Instruments went out ... need help - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Nolan · 12-13-2005, 06:32 PM

I own an '05 S-50, bought it new about 3 months ago. So far everythings been fine up until the other night. My instruments died on me, speedometer, mileage, trip... they wont turn. The back light is still shining bright and the display below (neutral, over temp, oil pressure, ect) is working fine aswell. I allready checked the fuses and they were all fine. Bike runs normal too.

I havent made any modifications that would come in contact with the electrical harness. No wires are pinched or chafed that i can see. Im at a loss, anyone know whats going on and how to fix it?

dragbar · 12-13-2005, 07:17 PM

Is the trip analog and not a digital piece on the S50? Could be a a failed bottom unit at the wheel. Sounds like you've went through the obvious checks so far. Considering it's still under warranty I'd make the dealer check it out.

Nolan · 12-14-2005, 06:54 PM

Ya im gunna go ahead and do that. Thnx for postin. (its analog by the way)

ForbidInjustice · 12-20-2005, 02:28 AM

Any luck with your instrument panel?

I'm having a similar problem.. my speedometer doesn't work. Tach works fine, all other lights on panel fine.. backlight fine.. just the speedo doesn't work.

Anyone know anything about that? Pinched wire maybe? All fuses are intact.

Grrr... I can't stand the electricals on this bike.

**Louis** · 12-20-2005, 08:23 AM

When that happened to me on my older bike, it was because the speedo cable had seized in the cable housing from the front wheel to the speedo. Because it's always spinning on the wheel it broke off.

Check the cable.

ForbidInjustice · 12-25-2005, 12:05 AM

Louis, I didn't realise that you had replied! Hmm.. well, on my bike, the speedometer runs from the instrument panel down to the speed sensor on the sprocket cover. It never does run to the front wheel.

I checked the speed sensor last night, the connections were tight. I removed it and hit it with a multimeter.. the only reading I got on that thing was ~28 MEGAohms! Um.. that's pretty high, right?! Someone told me that anything that reads that high is probably fried..

It's only the speedometer that's unresponsive, and everything else on the instrument panel is fine. I put the bike on the stands and ran it in gear to test the speedometer.. played with the cables, tapped things, etc.. and the needle never responded. It just seems strange that almost right after I get done working on the bike [I was finishing re-jetting the carbs], the speedometer stops working.. like I messed with something, or shorted something out.. things always seem to happen like that.

Anyway, I'd like to test anything else possible, because that speed sensor is $67 from BikeBandit, and $82 from the Suzuki dealer! I don't want to spend that kind of money, when it might not even be the problem. As for right now, I'm trying to find someone on eBay that's parting out the same bike, to get them to pull the part for me.

Any other ideas?

Ride on wind! ... and Merry Christmas.

ForbidInjustice · 12-25-2005, 08:08 PM

I noticed today that my Trip2 meter is stuck at 0.0, AND my odometer is stuck at 21343, because of the speed sensor being out.

Odometer at a standstill? I should have broken that speed sensor a long time ago!

12-13-2005, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nolan Newbie Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: Suzuki S50 Location: San Antone Posts: 2	Instruments went out ... need help I own an '05 S-50, bought it new about 3 months ago. So far everythings been fine up until the other night. My instruments died on me, speedometer, mileage, trip... they wont turn. The back light is still shining bright and the display below (neutral, over temp, oil pressure, ect) is working fine aswell. I allready checked the fuses and they were all fine. Bike runs normal too. I havent made any modifications that would come in contact with the electrical harness. No wires are pinched or chafed that i can see. Im at a loss, anyone know whats going on and how to fix it?

12-13-2005, 07:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
dragbar Fifth gear streak Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Location: SE Missouri Posts: 1,375	Is the trip analog and not a digital piece on the S50? Could be a a failed bottom unit at the wheel. Sounds like you've went through the obvious checks so far. Considering it's still under warranty I'd make the dealer check it out. __________________ I ate Chinese last night..........should of seen her struggle when i put her in the van. Доверя́й, но проверя́й.

12-20-2005, 02:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
ForbidInjustice Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2007 GSX-R1000 Black/orange! Location: Fort Hood, Texas Posts: 352	Any luck with your instrument panel? I'm having a similar problem.. my speedometer doesn't work. Tach works fine, all other lights on panel fine.. backlight fine.. just the speedo doesn't work. Anyone know anything about that? Pinched wire maybe? All fuses are intact. Grrr... I can't stand the electricals on this bike. __________________ U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov .. hence strength and security

12-20-2005, 08:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	When that happened to me on my older bike, it was because the speedo cable had seized in the cable housing from the front wheel to the speedo. Because it's always spinning on the wheel it broke off. Check the cable. __________________ Louis

12-25-2005, 12:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
ForbidInjustice Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2007 GSX-R1000 Black/orange! Location: Fort Hood, Texas Posts: 352	Louis, I didn't realise that you had replied! Hmm.. well, on my bike, the speedometer runs from the instrument panel down to the speed sensor on the sprocket cover. It never does run to the front wheel. I checked the speed sensor last night, the connections were tight. I removed it and hit it with a multimeter.. the only reading I got on that thing was ~28 MEGAohms! Um.. that's pretty high, right?! Someone told me that anything that reads that high is probably fried.. It's only the speedometer that's unresponsive, and everything else on the instrument panel is fine. I put the bike on the stands and ran it in gear to test the speedometer.. played with the cables, tapped things, etc.. and the needle never responded. It just seems strange that almost right after I get done working on the bike [I was finishing re-jetting the carbs], the speedometer stops working.. like I messed with something, or shorted something out.. things always seem to happen like that. Anyway, I'd like to test anything else possible, because that speed sensor is $67 from BikeBandit, and $82 from the Suzuki dealer! I don't want to spend that kind of money, when it might not even be the problem. As for right now, I'm trying to find someone on eBay that's parting out the same bike, to get them to pull the part for me. Any other ideas? Ride on wind! ... and Merry Christmas. __________________ U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov .. hence strength and security

12-14-2005, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nolan Newbie Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: Suzuki S50 Location: San Antone Posts: 2	Ya im gunna go ahead and do that. Thnx for postin. (its analog by the way)

12-25-2005, 08:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
ForbidInjustice Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2007 GSX-R1000 Black/orange! Location: Fort Hood, Texas Posts: 352	I noticed today that my Trip2 meter is stuck at 0.0, AND my odometer is stuck at 21343, because of the speed sensor being out. Odometer at a standstill? I should have broken that speed sensor a long time ago! __________________ U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov .. hence strength and security

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