what those wires are. In the meantime, I'd check behind the headlight bucket and in the controls (kill switch and whatnot). There may be another short or unconnected wire somewhere.

[Big Rich]

Just guessing - isn't the first picture the ground connection into the wiring harness? I don't have a GS500, so take it with a grain of salt.....but I think that connection is for everything that isn't grounded to the frame / engine.