More electrical problems

[Bill in NJ]

Just when I figured out one problem I get another. I recently put the Plug and Play LED turn signals and tail light in my 99. Found out that the board or wire in the tail light was shorting out when I tightened down the bottom screw of the lens. Fix that and all seemed well. Got back yesterday from a ride to Vermont and still all is good. Put the bike away after a good cleaning, then this morning I get a call from the wife and she said the my passing lamps are on. They were not on when I went to bed last night. They're wire to a relay to the ignition switch and no other lights are affected (on). I will start tracing wires when I get home but am looking for a little advice what could cause it. Had one thought...Can a relay fail in the closed position?? Thanks. Bill

[V7Goose]

An NO (normally open) relay CAN fail in the closed position; the points just weld together and never open up again.

 

But . . . nothing will make a NO relay magically jump closed while just siting there minding its own business with no power applied to the coil. If they could do that, the parts bin at the electronics store would sound like popcorn going off while they all just magically opened and closed at random. So if those lights were not on when you walked away, the problem is not the relay. Good luck,

Goose

[Bill in NJ]

Thanks Goose I didn't think so but I am always hoping for the easy fix. The way its wired I believe that it has to be somewhere between the switch and the relay powering the relay somehow. Thanks again Goose. I'll start taking things apart.

Bill