Sudden loss of instrument cluster

My name is Adam, I have 6 bikes, one being my 2004 VFR daily rider. While riding today, all my electric read outs for the speedometer, temp, clock, fuel, the tachometer, the headlights and license plate light all suddenly went out while I was riding. The brake light, all 4 turn signals, and oddly enough the turn signal indicator lights on the panel still work fine. Though the turn signal indicators still come on, the brights indicator and the FI light when engaging the fuel pump do not. Besides the loss of those lights/readouts, the bike is still functioning completely normally. I had no unusual lights or conditions prior to this cut out and the bike just had a complete service this Spring as riding season started. The shop I took it to researched the VIN and said all the wiring harness recalls had previously been satisfied.

I'm thinking, and hoping, it's just a fuse. However I just moved and am not sure which of the many boxes my owners manual is in at this moment. Any information on, previous experiences with, or thoughts on where to start looking at this issue would be greatly appreciated. My VFR is my main source of transportation and though I can technically survive without a tach, speedo or gas gauge, having no headlights and no license plate light is a major issue.

Thank you in advance.

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Check the main ground near the seat or tank. On mine there were several wires attached to one stud and nut. The nut was loose and causing intermittent loss of instrumentation. Sprayed with contact cleaner and tightened and no more problems. Could be a fuse also. The manual should tell you where the fuses are located.

 

I had the same problem caused by shorted plate light.

The 10amp fuse was in a box under the upper right cowl It's a bitch to take off and put back on.

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Honda/Motorcycle/2004/VFR800A+AC/UPPER+COWL/parts.html

#6

 

Thanks guys. I'll check the ground and the fuses tomorrow and see whats up. I noticed today while I was inspecting my bike after the loss of instrumentation, etc that my license plate light was loose. I have a fender eliminator kit, which reuses the stock fender license plate housing and light, and someone apparently stole the bolts out of the light housing, so it was slightly loose in the metal fender eliminator piece. Guess that could have caused a rub and a resultant short to blow the fuse.

Odd thing for someone to steal in my opinion too...

View attachment 32607

Old pic of the fender eliminator kit with the stock license plate light bracket attached.

View attachment 32608

This is her now. Installed a Delkevic cat-back exhaust, Puig dark smoke screen, Corbin carbon fiber look seat with red welting, Honda factory passenger handle eliminator kit, Honda factory rear cowl, new D&D chain and sprockets this past spring and the previous owner had swapped the wheels to the 03 gunmetal wheels, so I swapped them back to new 04 black wheels.

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If the pics were oriented correctly that is...

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And if you are going to continue using this bike as a daily rider then best you chop out the connector between the stator and R/R before that fries and you are stuck waiting for parts. You have been warned