QuestionHowdy Chris, I have a 1983 GL1100 Interstrate. My signal lights seem to work most of the time in warm weather. If it is cool(we do a lot of 40 and 50 degree riding here in Wyo.)lights will not flash, but I can hear the clicking of the flasher, and the self cancel will cancel, but no lights. I am not a mechanic and I don't want to try and do anything using the process of elimination. Thanks for your time. Earl Holder, Cody, Wy.
AnswerHi Earl.
Unfortunately, there is a process of elimination that you must use. Not the kind most mechanics use (i.e. change parts til it works), but chasing down bad components, connections or shorts. You will need the repair manual for this as it has the wiring diagram. You also need a multimeter. You may also want to have some materials standing by for cleaning connections.
If the signals come on, but don't blink, that generally means that there's not enough power getting through the system to actuate them properly. That generally means a bad connection, shorted or intermittently shorted wire or bad/failing component.
If this problem is happening to both signals and not just one side, then your first thing to check is all the signal bulbs. Insure that none of them are the problem. Then the only things left to check are the circuits and components that are common to both sets of signals (turn signal switch and attached wiring, signal relay and self cancelling relay). Chances are, there are no testing criteria in the manual for the relays, so concern yourself with the contacts in the signal switch and the wiring to the signal components as well as their connections.
Just keep in mind that none of this is brain surgery. Everything functions a certain way with a logical purpose that is normally fairly easy to understand.
Start with those and see what you find.
Good luck.
FALCON
