I am looking for someone who knows these new electrical systems inside out to help with an electrical problem with my 2014 Multi 1200 S PP. The problem is that the rear indicators don't work properly - sometimes one works, could be either one, sometimes none and very rarely both. I should say that they did work for about 500 miles after I bought the bike but for next 2500 miles I have had this issue! It has a tail tidy fitted with 10w bulbs - the same wattage as original - and I have tried checking all the basics but have got nowhere. The common earth resistance to engine to engine is about 0.4-0.6 with ignition off and 0.00 with ignition on - whether indicators on or not and whether they are working or not. That seems ok to me. It makes no difference if the number plate light wires are connected or not - these were changed with the tail tidy. I have also tried a pair of 2010 original indicators but still the same fault. These are plugged in directly to original black ducati connectors so eliminating any modifications done when the tail tidy was fitted. I am reluctant to book in with a bike shop unless I know they really know their stuff because I don't want to end up just swapping stuff. I guess the first thing is to try and understand the fault - it could be the BBS as the wires go to this but it could be getting a reading which it doesn't like so it produces this scenario? I would really appreciate some help if you know about this stuff!
Does your biker have a indicator relay? Is 10W right for indicators, i thought they were typically 25W
21w for indecators. i guess if you could access the bodycomputer, or what ever they are called on bikes you could see if it is recieving an instruction to turn em on.
Hi Jonny, no I don't think it does - its all done via the electronics. According to the wiring diagram the originals are 10w.
Hi Finm, I have tried original ones and they don't make any difference. I can check the bulb later but the wiring diagram does say 10 watt.
maybe different for this for some reason or another. i'm no ducati expert, far from it, but i am near 40years in the motor trade and 21w is standard for cars using standard bulbs.
Beyond my expertise. Could be a BBS, Dash or even Canbus problem. @nelly would be the best person to advise.
The rear indicators are powered from the BBS which in turn receives a signal from the dash via Canbus to initiate them. So as you surmise the problem could be with the dash or the BBS. I don't think that there is a Canbus problem or other faults would be apparent. The front indicators are driven direct from the dash.
Are the fronts working ok? If so, that probably discounts a dash issue. That’s the driver for the fronts and the receiver for the switch signal. Assuming that is ok, then it’s either signal to BBS or output from BBS to the indicators. As they seem to be intermittent, and not consistently one side or the other, I’d check the simple things first. Namely the earths to the lights. I don’t have a diagram to hand so can’t confirm if the earth comes from BBS or from a chassis point. I’d look carefully at the wiring around the tail tidy. It’s all too easy to bunch the loom up to fit in a tighter space and then one of the screws to puncture the loom. 10W is correct for the lamps btw.
Hi Nelly, thanks for your reply. Yes the front indicators work fine. I did a check on the common earth - 3 wires come from one under the tail tidy (original wiring), one to each black rear indicator connector block and the third to the number plate light (that works ok). I checked the resistance from these to the engine and with the ignition off I get 0.4-0.6 ohms, and 0.00 ohms with the ignition on - whether the indicators are on or not and whether they are working or not. That seems ok to me but I haven't checked them further down the loom - should I do this? The wiring diagram (see attached) shows the earths coming from the BBS unit. I did have one issue with the key not being recognised about 1500 miles ago. Placing the key near the dash worked and it has been fine ever since. Can you advise on my next step?
This is the end part of the loom before it connects to the tail tidy wiring. This photo came from ebay but I have shown where the common earth splits inside that sleeve. Its here I tested the earth from. Perhaps I should also check from each connector in case the wires in between are damaged as you say?
I’d pin out each wire from one end of the loom to the other, connector at a time. Do the sub loom in the picture, but also the connector back to the BBS connector. It’s a ball ache, but one wire at a time. Continuity, and also insulation from the other cables.
