No lights come on when I turn ignition key.

[frodi]

Grace just back from Maddocks with a load of TLC done.
They mentioned that the battery may need replacing but I was planning on doing that at the end of the summer.
I picked her up on Friday and took the long way home. As usual a joy to ride.
Yesterday I put new spotlights on and was set for a decent spin today.

Rolled her out of the shed this morning and pressed the starter. A lovely growl but she didn't start. Pressed the starter a second time and zilch.
I noticed that this time the neutral light and the oil pressure light did not come on. I put her on the charger which indicated that the battery was low but not dead.
Ogmios came up to offer his learned opinion. Checked all the fuses, relays and as much of the wiring as we could access including taking the tank off. We even put his jump pack on it with no effect.
I will be ordering a new battery in the morning but would appreciate any hints, clues or words of wisdom/experience in the mean time.
The bit that gets me is no lights on the dash. Before even when the battery was near dead the lights still came on leading me to think about a loose wire somewhere.
What does the collective think?
Just to add the dash cam still works fine. It is on a separate isolation switch ans not wired to the ignition.
TIA

 

[Gee-]

You mentioned putting on spotlights, you might want to check your wiring again, may have a short.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Probably either Ignition switch or a break in it’s wiring harness.

If fuse 1 is OK, then remove it and check 12v is present at the forward part of the fuse holder with the ignition switched on. It should be present. If not then it’s your ignition switch or harness.

 

[frodi]

You mentioned putting on spotlights, you might want to check your wiring again, may have a short.

This just involved putting new lights onto existing fittings. They worked fine last night and she still tried to start first thing this morning.

 

[frodi]

Probably either Ignition switch or a break in it’s wiring harness.

If fuse 1 is OK, then remove it and check 12v is present at the forward part of the fuse holder with the ignition switched on. It should be present. If not then it’s your ignition switch or harness.

I'm leaning towards this myself. Looks like I might have to strip down front assembly and have good look.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Get battery, install it, see if it's still dead... Then look at the other stuff... Trying to prolong a dying battery just give you more probs and breakdowns...
Then look at the last thing you did... Spotlights...

 

[DrFarkoff]

Just between left hand side of frame to the Ignition switch is a Sub loom

the green wire breaks and causes this effect

Also the Switches develop a load of Verdigris and do not conduct well!

Green wire gets my vote

You and the Tufty one should have messaged me !!

 

[Steptoe]

Do front and rear parking lights come on with the ignition key turned to the parking lights only position ?

 

[frodi]

Do front and rear parking lights come on with the ignition key turned to the parking lights only position ?

No, nothing when in parked position.

 

[frodi]

Just between left hand side of frame to the Ignition switch is a Sub loom

the green wire breaks and causes this effect

Also the Switches develop a load of Verdigris and do not conduct well!

Green wire gets my vote

You and the Tufty one should have messaged me !!

I'll check that out over the weekend.
The aforementioned member has a lot on his plate ATM and I much appreciated his coming up. Didn't want to take too much of his time.

 

[frodi]

Well with the assistance of the good doctor and the tufted one I found the problem.
It's as I suspected after a load of problem elimination a fault in the ignition switch. It's a bugger to get at. I will need to take off the right hand indicator assembly and bits of the screen support to get at the grub screw that locks it in position.
I don't have time presently for all that faff so I have hot wired it with a switch on the dash where the dummy switch for the ABS is.
I managed to get out for an hour and a half this evening (in the rain) and it was good.
I took it handy as she is on new tyres and the road was damp. But it was still good.

Still I am not tempted to walk into a dealership, hand over the soul of my firstborn and say to them, "give the latest with all the shiny bells and whistles."
Grace has more character than all of them.

 

[frodi]

Just a quick follow up.
I went out for my first "proper" spin of the year this morning. Gorgeous sunshine, shure what could go wrong.
Half a n hour in my sat-nav dies. A bit of poking around and I figure out a loose connection somewhere. Another job for the shed.
I start using google maps and it loses signal in the middle of nowhere. Lucky there was only one road in and out so I find my way back.
Then as I stop for a cuppa after all of my exertions I notice fluid just about the fork seal. It never ends.