I have a '99 GS500E, and when I bought it used, it already had after-market rear turn signals.
Since I got it, it has always had this weird behaviour where sometimes the turn signals (both front and rear) will flash correctly, and sometimes they will flash at double speed. This happens with the left and right sides. Front and rear will always flash together, as they should, just not at the right speed.
The strange thing is, I have not noticed a pattern, as in, I can't say when it will flash double and when it will flash correctly.
Last week, I took the bike out in the dark for the first time and noticed that my RPM gauge does not light up like the speedometer does. Is this normal? Could a dead bulb under the dash affect the circuitry of the turn signals. I can't seem to find a procedure for replacing gauge bulbs, even in the official Suzuki service manual.
Thanks for any help.
Flashers work on a resistive circuit, so if the resistance is lower it will flash faster (bulb in the circuit burnt out or LED lights will cause this...not you tach bulb though, different cct)...it is wierd that it is intermittent...the front signals are stock?? maybe one of your front bulbs is going or has a poor connection??
As for the light in the tach...you have to pull the tach out of the housing and replace the bulb that is in behind it...pretty common...
I don't have an owners manual, but the info on how to change the bulb should be in there...but not sure...
I don't know if this really helps, but it will give you somewhere to start looking... :thumb:
Later.
Aftermarket turnsignals make me think of sketchy wiring connections. Check your wires for loose connectors or exposed wiring. There may be a short happening (an intermittent short at this point, but it will soon become a permanent short).
If both sides are failing predictably, then I would suspect the flasher relay. Of course, a flasher relay on its way out could exhibit the same symtoms.
Thanks for the quick replies. All useful information.
I've opened up the flashers to take a look at the bulbs and connections.
My manual says that all flasher bulbs should be 12V 21W. The front (stock) have the correct bulbs, but the rear (after-market) have 12V 23/8W and each bulb has two filaments in stead of one, which I assume means they're designed for a bike where the flashers are always on in a dimmed state (8W filament) but get brighter when they blink (23W filament). On one wire going to a rear bulb socket, there's about a half-inch length where the insulation is split and the wire is exposed, but it really doesn't look like it's touching anything.
When I opened up the front flashers, I took out the bulb on the right side and re-seated it, then jiggled it a little to make sure there was a good connection. After that, the right flashers seemed to stop blinking at double speed. Whether or not that was actually the issue, I don't know. I went to do the same thing on the front left, but the inside of the flasher was completely rusted and corroded. The bulb wouldn't move, even with pliers. I think I might have to replace that flasher unit completely.
I have these in the drawer. $25 for all shipped if you want them.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/Assorted/IMAG0051.jpg)
(If not in US, then there will be some extra for shipping)
Did you know about http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24294.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24294.0) ??
Click on the small pic to see the simplified turn signal schematic.
The original GS wiring uses some electrical tricks to make the signals work.