Instrument lights neutral and charging system are dim

[curdavey]

On my 1150 GS Adv (2003) yesterday the Instrument lights (neutral and charging system) are dim. In addition when i switch on heated grips the tach reading drops and goes back up when switched off.

The bike appears to run fine but concerned that this may not be the case in the near future.

I've searched the web and there are suggestions that it could be blown fuse #1 caused by shorting.

Looking for some advice from others who may have experienced similar problem and the best way to diagnose.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Instrument lights are the white lights that illuminate the speedometer and the tachometer.

Charge light (red) and neutral light (green) are on the telltale warning panel.

I'm assuming you just mean the charge light and neutral warning lights that are dim.
I'm assuming that this condition is after you start the bike engine.
I'm assuming that before you start the engine, everything is at normal brightness.

Give a bit more information about your symptoms might help. What you see and when you see it. ie before and after engine start.

You mentioned fuse 1. Have you checked it yet, and if so what was it's condition?

The tachometer dropping with increased current draw (heated grips) points to a bad ( high resistance ) connection somewhere.

It might be worth checking all your high current connections, battery, starter motor, alternator. As well as the earth. Ensure they are all good and tight.

If your charge light is staying dim after engine start, then you might have a faulting alternator or regulator.

Lots of IF's

 

[curdavey]

Instrument lights are the white lights that illuminate the speedometer and the tachometer.

Charge light (red) and neutral light (green) are on the telltale warning panel.

I'm assuming you just mean the charge light and neutral warning lights that are dim.
I'm assuming that this condition is after you start the bike engine.
I'm assuming that before you start the engine, everything is at normal brightness.

Give a bit more information about your symptoms might help. What you see and when you see it. ie before and after engine start.

You mentioned fuse 1. Have you checked it yet, and if so what was it's condition?

The tachometer dropping with increased current draw (heated grips) points to a bad ( high resistance ) connection somewhere.

It might be worth checking all your high current connections, battery, starter motor, alternator. As well as the earth. Ensure they are all good and tight.

If your charge light is staying dim after engine start, then you might have a faulting alternator or regulator.

Lots of IF's

Updated Information

Correct it is the charge light and neutral warning lights that are dim
When i switch bike on the only visible light on is the ABS (blinking)
When i start bike the only visible light on is the ABS (blinking)
If i increase the revs (3k) the neutral and charge light become brighter

I will check fuse later today and report condition

Not sure how to check all the high current connections. Bit of a newbie to electrics. Any advide on what is need and how to check

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Fuse 1 is definitely a good place to start.

 

[Grizzly]

Loom from Plug to Warning Lights.

Probably the crimped splitters in the above loom which runs from headstock along beak support frame - try removing any cable ties from this short loom then flex/move it at various points to see if warning lamps change - with ignition on but engine not running.
This fault with warning lamps is well documented on this forum and been answered by me and many others before. Not sure about the heated grips and rev counter symptom though - may be related?

Cheers.....................Grizzly

 

[Steptoe]

Probably the crimped splitters in the above loom which runs from headstock along beak support frame -

That would be my first point of call. There's a major earth point in that section of loom, where all the earth are crimped together.

All that's protecting them is the outer casing of the loom, and water gets in easy enough and causes corrosion.
I've had the earths as nothing more than a green sludge when i've cut the outer casing on some bikes.
Usually effects the indicator lights in the instrument panel as well.

 

[curdavey]

Checked fuse and it was blown. Replaced and now all lights displayed when ignition on and engine started appear correctly.
Obviously still need to find initial cause.
Will go with suggestions from all replies and post findings.
Appreciate all advice given

 

[Ian J Hartley]

That's good news, making progress, maybe!

Is your bike fitted with servo brakes. There were a lot of wiring changes to the basic wiring loom with the addition of servo brakes.

If your bike is servo like mine, then I can tell you, with a blown fuse no1, the tachometer should not run and neither neutral or charge lights illuminate, not even dimly, irrespective of the engine revs. I removed fuse 1 on my bike to check.

So the fact your lights are dim and your tacho runs with a blown fuse 1, makes me think you have still got a fault somewhere.