Help with VFRness, after install no fuel pump and dash buzz

Hi everyone, I got the VFRness today and installed it as the instructions stated. I double checked all connections many times over. When I turn the key, I hear buzzing from the dash, oil light is lit solid, and I cannot hear the fuel pump prime. If I disconnect the VFRness from the R/R and reconnect the R/R to the OEM connectors, then turn the key, everything is fine. No dash buzz, no solid oil light, and fuel pump primes. I don't know where the issue is and I'm looking to you for ideas.

I have another question. How does a relay work? In the pics below, when I use my multimeter to check voltage, all with key in the off position, I notice that putting my probes on:
Red and green = 12.8V
Red and blue = 12.8V
red and purple = 12.8V

Are these all supposed to be hot? The blue wire from the relay goes to a switched red w/black stripe wire that's supposed to be switched.

 

Usually when a relay makes a buzzing noise it's because it isn't getting enough voltage through the trigger terminals (85 and 86) which is the heart and soul of the relay. 86 and 85 can be wired either way around but one of them has to be the ground wire and the other is trigger power (often 12 volt key-switched power, which I think is the case here with your VFRness).

The buzzing sound malfunction is the spring-loaded relay mechanism moving a bit but not making a full and proper connection. It could be that the path-to-ground for the trigger (usually 85) is faulty. Or it could be that the trigger wire (usually 86) isn't providing enough voltage (12 volts).

Occasionally the buzzing is due to a badly built relay (one that came with a manufacturer's defect), meaning no matter how good the trigger voltage (86) and the trigger's ground path (85) are the relay just won't latch-and-hold to transmit the line voltage (30/51 and 87).

 

Regarding the multi-meter voltage testing:

Your red wire is always going to be "hot" with 12 volts, as long as the bike's battery is connected to the wiring harness, it brings in the 12 volt power from the battery (usually through an in-line fuse).

Your green wire is always a path-to-ground.

Your blue wire should be "0" volts with the key switched to "off" and it should be 12 volts when the key is switched to "on".

And your purple wire(s) should carry whatever the relay's output voltage is at the moment, so when the blue wire is "cold" (key-switched power is "off") the purple wires should test at "0" volts (with your multimeter probes, one touched to the purple wire and the other probe touched to any convenient ground, such as the green wire of your relay). When the blue wire is "hot" (key-switched power is "on") the purple wire should test at 12 volts.

Putting your multimeter probes on Red and Green should give you the current reading of your battery's voltage (yes, 12.8).

Putting your multimeter probes on the Red and Purple proves nothing (a useless test) because all you're doing is "jumpering" across the relay.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the heads up on this. Great info and I appreciate the thorough response.

The buzzing sound is coming from the dash. So it must be a relay behind the dash. Although, the relay on the VFRness does not click or make any buzzing sound at all. I will check the relay again with the multimeter and see if they coincide with your comments. I will also check the grounding on the VFRness and be sure it is well grounded.

If any other thoughts or suggestions come up, please comment away. I would love to solve this puzzle sooner than later. Thanks again!

 

Look at this video, does your problem correspond?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUVp6gdn7KU

The guy in the video is a little scattered as he works through the problem but he gets there eventually, and he does mention a Honda Maintenance Recall for the 6th Gen affecting the path-to-ground for that relay (apparently there's a bit of weak or easy-to-damage wiring in the big blue connector block for the wiring at the front of your VFR).

Hope that helps.

 

I'll watch this now and report back. But yes, I do have the recall already done for the blue clip ground.

 

Just watched the vid. Great find btw. Unfortunately, my bike already has the recall performed. I wish this was the solution.

I'm going to look up how to test relays for functionality. The buzzing I am hearing comes from the dash only when the VFRness is plugged in. When I go back to the OEM connectors to the R/R vs VFRness, I do not get that buzz. Something is up with the VFRness. I have no experience in electrical work, so I'll be checking everything. Grounds, connectors, and if the relay on the VFRness is working correctly.

 

So just tested the relay. Everything is fine. It switches and I'm getting continuity at the right circuit when power is applied. I'm starting to get lost on what to check next? Any advice?