Gen3 Turn Signal Relay Swap for LED Conversion

[RichDoyle]

[quote name="Shuey" post="1194849" timestamp="1416765592"... I have no idea what the stock FJR relay has or it's configuration or . . . for that matter, where it is on my bike. As near as I can tell, it's one of 3 relays in front behind the left side plastic....

Shuey

As far as I can tell, the Gen III doesn't use an electro-mechanical relay to flash the indicators, it uses the multifunction display module.

They will have retained the faster flash to show a failed rear bulb, so I believe your only option is to use ballast resistors in parallel with your rear LEDs.

Yes, I think that's right. The lights are fed directly from the MFD, based on the wiring diagrams.

 

[Shuey]

Update: Had a good phone conversation with Mark (sales) and Bart (tec) today. Bart will research and get back to me with results. If it looks possible they'll ship me an item to try and . . . if it doesn't work they'll pay all shipping/handling, wave return fees and refund my purchase price. Can't ask for more than that.

Sounds like a great company for customer support.

Heading out for a short Thanksgiving vacation with the Mrs, so no updates 'till next week at the earliest.

Be safe all, and have a happy turkey day,

Shuey

PS: mcatrophy, thanks for the comment about the MFDs. I passed it along to Bart for his consideration too.

 

[mcatrophy]

Update: Had a good phone conversation with Mark (sales) and Bart (tec) today. Bart will research and get back to me with results. If it looks possible they'll ship me an item to try and . . . if it doesn't work they'll pay all shipping/handling, wave return fees and refund my purchase price. Can't ask for more than that.
Sounds like a great company for customer support.

Heading out for a short Thanksgiving vacation with the Mrs, so no updates 'till next week at the earliest.

Be safe all, and have a happy turkey day,

Shuey

PS: mcatrophy, thanks for the comment about the MFDs. I passed it along to Bart for his consideration too.

No problem, enjoy your Thanksgiving. I'm going to the Birmingham Motorcycles Show on Friday. Who's going to have the better time ?

 

[rbentnail]

Update: Had a good phone conversation with Mark (sales) and Bart (tec) today. Bart will research and get back to me with results. If it looks possible they'll ship me an item to try and . . . if it doesn't work they'll pay all shipping/handling, wave return fees and refund my purchase price. Can't ask for more than that.
Sounds like a great company for customer support.

Heading out for a short Thanksgiving vacation with the Mrs, so no updates 'till next week at the earliest.

Be safe all, and have a happy turkey day,

Shuey

PS: mcatrophy, thanks for the comment about the MFDs. I passed it along to Bart for his consideration too.

I'm sure they're a great company for customer support, and I'd be more than happy to throw some business their way if only I knew what company they are....

 

[Wemi]

I just wish mammy-yammy would have put LED rear lights on the Gen III FJRs in the first place. The front turn signals are LEDs, they should have included the rear in the upgrade.Dan

Some accessories, like Scorpio alarm systems for instance, flash the rear blinkers when they are armed as a confirmation. These will not work with LEDs. These flashing confirmations require incandescent bulbs. One of the reasons, perhaps, that they wer lest as they are.

 

[RichDoyle]

So today I swapped mine out for a pair of these:

https://www.vizi-tec.com/7507-led-bulb-mini-led-tower/

Like the OP (with more detail) the result was:

1. Lights are the same intensity as the PY21W bulbs that were in there.

2. Turn signals blink more quickly than with the OEM's, but they do work.

3. Emergency blinkers blink at the same rate as OEM.

I had an alternative in mind, To wit: use these 1156 replacements, which draw more amps (and are likely brighter):

https://www.vizi-tec.com/1156-led-bulb-26-powerful-hb-smd-led-tower/

This would require trimming off one of the nibs on the bulb (not a big deal), as they are 180 degrees apart, rather than the 160 or so of the PY21W.

But I decided I actually like the faster blinking - it seems more urgent and attention-grabbing. It contrasts considerably with other vehicles blink rate, so you kind of stand out.

 

[Shuey]

Update.

1. having no luck identifying the stock turn signal relay, how many pins, location, etc. . . . I bought one from the dealer. It came in, has 10 pins or so and is a multi-purpose relay.

2. Went to TST industries in Lake Helen, FL (near DeLand) and spent about 6 hours with Bart the super tech guy. We pulled the front of the bike apart and found the match to my new dealer purchased multi-tasking relay. It's on the right side, just forward and a little to the left of the battery. Next job was trying to determine which wires controlled the turn-signals. Bart found an online reference and we tried that wire, the one next to it and then the next, all to no avail. Finally, we just pulled the whole relay out and . . . the turn signals kept right on flashing (fast). So, that ain't the relay.

3. By then, in frustration, we just pulled the back end apart and patched in a resistor on each side and . . . voila, normal flash rate.

4. Since arriving back home, I went to Office Depot and had the Service Manual wire schematic and index pages scanned and emailed them to Bart. He intends to continue working towards a more elegant relay replacing solution.

Note to RichDoyle: regarding liking the fast flash rate . . . I did to at first. However, while following another bike with the fast flash rate it seemed to me that the turn signal flashing fast fooled the eye and brain and looked more like a dimmer light just left on with maybe somewhat of a twinkle like staring at a star at night. It lost the benefit of the LED being brighter than the incandescent bulbs they replaced. Then again, this illusion might only be a figment of my own decaying brain. FWIW. Because the LED is instant on and off, at the normal blink rate, I think it really stands out.

So . . . the service manual doesn't identify the turn signal relay, AND the dealer can't identify the correct relay, does anybody else know? Anyone? Bueller?

Shuey

 

[mcatrophy]

...So . . . the service manual doesn't identify the turn signal relay, AND the dealer can't identify the correct relay, does anybody else know? ...

Shuey

I refer you back to my post #19. There isn't a relay, flashing is controlled directly by the display CPU.

 

[Shuey]

From mcatrophy, Post #19
As far as I can tell, the Gen III doesn't use an electro-mechanical relay to flash the indicators, it uses the multifunction display module.

They will have retained the faster flash to show a failed rear bulb, so I believe your only option is to use ballast resistors in parallel with your rear LEDs.

Well, you're definitely right on a solution . . . resistors accomplish the task just fine. Thanks.

Shuey

 

[Shuey]

Now that the turn signals are flashing at a "normal rate" I've noticed another benefit.

I had an ongoing problem with my Krista Clearwater aux lights where they would flash to 100% while in the low beam setting at random times and stay at 100% for a second or two then switch back to 20% as set.. Couldn't figure it out, but after the resistors were added . . . no problem. Fascinating.

I'm wondering what else the Multi-Function Display Module (MFD) or Display CPU controls.

Happy New Year to all,

Shuey

 

[RichDoyle]

I'm wondering what else the Multi-Function Display Module (MFD) or Display CPU controls.

Shuey

That would be ... almost everything