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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: AWRobinson on January 05, 2007, 01:43:43 AM

Title: Total loss of electrical
Post by: AWRobinson on January 05, 2007, 01:43:43 AM
This morning when I cranked my bike all the electrics suddenly and totally died. 

I called a friend to drive me to work and only had a few minutes to look under the seat to diagnose the problem.  I know the battery is fine, I get sparks terminal to terminal.  But there is absolutely no power anywhere on the bike;  Oil light, headlight, starter, nothing.  I checked the fuse and it seems to be intact, so I'm thinking theres a connection broken somewhere? 

I'm going to try to identify the problem at length tomorrow afternoon but was hoping to get a few suggestions on where to look first, especially in the case of connections that are notoriously coming apart or other electrical problems anyone may have had in the past.

Cheers,
Andy
Title: Re: Total loss of electrical
Post by: onefastgs500 on January 05, 2007, 06:11:43 AM
dirty battery terminal connections maybe? :cheers:
Title: Re: Total loss of electrical
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on January 05, 2007, 06:49:49 AM
Bad ground to the frame. Should be a wire coming off the negative(?) terminal that leads to the frame. Check that it's secure and has a good connection at both ends. Do a search for "Secondary ground" you'll find what you need.
Title: Re: Total loss of electrical
Post by: sledge on January 05, 2007, 08:47:19 AM
Are you sure you are checking the correct fuse? Some GS5 models carry a spare in a similar holder to the fuse thats actually in circuit.
Title: Re: Total loss of electrical
Post by: AWRobinson on January 05, 2007, 04:43:39 PM
NiceGuys was right, took off the seat and side panels and sure enough, I had a little bonus connection with the frame coming off the negative terminal.  Once I moved it away from the frame she lit up like a christmas tree. 

Thanks everyone!