DEAD! Marker Lights Only!!!

[GeekOrGuru]

Hello All!  I've been a member of these forums for a year and a half or so, but never posted that I recall.  So "Greetings"!

I live in NW Arkansas and am the proud owner of a 90' FJ1200.  My very first bike I ever purchased almost 15 years ago is an 89' Radian...the little brother to the FJ.  For some reason I fell in love with that bike and have never been able to part with it.  When a friend of mine traded for my FJ a couple of years ago...I knew I had to have it.  I've grown to love my FJ almost as much as my Radian though I've got a bad hip and the riding position of the bike causes it to pop out of socket from time to time while going down the road.  Not a fun experience!!!

Anyways...I've got a serious issue with my FJ now.  The last ride I took I had been riding off and on all weekend with no problems.  Then I rode to the mall, shut down and went inside for an hour or so, and when I came back out all I had was marker lights.  No headlights, taillights, gauges, horn, fuel pump...nothing.  I've tested the battery and it's good.  I've checked all the fuses and they all appear good.

I would consider myself somewhat of a shade tree mechanic, but I suck when it comes to tracing electrical issues.  I've read somewhere that it could be the ignition box, but is there any way to test before I replace it?

Any thoughts or help is greatly welcomed!!!

[racerman_27410]

How did you test the battery?

showing 12 volts and actually supplying 12 volts under load are two different things.

try a different (known good) battery and see what happens.

KOokaloo!

[Dan Filetti]

No headlights you say?  These are classic symptoms of the starter switch stuck half way in.

Take it apart, clean it, lube it and it may well solve your issue.  It's a known issue on the FJ, so it's worth doing anyway, even if it's not your issue, lest you get stuck somewhere with it in the future.

If this is not your issue, I'd agree with Frank that the battery is suspect. 

Welcome here by the way.

dan

[RichBaker]

Starter switch, like Dan said.... easy way to check is to pull out on the end, move it to the position it should have rebounded to.

[GeekOrGuru]

No headlights you say?  These are classic symptoms of the starter switch stuck half way in.

Take it apart, clean it, lube it and it may well solve your issue.  It's a known issue on the FJ, so it's worth doing anyway, even if it's not your issue, lest you get stuck somewhere with it in the future.

If this is not your issue, I'd agree with Frank that the battery is suspect. 

Welcome here by the way.

dan

No luck with the switch.  I took it apart and cleaned it good.  Made sure that it was not sticking and actuating as I would expect.

I'll take the battery in to O'Reilys tomorrow and have them test it under a load.

And to clarify...I have marker lights including a tail light, but no headlight, no brake lights, turn signals, gauge lights, horn, fuel pump, etc.

Thanks for the help guys!  I really do appreciate it!

[racerman_27410]

i had the exact same scenario.... even my headlight would come on..... but nothing when i pushed the button.

CBF.... catastrophic battery failure.

I pulled into my Aunt's house for thanksgiving dinner and turned the bike off.

came back out a couple hours later with my belly full and had a no start FJ.

I bet a new battery will fix you right up.

Kookaloo!

[Dan Filetti]

As Frank says, try the battery, especially if it's more than a few years old.

However, I would have bet a dollar that it was the switch, as the headlight is explicitly cut out to provide the bike with more voltage while starting.  You mentioned no turn signals.  Not sure if those are too.  Anyone with an FJ want to test (or do you know) whether the turn signal operation is suspended while starting as the headlight is?

Still, it's likely the battery.

Cheers!

dan

[rktmanfj]

I pulled into my Aunt's house for thanksgiving dinner and turned the bike off.

came back out a couple hours later with my belly full and had a no start FJ.

Exactly how much did you eat to make this happen?     

Henry R. wants to know...

[SlowOldGuy]

For that much to go non-working, it sounds like a fuse or a connector somewhere.  How did you check the fuses, ohmmeter, eyeball?  Might want to check again.

Check any and all connectors you can get to.  Unplug them and check for corrosion, clean, grease, and re-install.

However, also sounds like it could be a dead (or incredibly weak) battery to me.

Report progress.

DavidR.

[jamesearthdrum]

I believe all those things are on the same fuse as the horn. I had this happen when I replaced my horn and manged to short the connector when I parked. It is supplied with 12volts when th eignition is on. Check your fuses again carefully. Pull each one to look at them.

james

[GeekOrGuru]

Well...all you guys were partially right, but still dead!

I replaced the battery today with a brand new one with a full charge...and nuthin!

Checked all the fuses visually and with an ohm meter...and nuthin!

Checked voltage at the fuse box on both sides of the fuse (bottom side)
1) Main fuse 12.65v
2) Signal fuse 0.05v (ignition on)
3) Ignition fuse 0.05v (ignition on)
4) Headlamp fuse 0.05v (ignition on)

2, 3, & 4 had nothing with ignition off

I've visually traced the main ground and it looks good and visually checked (and disconnected/reconnected) most connectors I can get to.  I've tried to trace most of the wiring that's not loomed and it all appears to be in good condition.

I checked voltage at the horn nothing with ignition on or off (or button pushed).

Other ideas?

And thanks again everyone for your input...I REALLY appreciate it!

[GeekOrGuru]

UPDATE!!!

I got er' crankin!

I just now went back and started rechecking all the connections.  When I disconnected the connectory running from the key ignition switch it looked as if it had been hot and partially melted.

Anyone have any ideas on would would have caused that one.

NOTE--
My key will come out of the ignition when it is turned on.  Is that normal for an FJ?

[Dan Filetti]

UPDATE!!!

I got er' crankin!

I just now went back and started rechecking all the connections.  When I disconnected the connectory running from the key ignition switch it looked as if it had been hot and partially melted.

Anyone have any ideas on would would have caused that one.

NOTE--
My key will come out of the ignition when it is turned on.  Is that normal for an FJ?

Wooowhoo!!  Congrats!

My key, on my '84 would come out of the ignition while the bike was running.  Not sure it's normal, but not unheard-of anyway!

Dan

[Harvy]

Wooowhoo!!  Congrats!

My key, on my '84 would come out of the ignition while the bike was running.  Not sure it's normal, but not unheard-of anyway!

Dan

Same here on the '91 Dan.....I believe its normal. Almost lost the bloody thing one time when it came out all by itself while riding..... lucky for me it landed on the inside of the fairing and stayed there for I don't know how long. I found that it was missing after riding for maybe a couple of hours. The ignition was obscured by a tankbag.


Harvy

[fj11.5]

easy way to fix the ignition key is with one of rpm,s awesome round key ignitions