Mystery Wire

[KJeff]

My battery has been draining after sitting for a few days. I recently noticed that I was not getting the oil and alternator lights illuminating when I turn on the key. Of course neither is on running so I hadn't noticed previously. I pulled the battery to install a new Westco and I found a thin blue wire dangling down between the alternator and ABS  :dunno2:pump. Hopefully the picture is attached. The black connector block in the middle has what looks like a diode symbol on it. I can't see where this should be connected. Any thoughts ? Could this be related to my charging issues or instrument lights - hopefully both ?

[Scott_]

How many wires do you have connected to the alternator. That blue wire(without the extra black diode looking thing) should connect to the alternator at the terminal under(below) the battery terminal.

Makes me wonder if someone tried to install the extra "diode assy" to mask another problem internal to the alternator.

[pallum]

The blue wire controls the Charge Indicator light in your dash. The light is "on," when the alternator is not outputting 12v or more (so it should be on when the engine is off), and the light goes out while the alternator is outputting 12v+. 

Putting a diode in line with that blue wire from the alternator to the instrument cluster supposedly stops the Charge Indicator light from dimly glowing all the time after startup. I've been able to see mine glowing at night since I got my bike, and have never had an issue. Reconnect that blue wire next to the large red wire on the alternator and hopefully it should behave normally.