Ok guys I bought this bike used (1999 1200 sportster) The signals didnt work and neither did the running lights in the front. I got a Clymers guide and proceded to sort out the problem. First thing I found was the right tutn signal socket was broken. New light $55.00 later. I found a couple of bulbs were bad, no big deal. Once in a while I would hit a signal and it would blink once or twice then stay on. I did the diagnostic tests narrowing it down to the module. Ok new module ($132.00) Put it in!!!! Success!!! OOPS not so quick right side works fine with key on left side bulbs light but dont blink. Ok I start up the bike now the right side does the same as the left NO blinky. For some reason it wont blink with the motor running. I test the wires going into the module, with the key on I hit turn signal button (right side) I get a momentary flash on my test light and then the signal starts flashing, as it the first flash triggers the signal to start. Same test on the left side gives me no initial flash of the test light. I am assuming that its not telling the signal to start flashing. Anybody have any ideas? It seems as though the first flash into the module signals it to flash. I could be wrong. Battery is fully charged Help!! Thanks in advance flashx

Check all the turn signal bulbs and their sockets to make sure they are making good contact and check the grounds. Also check the turn signal wire connections.

Mine just flash!

Ive checked all the bulbs and sockets. All the lights work but dont flash. 4 way flashers work. All grounds seem to be good. I'll have to pull the tank to check if there are connections under there.

Spray the switches out really good with contact cleaner and try again. The circuits are pretty simple. Do you have aftermarket lights. If so might need a load equalizer. Check that rear is well grounded.

I was told when I bought the front light that they were from a 2005 sportster so they are a Harley light they take an 1157 bulb. I have no way of knowing if the rear lights were changed but they are the bullet style like the front.

The interesting part is that they flash in hazard mode but not in directional mode. Were the light you took off HD lights or aftermarket ones? Has the bike ever had lights on it that required a load equalizer and maybe someone forgot to take that off? Try some dielectric grease in the bulb sockets. Other than that, you'll have to track the wires back. On a custom the wires go into the handlebar riser and then under the tank. On other models I think the wires go into the headlight bucket?

I was told that the lights are HD off a 2005 Sportster. I have no way of knowing if any other lights were put on it.Where would they put a load equalizer if it had one? I'll try the die electric grease on all the bulbs tommorrow. Its strange to me that the right side flashes with the key on run but with the motor running it wont thanks flashx

I would put some diaelectric grease in the sockets, but first make sure the contacts are clean. I had a similar problem once.

Don't need no stinkin' turn signals! That's why the good Lord gave ya hands.

ok Guys I cleaned all the contacts in the sockets and the contacts on all the bulbs and put dielectric grease on all the contacts. No joy same old shit. Tommorrow Im gonna start on the grounds. My wiring schematic shows how many there are and so forth. After that I dont know were to start. I did also wash out all the connections I could find with contact cleaner.

Don't need no stinkin' turn signals! That's why the good Lord gave ya hands.
Ditto.........Took mine off and made 'em into bullet mics for harmonica.

Ok Im having no luck at all. I know the new turn signal module works better than the old one(right side signal works with key on) but stops flashing as soon as I start the motor. Does anyone know if a Harley Dealer can check the module? I've checked all the grounds and they seem to be fine,cleaned all the sockets and connections applyed dielectric grease. I have a new copy of the Clymers repair manual and have done all the tests it shows and the bottom conclusion is that the module is bad but that cant be the problem unless the new one was bad out of the box. 4 ways work fine all lights work but only the right will flash and then it wont when the engine is running. My next step is to A sell the bike or B take it to a dealer and pay 5or 6 hundred to get it fixed

I would do this a little different. I would start pulling wires and see if something is grounding it out during operation. start under the seat with the right and left then work my way forward. I had a similar problem and when I switched to my homemade led lights in the back all my troubles left. You should check the rear fender that grounds to the strut as well. I ran that wire all the way up to the head.

1. Pics of the turn signals, wiring, handlebars please? Need to make sure they're stock first of all.

2. Which part number module did you install?

3. What does "grounds seem to be good" mean?

It's a simple system so don't let it get the best of you. Question the things that don't make sense, don't assume visual checks are good on electronic components, fix one thing at a time, have a beer or cuppa joe and before you know it you'll be golden.

And no, a dealer cannot check to see if your module is good. They would swap out your module for a test module to see if that's the problem, but they can't test your module except by replacing it with a known good one. I don't know if they would start there, but to answer the question "can they test the module?" no they can't.

--Chris

I have removed the seat,tank and headlight. The bars are not stock, they are drag bars with about a 3 in riser. Underneath the head light I found a ground that looked like someone had made. It goes from the upper triple tree to the bolt going up into the riser. I removed it tested it cleaned and reinstalled.No change. Turn signals (according to HD) are from 2005 Sportster.I have cleaned every ground I can find including the main ground cable itself The part number for the signal module is 68540-96 same as the one I replaced I have loooked for anything that doesnt look stock. It does appear the someone has done some probing of the wire harness in different places. The bike has a tach also but it works fine so does speedo. I will take pictures and try to send them

NOOOO I havent figured it out yet. But now I understand why basket cases exists!! They couldnt get the TURN signals to work LOL. Maybe I'll take the rear wheel off tommorrow. I reinstalled the old module and the right signal works for three or four blinks then stops. No left blinky. New module the right keeps blinking but stops when you fire up the motor. Yep maybe I'll hit Walmart tommorrow and stock up on baskets!LOL I'll have a factory sevice manual in another week. I may try to disconnect the tach and speedo just to see if that has some effect flashx

Does the 1999 have the turn signal, brake light circuit board in the rear taillight like the 2000 and up bikes? If so I would unhook the rear turn signals and see if the front work.

You should have a Deutsch connector with 8 pins. Pins are numbered 1234 across the top and 5678 across the bottom. When you press the left turn signal, you should get a momentary 12vdc to be applied to pin 8. The module sends a series of 12vdc pulses to pin 4 to flash the left turn signals.

The speedo sends a signal to pin 5. The module reads this signal and translates it into distance and that is what controls the self cancelling function.

The right side is like the left except through pin 7 and pin 3 (same as above).

Pin 1 = black wire module ground to chassis
Pin 2 = Orange/White wire 12vdc input from accessory circuit breaker
Pin 3 = Brown Pulsed 12vdc for right signal
Pin 4 = Violet Pulsed 12vdc for left signal
Pin 5 = White/Green Vehicle Speed Sensor input
Pin 6 = not used
Pin 7 = White/Brown 12vdc from right signal when pressed
Pin 8 = White/Violet 12vdc from left signal when pressed

DO NOT apply 12 vdc to the module without pin 1 grounded good or the module will be damaged.

Place a jumper wire between pins 2 and 3 and see if hte right sides light up when you turn key to ON.
Place a jumper wire between pins 2 and 4 and see if the left sides light up when you turn key to ON.

If that doesn't work, remove the right bulbs (one then the other)and check for continuity between the bulb socket and pin 3. If you have continuity, then repair an open ground. If not, then repair open in hot wire.

Repeat on the left side in PIN 4.
Place a jumper between

Ok Shu here goes. According to the info I have the wiring should be the same from 1999 to 2002 so I disconnected the harness to the tail lamp and signals. The front signals light but dont flash. I did the test jumping from pin 2 to 3 and 2 to 4 same results each prospective sides light up with key on. I checked continuity between pins 3 and right rear socket alls well same on left side. Also checked continuity for ground on both sockets to ground side of battery they have continuity also!!! Which should mean it has a bad turn module correct? Module is new from HD flashx

It does sound like a bad module. I know it is a new one, but it still sounds defective. By chance, did you check to make sure the ground out of PIN 1 was grounded good before plugging in the new module? I think if the module looses that ground, it will fry it.

The only other thing I can think of is that the signal coming from the speed sensor input is messed up.

Im thinking the speed sensor is in the speedo correct? I have the headlight unbolted and I took apart the connection there and cleaned it. While it was unhooked I tried the turn signals just to see if the speedo might be the problem, but no luck there they did the same thing as always. I just checked for continuity from the #1 pin to the neg on the battery and it is good. I should be getting my factory service manual next week so maybe it will have some further tests for the module. My Clymers manual just doesnt go deep enough to be of much more assistance flashx

Ok Here goes. I got my HD service manual today. I went through the diagnostics for the turn signals. Its the exact same as the checks that Shu gave and the things to check in the Clyners manual for this bike. Its says the problem is the signl module. So I call the dealer and they say bring it in and we'll check it out. My theory is I'll have to pay them to diagnos it, then there gonna tell me the module is bad and I have to pay them for another module and labor. How does this sound? The wiring diagrams are alot better than the ones in the Ckyners manual so I'll trace the hot wires and check voltage at each connection to see if I have a loss of voltage somewhere along the line. Any ideas? flashx

If the turn signals don't blink it can be that they are not drawing enough current. This is common if you buy after market turn signals. EASY FIX Go to a electronic shop like Tandy and buy two ceramic resister's they are about 3/4 inch long by about 1/2 thick rectangle in shape and cost about $1 for the two wire these into the existing turn signal wire. The Tandy shop can help you find out what size you will need if you take the bike in and sweet talk them.