Gen I Electrical Gremlins - Possible Windscreen Motor Issue?

[SkooterG]

I freaking hate electrical gremlins. Not my forte. Hopefully somebody can help.

Out of the blue I have issues on my 2004 FJR with 143,000 miles.

Engine running the following happens:

- Headlights don't work

- High beam indicator on all the time

- Rear turn signals on constant all the time.

- When operating turn signals they flash quickly like a bulb is out and high beam indicator and other lights fade a little as they blink.

- Windscreen operates slower than normal

If I turn on just the ignition, everything works as normal but as signals flash, there is that brief fade in other lights and windscreen still operates slowly.

What I determined late last night:

When windscreen is at top of it's travel range everything works perfectly. WTF!

All fuses checked ok. Any ideas?

I am guessing windscreen motor, but who knows?

 

[mdisher]

You'be been Spider Bit... Just sayin....

-MD

 

[SkooterG]

You'be been Spider Bit... Just sayin....
-MD

On a Gen I? I don't think they have the ground spiders.

 

[exskibum]

I freaking hate electrical gremlins. Not my forte. Hopefully somebody can help.

AMEN, and my sympathies, brother. Similarly limited in electrical competence, however, I don't have any worthwhile ideas beyond making sure the battery is holding a full charge and all connections are clean and secure. My ignorance proven:
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/158146-im-a-stupid-****/?do=findComment&comment=1150421

Good luck in banishing the ugly little bastids.

 

[Ignacio]

When windscreen is at top of it's travel range everything works perfectly. WTF!

How much have you fiddled with wires under the nose? Perhaps the mechanism is making an intermittent partial short somewhere in its range of motion. Just a first guess.

I have a recent gremlin where my right indicator is flashing fast and then I popped a headlight fuse about a week later. In my case...lots of front nose fiddling I haven't completely isolated yet.

 

[Fairlaner]

does sound like it is a bad ground somewhere.......

R

 

[SkooterG]

Yes, a bad ground. Or a short in the main wiring harness somewhere. The fact that everything works fine when windscreen is at top of travel has me thrown for a loop.

Nose not off yet. That is my next step. With work, I just don't really have time to deal with this right now.

 

[Pepperell]

The large connector under the tank and toward the front can corrodeand cause various mystery problems.

 

[exskibum]

The large connector under the tank and toward the front can corrodeand cause various mystery problems.

FWIW, seems the best contact cleaner out there (audio, guitar and amp application favorite among pros) is Caig DeoxIT. In my last foray into electrical issues, I think I cleaned almost every connector on the bike (before discovering the loose + battery terminal).

See www.caig.com

 

[ANZAC]

Yes, check the large white electrical connector uder the t-bar. Clean with electrical cleaner and reconnect. I had an intermittent high beam problem there,

 

[Justin]

I had a friend that was having some of the same symptoms that you were. Turned out to be corroded connections in the 10 and 12 pin connectors behind the dash. Thanks to Ionbeam for pointing us in the right direction

 

[mdisher]

Not sure where it is on a Gen 1, but on a Gen 2 the spider you're looking for is on the right side (as you look at the bike) left side as you're sitting on it, on a Gen 2.

S6 or S7.

Those were my exact symptoms.

I was able to repair mind, and install the Brodie harness (after the fact). You too may be able to fix this. But you'll need to pull the nose to find out.

-MD

 

[FJRay]

i would bet on it being a ground issue. I would start with doing a ground with a new wire. there is a threaded hole on the frame on the left side by the batt.. If that solves it you can chase it from there.

 

[SkooterG]

Thanks for the ideas folks. Gives me some places to go hunting.

Just finished a 50 mile ride. Windscreen full up the whole time and everything worked as normal. As soon as I press the windscreen down switch it goes bonkers - windscreen stops working, headlights go out, signals work funny and I get the always on high beam indicator lamp. I have to turn it off, turn just the ignition to on, and raise the windscreen to full up, and now I can start it and all works as normal again.

I leave Saturday morning for 5 weeks on the road. Was planning on taking this FJR. Not so much anymore. Looks like it will be the POS Gen II. Between now and Saturday morning I don't see having time to get this sorted out.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

Try to disconect the windshield motor couplers and see if you will noticed any difference.Perhaps a defective upper microswitch on the windshield motor or something inside this black box on the motor goes wrong..If the problem comes from the unit..

 

[Constant Mesh]

I'd follow the left handlebar wiring bundle into the left front frame opening just in front of the T-bar. There's a wiring disconnect there which connects the left handlebar wiring to the main harness. Everything you've mentioned passes through that plug disconnect.

Your problem will likely be found in that connector.

Those connectors just below and in front of the T-bar are somewhat exposed to the weather via the two openings at the front of the frame to the left and right of the steering head.

 

[JamesK]

Thanks for the ideas folks. Gives me some places to go hunting.
Just finished a 50 mile ride. Windscreen full up the whole time and everything worked as normal. As soon as I press the windscreen down switch it goes bonkers - windscreen stops working, headlights go out, signals work funny and I get the always on high beam indicator lamp. I have to turn it off, turn just the ignition to on, and raise the windscreen to full up, and now I can start it and all works as normal again.

I leave Saturday morning for 5 weeks on the road. Was planning on taking this FJR. Not so much anymore. Looks like it will be the POS Gen II. Between now and Saturday morning I don't see having time to get this sorted out.

Hey, I resent that remark

Seriously I agree, the quickest short-term workaround might be to disconnect the windshield motor and see if that resolves the problem, just leave it in some best compromise position then unplug.

 

[majicmaker]

Damn Bro, I'd love to chime in and help but, I'm a certified electrical dufus.

 

[supertankerm60a3]

Another thing to look into, make sure the windshield mechanism in not physically moving a wire or cable as it travels. It could be pushing on something and causing the problem that way.