Left Turn signal not working - Harley Forum

#1 05-10-2009, 10:13 PM

I have a 2006 FXSTI, my left turn signal stopped working yesterday. I checked the bulbs and they are good. The right turn signal works ok but when I press the left it does not flash and the secuity light on the speedo comes on and stays lit. I have read posts that suggest the TSM/TSSM which I understand runs about $150.00. Before I go that way I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if maybe there is a simple fix.

botzman · #2 05-10-2009, 10:56 PM

Check your ground. Alligator clip the signal housing and then clip other end to good ground on frame. Simple to do. On my older bike too much rain riding and other factors can create a bad ground. At least you can rule it out this way.

HarleyCruiser · #3 05-11-2009, 07:07 AM

Go to any automotive parts store and buy a ice pick current checker. It looks like a ice pick and has a bulb in the handle and a ground wire going out the handle. They are about twelve bucks and everyone should have one in there tool box.
Hook the ground wire to any metal surface that is grounded or to the ground of the battery.
Then take the bulb out of the turn signal, and turn on the signal.
Touch the tip to the prongs one at a time.
In the front, One should be hot, the other should flash.
In the back you will have just one and it should flash.
This will tell you if you have juice to the bulb.
If you have juice to the bulb then it is either the bulb or the ground, or the bulb is not getting contact.
If you are not getting juice to the bulb then you need to work your way back in the wiring system to see where the break/bad connection is, usually at a connector.

#4 05-11-2009, 08:05 PM

Thanks Botz ansd HC, I just happen to have one of those current testers in my tool box haven't used it in years, in fact the wire insulation cracked when I pulled it out but it works fine. I Did the test as you suggested with no luck so started to check all the wires and found the rear signal wire was rubbing against the edge of the fender support where it passes through the fender causing a short. I just moved it away and covered it with tape as a temporary fix and all is well signals work fine. Now I have a related question, I have a harley repair manual and its not to clear on this issue. I plan to remove and replace the damaged wires. The rear signal were relocated to install a backrest so I can't fish the wires through I have remove the entire signal housing to replace the wires, but it looks like the rear fender has to be removed to get the signal housing off. Anyone had experience with this does the fender have to come off or is there a some sort of trick to it.

aceharleywrench · #5 05-11-2009, 08:22 PM

The fender does not have to be removed,just remove the fender strut bolts that go through the fender & loosen up the two bolts that attach the strut to the frame,this will give you enough clearance to pivot the strut away from the fender allowing you access to the directional bolt.

botzman · #6 05-11-2009, 08:51 PM

marda81,

Glad you found the issue. If that is your only trouble spot (and your looking for a quick fix) you could snip out the damaged wire section, slide a piece of shrink tubing over the wire, solder the two ends together, slide the shrink tubing over the repaired area and shrink it with heat. The best repair would be to replace the wire completely from the connector block to the signal housing. Its a pita the get your hand up in there with the tire in the way though. At least on a Dyna it is. The softail may have more clearance or a different routing. Good luck with the fix. Glad you didnt buck up for a turn signal module. Botz

cntrhub · #7 05-11-2009, 09:11 PM

You pulled the wire away. You know where it is. You take silicone sealer and goop it away from the metal. Wrap the goop around the exposed wire. You snipped nothing. The wire may never vibrate through that silicone. You gonna die with the bike?

Ahhhhhhhh, I'd be there with my glue tube and I am a done deal with the snip this and scratch that and break dis and do dat is wanaaaaaaa, I bowk my bike is big dentin the paint! Seal it and be done with it.

aceharleywrench · #8 05-12-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cntrhub

You pulled the wire away. You know where it is. You take silicone sealer and goop it away from the metal. Wrap the goop around the exposed wire. You snipped nothing. The wire may never vibrate through that silicone. You gonna die with the bike?

Ahhhhhhhh, I'd be there with my glue tube and I am a done deal with the snip this and scratch that and break dis and do dat is wanaaaaaaa, I bowk my bike is big dentin the paint! Seal it and be done with it.

That is the most COB JOB,worthless repair advice I've ever heard!!!You should be ashamed of yourself.

HarleyCruiser · #9 05-12-2009, 04:23 PM

marda81, glad you found the problem. The ice pick is a great tool, one of my favorites. That and it’s just plain cool.
Finding a short or break in the wire is like a broken water pipe.
You start at one end or the other and work you way up the line, until there is no juice.
I have used the ice pick to puncture the plastic in the wire and run it into the wire to see if the light comes on, then sealed it back with silicone.
Don’t think I would use it for a bare wire.
Silicone does not stick to everything, this including silicone.
So using it on bare wire would be, .......... risky.

I have used epoxy inside light fixtures to protect the bare wires, LEDs but they were protected from anything hitting them.
They make a paint on plastic, that is supposed to seal bare wire, but I have never used it.
The shrink wrap like Botzman suggested works great, even on bare wire, but you need an end to slip it over, or cut it.
You might be able to get one end out of the light fixture and work it from there.
This would be "MY" fix.
I doubt you can buy the wire from HD, they sell the ends and the connectors, but not that whole wire.
I have ask while doing my fender.
It is pretty easy to make a new one, although putting on the ends is a little tricky.
This is of course the best way to fix it.
Good luck, let us know.

cntrhub · #10 05-17-2009, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceharleywrench

That is the most COB JOB,worthless repair advice I've ever heard!!!You should be ashamed of yourself.

When I take a piece of safety wire, back-probe the weatherstrip as it breaks through the weather boot and I have contact, how do you think I hack into the computer system for general diagnostics?

Not only did I make wire contact as in, "complete a circuit," but the goop glue keeps the wire in place and also covers the exposed wire.

I have been so successful with the COB System, I have 4 toggle switches on my bike that are glued in place with the same stuff and they work perfect. Not only that, I can remove the workable glue, remove the safety wire, remove the toggles; push the weatherstrip back in place; or let it ride as if the rubber won't go back to memory and seal off some water either way.

But, if we show up at a bike show; enter the stock unaltered class, who wins the money? Who do you think won the gold once they see your COB of a JOB? My wire repair is you would have to find that one wire rub OR your wire snip with the blue wire type crimper between the bad wire that is not even close to OEM UN-Altered Class.

Your wire harness would lose as a period piece. My wire harness could take that wire and push it among other wires; where it would be safe from contact as if the expose end is safe from the element and the male to female connectors are not going to turn green as well?

Guys [like your comments is get a lane, pal. Your right wrist will not match that mouth = Are my toggle switch is but guys like you] that ruin a wire harnesses should have a clamping-license before they crimp their male end.

EAR WE GO... Someone get out the popcorn... It's going to be the battle of the soldering guns and shrink fits is someone just have a fit about a simple wire deal? Man-0-Man, I hate to see your mechanical approach on things generic.

Dude, if you cannot skin a cat 9 ways is way to simple a job is look a that bag of wires use is looking at. I just pulled mine away and tucked it in as if I am going to through all that and know that harness lost any potential of being really tampered with is like you made 4 connections and I pulled mine away and the fuse now works is concluded to a tiny glue is tuck it in so now there is a glue that rubs or hold the harness in place so it does not rub is hand me the tube.

How many crimps did you make to repair a tiny wire that made contact before it burned strands.