I have a 2002 GS500 and am stumped with an electrical issue. All of the sudden I have lost all electrical. No gauge lights, head/tail lights, starter, etc... The last thing I did before the electrical failure was to turn on the ignition and tap the starter button. Below is a list of what I have tested/replaced so far:
(1) Battery -- New, Charged, 12.94V
(2) Ignition -- Continuity Checked, Passes
(3) Starter Relay / Fuse -- Good, Replaced w/ new unit
Currently Removed: Seat, Gas Tank, Headlight, Gauge Cluster
I don't see any visible wire damage that may cause a short.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Joe
If you get nothing at all, I would say go back to the fuse.
The fuse that you need to replace is not directly visible, but is under a red cap. The one that is visible is a spare fuse, make sure you haven't swapped the wrong one.
Certainly not trying to insult/emabarass anyone... its just a common mistake.
- Bboy
Also, you do need to find out the cause of why it went in the first place, if that is what it was.
Thanks for the tip Bboy. I actually replaced the entire "Starter Relay Unit" that the fuse plugs into. Fuse is good, but I can see how it would be easy for someone to just see the spare fuse in the rubber holder and not know that its just the spare.
Cheers, Joe
Start at the begining.....check the red going into the ignition switch, should be live, then turn the switch on and the orange should go live.
Although before this I would be tempted to disconnect the - lead from the battery and see if there is a circuit between it and the frame.....it shoud be practicaly zero Ohms.
Or.......get a jump lead and connect one end to the - terminal on the battery, connect the other end to a bare metal point on the frame. This will bypass the bikes ground connection and if you get your volts back it proves the ground connection is poor.
Get your meter out along with your wiring diagram.
Start at the battery and work you way around.
Probably 5 minutes to find the problem.
Great tips Sledge!!! I will try them tonight. :)
Cheers, Joe
Okay great. I just wanted to make sure that it was the whole unit that you meant and not just the fuse.
From there I would get a multimeter and start testing your wires from the beginning as sledge suggests. If you are getting nothing at all. It can't be far from that fuse.
There are two other relays that effect starting/running. Those are the one in the clutch and the one in the side stand. But even if one of these were out you should still get lights on the "dashboard" if I remember correctly
-Bboy
Quote from: adidasguy on September 11, 2012, 01:50:27 PM
Get your meter out along with your wiring diagram.
Start at the battery and work you way around.
Probably 5 minutes to find the problem.
I have the wiring diagram, and will try to "work my way around".
I seems so "Logical" now that you and others put it that way. :)
Thanks Everyone. Man, this forum is GREAT!
Cheers, Joe
Last night I tested the red wire going into the ignition switch and it was NOT live. When I ran a jumper from the battery (+) to the orange wire going into the ignition switch... "Ta Daa!" the lights and all electrical started working. (YEA!!! It was the first time I hot-wired a vehicle :laugh: ) Now the question is, "Where does the ignition switch get its juice from?" I tested the starter relay using jumpers directly to the battery and and it passed. The harness that plugs into the starter relay did not show voltage when I tested the red wire, and I am guessing that it should always be live.
Cheers, Joe
Looks like we are getting somwhere :thumb:
The red to the ignition switch is fed straight from the battery via the fuse........are you sure the fuse is ok?
Pull the plug off the starter relay, look for the two reds, one should be live, the other will be dead but should circuit to the red on the ignition switch.
Quote from: sledge on September 12, 2012, 08:04:00 AM
Looks like we are getting somwhere :thumb:
The red to the ignition switch is fed straight from the battery via the fuse........are you sure the fuse is ok?
Pull the plug off the starter relay, look for the two reds, one should be live, the other will be dead but should circuit to the red on the ignition switch.
Sounds like a plan. I will check it out tonight.
Thanks for your help :)
Cheers, Joe