What's up with my instruments....

[stopintime]

First - I opened it up and couldn't see any corrosion - not a dust grain, so I'm pretty sure it's not a moisture issue.

I'm using 23 w turn signal bulbs - that's the only recent mod.
They worked fine until today - now the green light on the dash flashes, but the turn signals do not
However they work when the alarm asks them to (at least the rear lights which are connected to the alarm)

All warning lights work when it does it's start-up procedure with needles sweeping

Instrument back-lights are weak and flickers
Clock starts at 00:00 at each start-up
Odometer and trip counter works
Speedometer and tach work
Immobilizer warning light does not work

The turn signal mod is an obvious suspect - I'm just wondering if a broken turn signal relay would cause all the other issues....

If it was your bike - what would you do?

I have other and more interesting things to spend money on than a new cluster 

[ducpainter]

I'd disconnect the alarm

[stopintime]

I'd disconnect the alarm

Why? It's only connected to the battery, tail light and turn signals...

I thought about disconnecting the turn signals, but not the alarm.

[ducpainter]

Because it also affects the t/s indicator...no?

If that's all it's connected to it would be an easy try.

[stopintime]

Because it also affects the t/s indicator...no?

If that's all it's connected to it would be an easy try.

I think it drives the turn signals by itself - not through the instruments, but maybe it sends some electricity the wrong way....  It did act up the other day after a generous wash.  Worth a try!

[stopintime]

Nope - disconnecting the alarm and/or turn signals did nothing.

[ducpainter]

You mentioned a wash...

connector on the back of the gauges?

[stopintime]

You mentioned a wash...

connector on the back of the gauges?

Didn't use a lot of water there and it too was clean and dry - surprisingly clean and dry - at least on the inside.

Is there a way to check that plug - if it carries electricity from the wires going into it and through to the plug inside female connectors? I have a multimeter, but I don't know what setting to use for that kind of test.

[ducpainter]

Not that I know of.

I got nothing else.

[suzyj]

There's a fuse for the gauges - 5A.  It's the gauges source of power when the ignition isn't on.  Perhaps it's blown...

Given that the clock is resetting, and that there are backlight problems, the issue is with the power supply to the gauges, not the indicators.

[stopintime]

There's a fuse for the gauges - 5A.  It's the gauges source of power when the ignition isn't on.  Perhaps it's blown...

Given that the clock is resetting, and that there are backlight problems, the issue is with the power supply to the gauges, not the indicators.

Thanks - if it's a power supply problem - is that enough to prevent the indicators from working - even related?
In my poor attempts to figure out if the relay can take 2 x 23 watts all I've come up with is that it won't.

[Howie]

Blown fuses can cause feed back in seemingly unrelated circuits.  Checking fuses is both free and easy.  If that doesn't do it try bulbs of proper wattage, or, if too inconvenient at this point, pull one bulb on each side and see what happens.

[suzyj]

Thanks - if it's a power supply problem - is that enough to prevent the indicators from working - even related?
In my poor attempts to figure out if the relay can take 2 x 23 watts all I've come up with is that it won't.

I'm certain it's the fuse.  The Vbb connection on the BTS711 driver chip goes to pins 26 and 23 directly, which then go straight to the 5A fuse.

With your gauges pulled apart and the bike switched off, check for +12V on pin 20 of the BTS711 - it's the chip in the middle of the gauges with 20 pins.

[stopintime]

I'll check the fuse.

I'm not sure I'll be able to do the checks you're talking about Suzyj - out of my league.

I took the gauges apart, but stopped when I had to remove the needles to get the circuit board off.
Reassembling the housing wasn't successful - screws can't grab properly and the plastic has cracks and a small piece fell off. At this point I doubt if this housing will ever be even close to dust and moisture proof. (no problem - of course Ducati sells replacement housing for sure - ha ha)

[suzyj]

Mine has the same cracks, on the side of the front bezel, from where the seal has been pushing it.  It's bloody annoying crappy design.

What we really need is someone with CNC to make the front section in aluminium.  They'd be instant millionaires.