Left turn signal is blinking

[Troll]

  I suppose I should count myself lucky since mine doesn't do it unless I leave the signal blinking when I shut it off...I would expect it do do that, in that case.

[CDNRatMan]

  I mforgot to let you know but I asked Ken the guy I met at the Ride For Dad if his 1500 did the same thing, lo and behold he said always on start up. So some 800 and 1500's do it always........mystery increases......

[jmbo]

Mine does it all the time. Hot or cold, wet or dry the left indicator comes on when  start it.  Like many, my last use of the indicator is on a right turn into my drive. Go figure! I doubt if any wires are worn or crossed causing it to happen and as long as nothing else is affected, I', cool with it.

[Drift1]

That's correct,indeed!If you simply don't cancel out the last directional the switch will sense this when you refire up the bike,at least on the 800 earlier models.I'm not sure if the later model 800's or the 1500 will also do this?
Troll and Ratman,I went back in the garage checked for that mysterious left blinker flashing and it was still inactive.I took the cover off and it looked clean so I just hit it with a tiny bit of lube anyhow.Guess us 800 riders are just going to have to get in the habit of canceling out the signal before shutdown as Troll mentioned the owner manual states.The funny thing about this whole thread seems to be a lot of left turns to end the journey,kinda like NASCAR Drivers....LOL

[CDNRatMan]

  ok last night I used can air to blow the switch area clean and then sprayed WD-40 on it and worked it in. Went for a ride today, parked walk around the Shine&Show and went back yup was flashing........so I came home and looked at it really close and Troll is correct, it will stay were it is after the turn unless you cancel it .....

[Drift1]

Troll thanks for the quote.Being I'm not the original owner unfortunately I'm lacking the owners manual.I'll report back when I disassemble the switch and see if maybe It's built up with crud,or perhaps cobwebs being It's most likely never been taken apart

[Troll]

It can't hurt...I have tried several times to MAKE it do it, but it won't. All it takes is a signal (I suspect it's the orange/green wires) and the signal unit will start it's cycle. Since the switch is in the last position it was set for when the engine was stopped, a fresh signal to the box is sent. Here's a quote from page 28 of the owner's manual:"The turn signal switch is automatically canceled after it has first been on for 8 seconds, and the motorcycle has traveled an additional 65 M (213 ft)* However, make a practice of pushing the switch in to stop flashing."

*mine flashes 15 times...sometimes I wish it were longer

[Drift1]

Well I canceled out the left blinker last night and just checked to see if it would come on.Just wanted to inform everyone it didn't.Like the rest of ya,it never was perceived as an issue being while riding the blinkers operate as designed.By this I mean they both self cancel and such.This is why I never believed it to be a concern of any sort.I will however take TROLLS advice and give the switch a cleaning.Let's face it every other nook and cranny on the bike has been either cleaned or lubed......at least I think?....

[45 Bravo]

My 99 1500 has done this since I got it, but not every time.

I started paying attention, last turn going to work, on main road, left turn.
Start up after work, left turn signal on.

Going home, last turn is right turn, off of state highway, (so I use the signals) next morning right signal.

When I are a concerted effort to turn off the signal manually, before I kill it, it does not turn on when started later.

I THINK, it is a fact that if the switch is in its last position, it will turn on when switched.
And when in the neutral position, it doesn't.

When I turn the key, I check the p.o.s.t(power on self test) to make sure all my indicator lights go off, then I cancel the turn signal, and hit the starter....
45 Bravo

[CDNRatMan]

  well greenbarn my last turn into the driveway is normally a left turn, but I live on a very quiet and seldom used street, so very rare for me to use the signal light to turn into my drive way......more mystery to build on......lol.....

[greenbarn]

If the combination of any of these wires were to be shorted against each other when the key is turned, It will trigger a signal to the controller. If this was actually planned, I'm sure Kawasaki would have written it in the owner's manual..or the service manual...This appears to be a fault that develops over time that is typically Japanese consistent throughout the model range.

If this were a situation caused by a short, I would think someone would eventually report an issue of a signal coming on during riding sometime - not just when the key is off.  I'm more inclined to think is't more of - "where-ever you leave the switch last, that's what happens when you turn the key back on".   However, this doesn't exactly fit my situation - last 2 times I found mine blinking, it was a right blinker - but my turn into the house and at work are both left turns.....

Hmmm  I love a good mystery...

[CDNRatMan]

  oh ok I can do that in the morning.......

[Drift1]

LOL.....I just figured my good friend,being your photogenic you could post a pic of the switch for others to see what/were to spray and clean 

[CDNRatMan]

  boy talk about needing mood altering drugs.....

my good friend Ratman could post a pic for me

less then an hour later....

Ratman that scar is still there dude....I'll definately pass on the pics you have suggested

as unperdictable as my ex wife you are........

[Drift1]

I didn't think so guys,thank you for clearing this up for me.It's suppose to rain all day tomorrow here as welso I'll go tinker around in the garage and take a look at that switch and if need be use your advice Troll.

Ratman that scar is still there dude....I'll definately pass on the pics you have suggested

[CDNRatMan]

  ok rain let up and so went out and used canned air to clean and blow the switch clear. Spayed WD-40 into switch area and worked it around for a bit, remounted the switch. So now weather dependent on tomorrow I'll take it for a ride and park it as per normal and see what happens. An Troll is correct no 4x flashers on the 800.....

[Troll]

Nope, no 4x flasher...could be wired in though..not a very difficult installation. Take the 2 phillips screws out of the back and split the housing. All the switches are on the front side. You will see what to do as soon as you look inside...

[CDNRatMan]

 ok weather depending tomorrow, I'll first take the switch off the bar and ensure it is clean, use canned air then short spray of WD-40 and work it in.....

D1 you want a pic, me... shovelling snow, Top hat and Trench coat or snorkelling in the snow?

[Drift1]

Great info Troll.My blinker was also off when I just checked as well...lol....Troll am I understanding this correctly,give a shot of WD40 to the blinker switch lever and just work it in?or take the switch apart?Maybe my good friend Ratman could post a pic for me.While were on the blinker subject does the 800 have 4 ways and if so how do you turn them on?Never had a reason to use this signal but,saw a bike on the side of the road with his flashers on and it got me thinking about this.....

[Troll]

The first thing you need to do is isolate components. I would start by taking the headlight out and finding the wiring harness that runs up to the switch. once you find the harness, disconnect the wires and see if the problem returns. You will have no turn signals, but you can still use hand signals until you figure it out...I just went out and split my left switch pod. I honestly never looked at the switch gear until just now. The switch makes contact and then the BUTTON moves back to the center. The switch, itself remains where it was last put, so if you make a left, the signal cancels automatically, but the switch remains in the left position. If you push in on the button, it centers. The contacts are pretty open to the elements, so maybe a shot of WD-40 into the switch gear, and work it back and forth a few times...could just be crud build up inside the switch making the signal to the controller at key on....

[CDNRatMan]

  ok not an electrican but were would we start to see if there is a short, at the ignition first or the switch?

[Troll]

So, here's what I've been able to glean from the service manual. In the off position, no wires are making momentary contact. Left turn connects the black/yellow and yellow/red wires with the green and orange wires, which send a signal to the control unit for left signal. right signal connects the  gray wire instead. If the combination of any of these wires were to be shorted against each other when the key is turned, It will trigger a signal to the controller. If this was actually planned, I'm sure Kawasaki would have written it in the owner's manual..or the service manual...This appears to be a fault that develops over time that is typically Japanese consistent throughout the model range.

[CDNRatMan]

   ok raining really good right now but went out to the shed......and

yesterday got home and drive right to shed no signal lights since last corner, stopped truned off bike via keys, pushed it into the shed, leand over and wheel to the left. Did not use the bike today due to work reasons, read the last coupls posts. So went out and inserted key and turned it to on position. Lo and behold the left turn signal commenced a flashin, dash light also flashing.
So I turned it off, turned bars to right, pushed cancel on switch ......will check in the morning......

inserted key turned it on and no flashing signal lite........ok
turned the bars back to natural position and left, going to take care of some house chores and will check later ...

ok like 3 hours later, and went out to clean the shed a bit, inserted the key and turned it on, no signal light.......ok going to try once more in the morning, but thinking now that having pressed the cancel after it was off it will not blink till I start it once more......

[superfragl]

Guess what?..
It did not do it this morning. Yesterday morning I pushed the button just to make sure it was cancelled and left to work (did not take the bike).
I will check it again tonight when I leave. I made sure I cancelled it manually before shutting off.

[nhtrikes]

Only had my bike for 8 months now but it hasn't done it once, yet! I only have 3100 miles on her so far and curious to see if it develops over time. Depending on which way I come home I can turn right or left on my last turn up my street and sometimes I remember to push the turn signal off and sometimes it does it auto. Hope this mystery gets solved eventually. I will watch for it everytime I start now.

Take care,

Pete