idiot lights

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  • snicrep5
    • Jan 2026
    #1

    idiot lights

    all my "idiot lights stay lit after the bike fires up. what should i look into?
    Tags: None
    • tom203
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Aug 2010
      • 8925
      • Norway,Maine
      #2
      Originally posted by snicrep5
      all my "idiot lights stay lit after the bike fires up. what should i look into?
      Some kind of grounding issue-so lights come on with ignition on and then just stay on when bike starts? Put your bike model/year in your signature.
      1981 gs650L

      "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

        Comment

        • Steve
          GS Whisperer
          • Jun 2005
          • 35924
          • southwest oHIo
          #3
          Originally posted by snicrep5
          all my "idiot lights stay lit after the bike fires up. what should i look into?
          Look into why they are not turning OFF.

          Most of them have constant power via the ignition switch, and are lit by connecting a ground.
          Whatever they are monitoring will break that connection, turning the light ON.

          .
          sigpic
          mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
          hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
          #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
          Family Portrait
          Siblings and Spouses
          Mom's first ride
          Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
          (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

            Comment

            • tom203
              Forum Guru
              Past Site Supporter
              • Aug 2010
              • 8925
              • Norway,Maine
              #4
              Originally posted by Steve
              Look into why they are not turning OFF.

              Most of them have constant power via the ignition switch, and are lit by connecting a ground.
              Whatever they are monitoring will break that connection, turning the light ON.

              .
              Vice versa? breaking the connection turns the light OFF ( no ground ). i.e. when engine starts pumping oil, the oil sender switch loses its ground so light goes out.
              1981 gs650L

              "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

                Comment

                • Steve
                  GS Whisperer
                  • Jun 2005
                  • 35924
                  • southwest oHIo
                  #5
                  Originally posted by tom203
                  Vice versa? breaking the connection turns the light OFF ( no ground ). i.e. when engine starts pumping oil, the oil sender switch loses its ground so light goes out.
                  Yeah, you caught me.

                  Sorry about that, Tom is right.

                  .
                  sigpic
                  mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                  hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                  #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                  #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                  Family Portrait
                  Siblings and Spouses
                  Mom's first ride
                  Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                  (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                    Comment

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