Wire ID and other problems

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  • VABushPig
    • Mar 2026

    #1

    Wire ID and other problems

    I am trying to get my bike started and am having a few problems. I?ve got power to the starter relay and the starter button works. The first problem is nothing happens when I push the starter. No clicking from the relay. I checked the power at the relay and my test light comes on when I press the starter button. I replaced the relay with another one I had and no change. I removed the starter and it works when I jump the terminals. Another question I have is what does this red wire go? It has constant power. The connection in the picture is for the igniter and I?m not using it because of the dyna s I installed.

    758453E8-6B0F-43A8-A28F-D4E2ED7F0024.jpg
  • Redman
    Forum LongTimer
    Past Site Supporter
    Super Site Supporter
    • Mar 2004
    • 13762
    • Michigan, west Michigan

    #2
    Originally posted by VABushPig
    ........
    ...................................... No clicking from the relay. I checked the power at the relay and my test light comes on when I press the starter button. I..........
    Where did you ground your test lamp?
    Somewhere on the bike frame or battery neg....? If so, well, that is not exactly where the solenoid (relay) is grounded. If so, try putting the tester ground on the solenoid mounting bolt, because that is where the solenoid is getting grounded. See if your test results are different.

    What you need to know is that the solenoid is mounted to the side of the battery box, and the battery box is not well mounted to the frame. SO the battery box needs to be grounded by a ground wire from the bikes wiring harness. Look for a black-white wire from bike harness, it should have a ring terminal and connected to the solenoid mounting bolt. But sometimes that wire has a problem and is not really a good ground wire any more. SO run your own wire to that mounting bolt and ground it to frame or to battery negitive.
    Last edited by Redman; 04-21-2019, 04:47 PM.
    Bikes
    Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

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    • Steve
      GS Whisperer
      • Jun 2005
      • 35927
      • southwest oHIo

      #3
      A quick test to see if what Redman says might be happening is actually happening:

      Ground your test light at the battery. Touch the light probe to the yellow/green wire on the solenoid. Turn the key ON, press the starter button. If the test light comes ON, that's the first part of the test. Now, touch the light probe to the outer case of the solenoid and press the starter button. If the light comes on again, you need to fix the ground from the solenoid to the battery. As Redman says, it will be a black/white wire.

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      • VABushPig

        #4
        Success!! Well, partial success. I got it to turn over. I went straight to the battery negative. Now I need to get everything else in order. Need to make sure of spark at the plugs, time the dyna s, and I know I am missing some steps but I will research and check back. Unless someone feels helpful this morning and want to steer me in the right direction.

        Thanks for for the help thus far. I’m one step closer to finishing a project. My shrink will be so proud of me. lol

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        • LAB3
          Forum Sage
          Past Site Supporter
          • Mar 2018
          • 3522
          • No fixed address

          #5
          Originally posted by VABushPig
          Success!! Well, partial success. I got it to turn over. I went straight to the battery negative. Now I need to get everything else in order. Need to make sure of spark at the plugs, time the dyna s, and I know I am missing some steps but I will research and check back. Unless someone feels helpful this morning and want to steer me in the right direction.

          Thanks for for the help thus far. I’m one step closer to finishing a project. My shrink will be so proud of me. lol
          It's customary to let us know what you found and how you corrected it so other people doing searches for their repairs can learn from it in the future.
          2001 Kawasaki Voyager XII (Current bike)
          1982 GS450txz (former bike)

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          • VABushPig

            #6
            I grounded the starter relay case to the battery negative terminal.

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            • LAB3
              Forum Sage
              Past Site Supporter
              • Mar 2018
              • 3522
              • No fixed address

              #7
              On my 450t the black/white wire with a ring on it needs to go on the top bolt holding the regulator to the metal plate it's mounted to, that bolt is the only one that goes into the frame, the others go into the plastic air box. Running a separate ground to that plate is a good idea either way, I did it to mine. As to that red wire in the picture I can't see it well enough to tell, it doesn't enlarge well just like the pic of the clutch cable connection I posted in another thread.
              2001 Kawasaki Voyager XII (Current bike)
              1982 GS450txz (former bike)

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              • Redman
                Forum LongTimer
                Past Site Supporter
                Super Site Supporter
                • Mar 2004
                • 13762
                • Michigan, west Michigan

                #8
                Originally posted by VABushPig
                I grounded the starter relay case to the battery negative terminal.
                Good to hear of some sucsess.

                Speaking of the battery box needing to be grounded: The battery box needs to be grounded for the starter solenoid AND for the Regulator/Rectifyer. The R/R has a ground wire (typically black) that usually is landed on that same solenoid bolt.
                Bikes
                Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

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                • VABushPig

                  #9


                  here is another version of the picture showing the wire.

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                  • LAB3
                    Forum Sage
                    Past Site Supporter
                    • Mar 2018
                    • 3522
                    • No fixed address

                    #10
                    First off, a color wiring diagram can be downloaded here and it hasn't let me down yet:
                    Suzuki GS motorcycles maintenance and information (GS850GT)

                    From the diagram and my own experience it looks like the main positive lead coming back from the regulator. Find another red wire with an empty female connector and plug it in there. There's only one red wire that splits into a set of two red wires that plug in at two different points and they both lead to the same place, there should be no problems with it being "wrong" should it not be the original spot.
                    2001 Kawasaki Voyager XII (Current bike)
                    1982 GS450txz (former bike)

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                    • Redman
                      Forum LongTimer
                      Past Site Supporter
                      Super Site Supporter
                      • Mar 2004
                      • 13762
                      • Michigan, west Michigan

                      #11
                      I am thinking that entire connector is specific to the 450 or maybe S models (or maybe 450S), all of which I am not familiar so cant really provide any expereince.
                      Other than Red is typically Battery+ to the fuse block, the output from the R/R, or the main from the fuse block to the ignition switch. Oh, wait..... 450 dont have a fuse block, just has one fuse...... anyway, Red is typically battery+ and main power.

                      Would have to study the schematic for 450S. Identify the other wires in the connector by the color, so can find that connector on the wiring diagram, then can see which red wire on the schematic that is.

                      THe fact that it is male connector makes me think it should receive power from another connector rather that it provides power to another connector.

                      Can you say what items on the bike dont seem seem to have power ....? Does the system charge the battery.....?

                      Let me comment on how clean all that wiring looks. THe wiring and the connectors look like have never gotten oily or dirty.
                      Last edited by Redman; 04-23-2019, 09:25 PM.
                      Bikes
                      Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

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