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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Ed_in_Az on March 30, 2004, 07:51:10 PM

Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Ed_in_Az on March 30, 2004, 07:51:10 PM
Both the headlights and instruments would dim then brighten again. I was out in some twisties and thought things might go completely dark but I got home OK. Has anyone else had this happen?

TIA
Ed
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on March 30, 2004, 11:46:24 PM
so im gathering by your statement, that this happened/happens while riding ?
Title: pay attention
Post by: richard on March 31, 2004, 12:53:26 AM
If you pay attention, you might find that they dim when you put on the brake...  because that turns on another light, which draws more juice.

couple possible causes:

faulty connection to the battery or bad wires -- most likely, you've got corrosion on your battery terminals or somewhere on a wire connection.

Bad battery -- you may also have a battery that's dieing, and so can't handle the current drawn from it that it used to be able to

Stater/Generator going bad -- your stater isn't generating enough electricity to run the bike (even with the battery) while running with headlights and brake light.


the problem is most likely to occur when your brights are on.  my bet is on a connection to your battery... my car has that problem, I just haven't taken time to fix it yet.
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Ed_in_Az on March 31, 2004, 06:48:22 AM
Thanks guys. Yes, it's while riding, but isn't related to braking, just cruising along. I checked the battery and it looks new, terminals are fine. It starts fine. I'll guess I'll have to start tracing wiring.
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Briggs on March 31, 2004, 09:24:45 AM
Do you have a system on you GS. I noticed in my old car when some hard bass would hit my lights would dim.

That was a bad joke....
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Cal Price on March 31, 2004, 09:39:49 AM
Wiring diagram, might help.

                           www.gs500e.co.uk/wire.jpg
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: miket on March 31, 2004, 11:25:49 AM
Thanks for the link, Cal. I have been looking for that for some time.
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Ed_in_Az on March 31, 2004, 11:38:05 AM
Thanks for the diagram. I just printed it. :)
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: smoker on March 31, 2004, 11:57:48 AM
Ed

The other day after i washed my bike, as I pulled up to an intersection and put on my turn signal, my bike began to only fire while the turn signal would flash on.  So my bike jerked me thru the 4-way at the frequency of the turn signal.  I must've looked like an ass...  After it dried, though, it was fine.   Don't know if that's related or not.  But cheers to the dude with the schematic...  printing as I type...

Gibby G.
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Kerry on April 03, 2004, 02:03:41 PM
One more shameless plug for the Haynes manual.  (That's where the wiring diagram came from.)

The manual has 3 diagrams for UK models, and 3 for US models.  This diagram is for the US 1990-1996 models.  There are separate ones for the 1989 model and for the 1997 model.  (I'm talking about the Haynes manual for the '89 - '97 model years.)

Oh, and I'm not prepared to post entire wiring diagrams from my manual, in case you were about to ask....  Sorry!
Title: Lights Were Fluctuating Tonight ???
Post by: Ed_in_Az on April 03, 2004, 02:42:37 PM
Thenks, Kerry. I will definately buy a manual. I tested my regulator today @ 14.4 - 14.8 volts. I did use the wiring diagram to know which wires to check. :)  I'll have to check again when the lights are acting up.