Random Right Turn Indicator - any ideas ?

[Magwych]

Nearly one year old, 16,448 miles on the clock, and the right turn indicator has started to randomly operate. The cancel switch does not stop it and it does not cancel itself after the normal 15 flashes.

The only way I have found to cancel it is to operate the left indicator switch, then cancel the left turn indicator. This is, however, not a 100% reliable method, sometimes it results in both sides working ( hazard lights - accurate, but not the desired result), in which case the cancel switch usually just stops the left from working leaving the right turn flashing merrily away.

I have tried gently pushing and releasing the right turn switch to see if it is sticking, also pushing it hard for the same reason, but cannot get it to stick. It is not caused by vibrations or jolts, there are several parts of the A20/M20 that are more like rutted fields than motorway and they do not start this off. It even started flashing on a petrol forecourt whilst I put my gloves on, ignition on but engine not started.

Is there any signficance to this ? Is the bike trying to tell me that some clever Canbus sensor has detected that an indicator bulb is due to blow, so is trying to warn me.

Or could it be that large quantities of caked road salt do not mix with sensitive electronics?

 

[pedmo]

Faulty switch - i had the same problem, no fault code shows up though. It took three visits to the dealer before they would replace the switch. It was the LH switch on mine. The hazard lights even came on a few times.

 

[blackbird]

Mine had same problem as PEDMO to the letter, give BMW emergency service a bell and tell them you want the bike transported to a dealer as it is unsafe to ride !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Magwych]

Called ASSist and they sent out their " skilled technician"; unfortunately h e had no knowledge of bikes and was not aware that any of the BMW bikes used a CANBUS. He sprayed the switch with WD-40 - Quality work ! Not surprisingly, this had little effect. He offered to remove the bulbs for me. Fixes the symptom, but is hardly an effective repair.

I was offered the option of having someone sent out to collect the bike tonight, to go into storage then off to somewhere Monday morning; or, have it collected Monday morning, to be taken direct to somewhere...

Having mulled this over have chosen the dodgy option of taking the bulbs out and I will take to Battersea early Monday morning... I need this for my daily commute to Ashford, so am willing to do this to try and speed up the repairs. Everything is logged on the ASSIST cmoputer system. Don't want to go through the whole diagnosis business again, it is cattle-trucked and the skilled technician I demonstarted it to agreed. I am hoping I will be able to blag a bike from Battersea until this is fixed...

 

[paulB]

Definitely a failed switch. My left hand indicator switch start to play up a few months ago, no switching on then randomly turning itself on.
Had all the left switchgear replaced under warranty and then two weeks later the right hand indicator switch failed. Had the right hand switch gear replaced now.
Before the left was replaced I tried a 'get me back on the road' repair with switchclean. Had limited success but it revealed why the switches had failed. Around each of the microswitches in the switchgear is a thin rubber sealing gasket. On all my switches these had perished and was opening/splitting out like a Terry's chocolate orange.
The replacement switchgear is of exactly the same design and I have zero faith that they won't suffer from the same problem in two years (and two years out of warranty)!
Bit rubbish for a 'ready for anything' bike!

 

[Pukmeister]

The CANBUS computer only does what it is told by the operating switches on the bike. If you have a short-circuit within the indicator operating switch on the handlebars, it tells the CANBUS to turn on the relevant indicator ( logic 1 pulse) . Thus it is either a faulty CANBUS computer controller (Very unlikely) or a faulty handlebar operating switch (very likely).

I had to buy new RH switchgear when I fitted heated grips to my 1200, I think it was about £86+Vat as I recall for the switchgear pod due to the extra heated grip toggle switch which I didn't originally have on the bike.

FWIW whenever I wash/clean my bike, I always use the garden leaf blower to dry it off after washing and it is amazing how much water blows out from the handlebar switchgear nooks and crannies. A quick squirt of WD40 help keep them working/free of moisture after the "wash 'n blow dry". I doubt it would take much road salt or grime to affect their operation. Touch wood I've had no problems to date (kiss of death now, me and my big mouth )