2005 Turn Signal Issue

[2005GS500CAFE]

Hi there,

My name is Alex and I'm new to riding, the GS500, and this wonderful forum.

My 2005 GS500F (no fairings) has had a number of issues since I purchased it two months back. This is the most recent issue and I'm a bit puzzled:

When I bought the bike I had working turn signals but only had high beams because of a broken switch. I purchased a new left hand control cluster and for a few weeks had working headlights, brake lights, turn signals, everything. Note: Because the plug on the cluster was not the same as the one on my GS, I had to keep the bottom half of the cluster and only replace the top part (soldered and taped up and has thus far held up). But soon after, my turn signals stopped working. I read that this is often caused by an issue with the relay switch -- purchased a new switch from off an 05 GS500F and installed it yesterday. 

After installing the new switch, only my right side turn signals worked normally. The front left signal had the faintest glow for a few minutes then stopped working and the back left just flat out didn't work. After parking my bike for an hour everything stopped working. I live in NYC so I park on the street and yesterday was a bit misty out. Not sure if that has any effect.

I really appreciate any help you guys can give me!!

- Alex   

[dinkydonuts]

It's not the bulbs, right? (sorry to state the obvious)

[2005GS500CAFE]

Not a bad question at all but I really don't think so since they were working and then not working and then partially working again. At first I thought the left side was burnt out but the fact that now none work makes it too improbable. 

Pretty bizarre, huh?

[Kiwingenuity]

Hi Alex,

Did you check the pinouts from the turn signal switch? it would seem odd that one side would be sweet and the other a bust. If you have a non standard plug maybe a possible dead / partial short on the LH indicator group that caused your relay to fry itself...

RH signal connects Blue -> Green
LH signal connects Blue -> Black

Are they stock indicators? I.E. Incandescent? or LED?

[bmf]

I am not sure if the PO(s) changed them, but I was shocked at the quality of the bayonet mechanism in the indicators housing.
I had lots of problems with indicators until I removed the bulbs , cleaned the bases and realigned them to correctly seat on the base contacts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adidasguy]

I purchased a new left hand control cluster and for a few weeks had working headlights, brake lights, turn signals, everything. Note: Because the plug on the cluster was not the same as the one on my GS, I had to keep the bottom half of the cluster and only replace the top part (soldered and taped up and has thus far held up). But soon after, my turn signals stopped working. I read that this is often caused by an issue with the relay switch -- purchased a new switch from off an 05 GS500F and installed it yesterday. 

After installing the new switch, only my right side turn signals worked normally. The front left signal had the faintest glow for a few minutes then stopped working and the back left just flat out didn't work. After parking my bike for an hour everything stopped working. I live in NYC so I park on the street and yesterday was a bit misty out. Not sure if that has any effect.

The hand controls did change throughout the years. There are different connectors. 04-05 is the same. I think the same left for 04-09. Right is same for 04-05 then changed in 06.

Any 89-00 is not compatible at all with 2004+. While 2001-2002 look like 2004, the connectors are different.

What it sounds like is your soldering job shorted out the turn switch. Left with faint glow means it is shorting to the frame/ground. Since the switch maintains contact until you press it to turn it off, you probably drained your battery.