Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 I have what I think is a spider grounding problem. The FJRs had a recall for these spider grounds. The turn signal and high beam indicators stay on. The windshield up and down button and the horn don't work. These are all controlled by the left side switch gear. From what I read on the FJR owners forum it sounds like the #6 ground spider. Which wasn't covered by the recall. I am not good with electrical problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 http://www.fjrowners.com/forums/11-fjr-parts-servicing/19258-location-spiders.html That seems to be the problem. Just a matter of getting to it and cleaning it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 I suck at electrical. Hate this kind of shit. I don't know what I am doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whaler Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 4 minutes ago, Howabusa said: I suck at electrical. Hate this kind of shit. I don't know what I am doing. Where are you located, I could take a look for you. I am located in Medina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Cardington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 I took the left side fairing off. I see some big connectors. Those just need pulled apart, cleaned and greased? I didn't realize that was what the spiders were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Dielectric grease in sealed connectors is a very good idea. Make sure it's dielectric grease though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 I took all of these connectors apart not sprayed electrical cleaner in them and put them back together. Won't start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Maybe there was a live line and the cleaner shorted it just long enough to pop a fuse? One time I used cleaner on a potentiometer and it fell apart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 ^ Good theory by the noob. Check the fuses, then reseat each connection to messed with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 3 minutes ago, Tonik said: ^ Good theory by the noob. Check the fuses, then reseat each connection to messed with. Here's another one: The spray moved some grime around and interrupted a critical connection. Redoing the connections might clear it up. heh I mean, if it started before, but not after, you did something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 I wonder if it could be a stuck relay? Still might be due to the coil wire having a short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 5 minutes ago, hiro said: I wonder if it could be a stuck relay? Still might be due to the coil wire having a short. I'm retracting that. Highly unlikely, I think. Since some things work and others are stuck on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 It starts and runs. How do you clean these connectors beside spray electric cleaner? After they are clean do I just grease them with dielectric grease and put them back together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 9 minutes ago, Howabusa said: It starts and runs. How do you clean these connectors beside spray electric cleaner? After they are clean do I just grease them with dielectric grease and put them back together? Ive always had good luck with a set like these. https://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-8040-3-Piece-Terminal/dp/B0062Y599K And no i don't have mine anymore, one of thoese things I lent out and never got returned. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilD'oh! Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Those big connectors in your pics are not the ground connectors. The "spiders", as referred to on the FJR forums are the blocks with a bunch of wires going into them and a black cap. You can see one next to the chrome fork in your bottom picture. Take the black cap off, use needle nose pliers to pull off the "spider" (metal plate that connects all the terminals together) and clean up any corrosion. Dielectric grease and reassemble. i haven't researched this in a long time, so I couldn't tell you which of the numerous grounding "spiders" is your problem, but I'd bet a paycheck it's one of them. Very well documented on the FJRforum.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilD'oh! Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 (edited) I have some time this weekend to help you troubleshoot and I'm only a couple hours north. I could swing on by and we can figure it out. I'm pretty good at disassembling and reassembling a Gen II FJR. Edited May 31, 2017 by PhilD'oh! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 40 minutes ago, Howabusa said: It starts and runs. How do you clean these connectors beside spray electric cleaner? After they are clean do I just grease them with dielectric grease and put them back together? 26 minutes ago, 2talltim said: https://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-8040-3-Piece-Terminal/dp/B0062Y599K Order that gizmo that Tim links to there and get it second day air'd in...and take Phil up on his offer. You will then see how to do it for next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howabusa Posted May 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 4 minutes ago, PhilD'oh! said: I have some time this weekend to help you troubleshoot and I'm only a couple hours north. I could swing on by and we can figure it out. I'm pretty good at disassembling and reassembling a Gen II FJR. Thanks for letting me know what a spider is. I hope that it is the one right there by the switch gear connectors. If I don't get it taken care of tomorrow, I would love to have your help! I would be happy to pay you for your time. If I don't get it fixed I won't be able to make the rally at the gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiro Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 So, a spider is a single-point ground? Is this the concept? Reduces the chance of voltage differences between spread-out ground points. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 17 minutes ago, Howabusa said: Thanks for letting me know what a spider is. I hope that it is the one right there by the switch gear connectors. If I don't get it taken care of tomorrow, I would love to have your help! I would be happy to pay you for your time. If I don't get it fixed I won't be able to make the rally at the gap. You will be there, phil will do it, or i will or whaler will. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 1 minute ago, hiro said: So, a spider is a single-point ground? Is this the concept? Reduces the chance of voltage differences between spread-out ground points. That is it, dunno the exact reason. I think its just easier to buss them together and get a good ground. They are frequently the source of problems. My previous Kaw melted one once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilD'oh! Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 (edited) 4 minutes ago, hiro said: So, a spider is a single-point ground? Is this the concept? Reduces the chance of voltage differences between spread-out ground points. Yep. The FJR guys started calling them spiders because that's what they look like. It's a metal plate with 6 legs that connect all the terminals together. Edit...I know, spiders have 8 legs, but that's what hey started calling them. Edited May 31, 2017 by PhilD'oh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilD'oh! Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 20 minutes ago, Howabusa said: Thanks for letting me know what a spider is. I hope that it is the one right there by the switch gear connectors. If I don't get it taken care of tomorrow, I would love to have your help! I would be happy to pay you for your time. If I don't get it fixed I won't be able to make the rally at the gap. PM sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 http://www.fjrowners.com/forums/9-fjr-technical/66177-2006-electrical-problem.html From what I have been reading that there are two different things that can cause these electrical issues on an FJR. One is spiders. Which are ground connections. Two are wiring harness connectors themselves. In the OP'S original post he said number 6. It is actually S6......a plug connector. A failing S6 produces the symptoms that he stated. If caught early before it actually burns to a crisp these connections can be cleaned and put back into service. Just spraying with contact cleaner is not good enough. A mechanical cleaning of sorts---scraping or a small jewelers file then a corrosion preventative compound applied. CAUTION WHEN USING CONTACT CLEANER. If using it on or around plastic and it does not say safe for use on plastic please put it back on the shelf and get the proper stuff. Trust me. I've seen guys ruin handle bar switches and other things by not using plastic safe cleaner. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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