My '05 1200GS had a few electrical problems when riding through heavy rain a couple of weeks ago, which seem to have sorted themselves, but I'm interested to hear what people recommend.
The problems started with being unable to switch off the left indicator. If I clicked the switch it would indicate correctly, but when I pressed the indicator cancel switch it would continue to flash. Occasionally, the left indicator would start flashing uncommanded, and any time I switched off the ignition, when I switched it on again the left indicator would operate.
To cancel the indicator, I couldn't find a reproducible sequence, but eventually I'd press the right indicator and the hazards would start, whereupon pressing the hazard switch would cancel both indicators. Or sometimes, just pressing the hazard switch would cancel the left indicator.
Additionally, on one occasion when I stopped for a coffee, a bloke came over and told me I'd left my lights on. WTF? I didn't realise it was possible to leave the lights on!! So I went out and, sure enough, the side and rear lights were on. I turned on the ignition - left indicator starts blinking. Turn off ignition - side lights still on. Turn on ignition - go through my random switch-pressing sequence until the left indicator is cancelled - turn off ignition - all lights off. Went back to finish my coffee, and when I returned to the bike - side lights back on!
By the time I got home, the left indicator was completely kaput, even pressing the switch didn't make it blink. On the plus side, at least the side lights stayed off!
The bike's had a week or so to dry out, and yesterday I went to investigate before working out what to repair. Guess what? All electrics working perfectly normally! Presumably the problem was caused by water in the switch - it was extremely heavy rain for several hours, and I myself was wetter than an otter's pocket, so I can't really blame the electrics...
My question is: what steps should I take next? Should I replace the left indicator switch? The entire left-hand switch cluster, or the seals inside the cluster (if any)? Or just leave it alone and try to avoid a similar drenching in future? Advice please!
The problems started with being unable to switch off the left indicator. If I clicked the switch it would indicate correctly, but when I pressed the indicator cancel switch it would continue to flash. Occasionally, the left indicator would start flashing uncommanded, and any time I switched off the ignition, when I switched it on again the left indicator would operate.
To cancel the indicator, I couldn't find a reproducible sequence, but eventually I'd press the right indicator and the hazards would start, whereupon pressing the hazard switch would cancel both indicators. Or sometimes, just pressing the hazard switch would cancel the left indicator.
Additionally, on one occasion when I stopped for a coffee, a bloke came over and told me I'd left my lights on. WTF? I didn't realise it was possible to leave the lights on!! So I went out and, sure enough, the side and rear lights were on. I turned on the ignition - left indicator starts blinking. Turn off ignition - side lights still on. Turn on ignition - go through my random switch-pressing sequence until the left indicator is cancelled - turn off ignition - all lights off. Went back to finish my coffee, and when I returned to the bike - side lights back on!
By the time I got home, the left indicator was completely kaput, even pressing the switch didn't make it blink. On the plus side, at least the side lights stayed off!
The bike's had a week or so to dry out, and yesterday I went to investigate before working out what to repair. Guess what? All electrics working perfectly normally! Presumably the problem was caused by water in the switch - it was extremely heavy rain for several hours, and I myself was wetter than an otter's pocket, so I can't really blame the electrics...
My question is: what steps should I take next? Should I replace the left indicator switch? The entire left-hand switch cluster, or the seals inside the cluster (if any)? Or just leave it alone and try to avoid a similar drenching in future? Advice please!
