2007 GL1800 motor trike blowing 20 amp fuse

[PKLGW]

Help? I never blown a fuse before on this. At the 2019 Sturgis rally I had a new ultimate seat installed, heated like my factory one and also went to blue tooth. Everything worked great. We washed/wiped down the bike like normal and covered it for the night. next morning turned key one notch and the gauges were not on. I checked fuses and the 20 amp was blown.

Thinking i might of got water some wear from washing, I tried another and it blew immediately like a direct short. It started right up and we rode to service place to have it looked at. Had to wait four hours for them to say they couldn't find anything wrong and the fuse they put in wouldn't blow. I still thought moisture from washing got in some where and after sitting in the sun for four hours waiting to be looked at it got dried out and will be fine.

It ran great, everything worked all day on all the different rides we took and that night we covered it without a wash/wipe down. Next morning turned key one notch and I heard the fuse blow so I tried another and it blew immediately. I drove it about 15 miles stopped tried another fuse and everything worked and it held all the way back to Montana. Parked in garage at home turned off and let it set for 10 minutes turned key one notch and it held. Next morning turn one notch and heard it blow. So it blows when its cold and if I ride for 15 miles or so and then put it in it good all day.

I do have an appointment on the 20th to have it looked at. Also the blue tooth and heated seat works great even with that fuse blown.Thanks

 

[trike lady]

Hello and :welcome: to Trike Talk, glad to have U with us. :wave4:

That's a strange one. Intermittent electrical problems are always fun to find.

 

[PKLGW]

Yes they are! Why it blows when its totally cold has got me.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Yes they are! Why it blows when its totally cold has got me.

What is the fuse for, gauges and what els? I know it's the twenty amp ... but what system? When they put blue tooth in, what did they take apart? Might be a pinched wire. Maybe pull the seat and check the wires under there.

 

[Jack Klarich]

What is the fuse for, gauges and what els? I know it's the twenty amp ... but what system? When they put blue tooth in, what did they take apart? Might be a pinched wire. Maybe pull the seat and check the wires under there.

I totally agree here, a 20 amp fuse is pulling a lot of battery power

What ever is on that fuse is causing you an intermittent problem

Fix it now or pay more later when it comes to Lectricity

 

[MDO]

You may get a better response posting your questions in the GW forum.

This forum is for new members intro. Good luck with your problem, which sounds like a dead short and is most likely tied to the recent work you had done if you weren't having problems prior to that.

 

[PKLGW]

Thanks to all. Im learning this forum please bare with me. the 20 amp runs tach, speedometer, fuel, cruise and odometer for sure. the blue tooth and heated seats work with the fuse blown so i don't see how the only two things I've had done is causing it. But its over my head.

I did check under seat and under left front pocket for loose bare wires and all look fine. I could take it for a ride right now about 20 miles and turn it off and put in a fuse and it would hold, but after sitting over night it would blow tomorrow am when cold. Again thanks

 

[trike lady]

Can you disconnect both items that were installed and see in the morning if the fuse blows? That's a strange problem. Normally a fuse would blow constantly with the turn of the key, not just in cold temps. That's just too weird.

 

[PKLGW]

Thanks for the response, I did disconnect the seat and tried a fuse and it still blew. I will try what you suggest but can't till Monday. Thanks again

 

[Jack Klarich]

Paul, if you are good with an ohm meter check the wiring to the heated seat

When checking apply a bit of pressure to the wires to see if your readings change, you could have an internal wire shorting

 

[PKLGW]

Thanks for your thought, Ill also try that next week. All thoughts welcome.

 

[PKLGW]

I will also try that next week. Thanks for the suggestion. All thoughts are welcome!

 

[trike lady]

By chance were they working around the gauges when they installed the Bluetooth set up? I ask this because inside the fairing is an air temp sensor located in the upper area.

 

[PKLGW]

yes, they pulled the left front pocket to access for the plug and play.

 

[trike tech]

One thing not mentioned but worth investigating.. Remove your seat and see if it looks like ANY wires are resting on the upper frame or going over the round "tubes" on the motorcycle frame. Because of the "wrapping" on the wires damage may not be obvious. I can't count the number of Goldwing's we've seen come through our doors with wires that have been "re-routed" over the tube or positioned so they "rest" on the top of the frame instead of tucked down beside it like they should be.

It won't always cause a problem with a stock seat because of the seat pan design, but most aftermarket seat pans are very different & aren't as "forgiving". Could be a group of wires that were pinched this way causing your problem. By no means the first time we've seen similar cause random intermittent issues on things from fuses blowing, random parts of the bike not working, etc.

 

[PKLGW]

Thank you. I did look for that but worth checking again.

 

[trike lady]

What baffles me is, why does it blow the fuse when cold in the morning on the first start and not with every restart?

 

[paws]

I love a good mystery Paul. And I love the answers. This is intriguing.

Please, please,,, when you find the culprit and get it fixed - don’t forget to let us know The Who, what, where, when of it all... Thanks and I hope its not serious.

 

[PKLGW]

Will let everyone know what we /they find on the 20th. I just hope there technician can find it. For me the only downside of owning the best bike out there (glowing) is getting service out here. Everyone says they hate working on trikes. And I'm still searching for a tech that is near by and has the knowledge we all hope for. Thanks again for your thoughts! If anyone knows a good goldwing motor trike tech near Helena Montana please let me know!

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

If anyone knows a good goldwing motor trike tech near Helena Montana please let me know!

The Honda Shop in Grand Junction, Colorado loves working on trikes. Did a bit of work on my 08 Honda. Tha maybe too far to go ... :blush: