Display symbols listing

2005 R1200GS

I've been getting an intermittent yellow warning light and a display symbol I can't find.

Before I can get my phone out to take a picture, it goes away.

My best description is a stopwatch with an arrow pointing down on the right side.

I've looked in the owner's manual and googled searched.

There is no rideability or operational issues as far as I can tell.

All lights work, oil level is in the glass, brakes work as normal ...

Is there a list somewhere that shows all the display icons and their meaning?

2005 R1200GS

 

I've been getting an intermittent yellow warning light and a display symbol I can't find.

 

Before I can get my phone out to take a picture, it goes away.

 

My best description is a stopwatch with an arrow pointing down on the right side.

 

I've looked in the owner's manual and googled searched.

 

There is no rideability or operational issues as far as I can tell.

 

All lights work, oil level is in the glass, brakes work as normal ...

 

Is there a list somewhere that shows all the display icons and their meaning?

Morning mitchntx

That sounds like a light out warning. The down arrow means a rear bulb.

You can't always tell that a rear tail light bulb is out as the ABS system brings the brake light on at part brightness to act as a tail light.

Without seeing EXACTLY what you are seeing no way to be absolutely sure but it sure points to a tail light bulb out.

Bingo ... that's it exactly.

Where did you find that?

All bulbs work ... Brake, running and blinker(s)

Could it be a loose tail light connection?

I tried installing a plug and play rear flashing light kit that didn't work out. I had a heckuva time getting the connection apart and then back together.

Bingo ... that's it exactly.

Where did you find that?

 

All bulbs work ... Brake, running and blinker(s)

 

Could it be a loose tail light connection?

 

I tried installing a plug and play rear flashing light kit that didn't work out. I had a heckuva time getting the connection apart and then back together.

Afternoon mitchntx

It usually turns out to be a bad bulb (even though they look good).

But in your case it could be a problem in the connection area.

Your rear bulb is a dual filament 21/5 Watt bulb with the 5 watt being the tail light & the 21 watt being the brake light.

IF/WHEN the rear 5 watt tail light filament fails the computer brings the 21 watt brake light filament on at partial brightness in place of the burnt out tail light filament (so the bike has a working tail light) then illuminates the dash bulb-out warning to tell the rider that they have a burnt out taillight.

When looking at the taillight it will appear to be working normally as the bike will have a working tail light & working brake light but it still has a burnt out tail light bulb filament.

Bingo ... that's it exactly.

Where did you find that?

 

All bulbs work ... Brake, running and blinker(s)

 

Could it be a loose tail light connection?

 

I tried installing a plug and play rear flashing light kit that didn't work out. I had a heckuva time getting the connection apart and then back together.

 

Afternoon mitchntx

 

It usually turns out to be a bad bulb (even though they look good).

 

But in your case it could be a problem in the connection area.

 

Your rear bulb is a dual filament 21/5 Watt bulb with the 5 watt being the tail light & the 21 watt being the brake light.

 

IF/WHEN the rear 5 watt tail light filament fails the computer brings the 21 watt brake light filament on at partial brightness in place of the burnt out tail light filament (so the bike has a working tail light) then illuminates the dash bulb-out warning to tell the rider that they have a burnt out taillight.

 

When looking at the taillight it will appear to be working normally as the bike will have a working tail light & working brake light but it still has a burnt out tail light bulb filament.

 

It could be that one of the two bulbs is out or intermittent. Or, as you've speculated, it could be a loose connection.

 

It could be that one of the two bulbs is out or intermittent. Or, as you've speculated, it could be a loose connection.

Afternoon Dave

I think the 05 GS only has a single (dual filament) bulb.

Wow ... thanks a ton ...

Before I begin the lower GI track exploratory again, I will double check the lamp.

Been over and through pretty rough roads of late.

So a broken filament is very possible.

Also began after a forest road trek.

You know you are in the sticks when you see this ...

All the warning lights and symbols are explained and illustrated in the owner's manual, roughly pages 17-25, the section titled Status Indicators. Copies of the manual can be downloaded here: www.bmw-motorrad.com.

At the rear of the manual, under Technical Data, bulb types are listed. The bulb specified for the brake light is a dual filament P25-2, also known as a P21/5W. A bulb more common in the U.S, an 1157, might work, but is not quite as bright.

Tail lamp is fine.

Checked visually, with an ohm meter and electrically. Both filaments illuminate.

Guess its back into rear bowels of this beast to check the connector.

Tail lamp is fine.

 

Checked visually, with an ohm meter and electrically. Both filaments illuminate.

 

Guess its back into rear bowels of this beast to check the connector.

Morning mitchntx

Just keep in mind that your problem seems to

be intermittent so your bulb could still test

good but have an intermittent tail light filament

operation under engine vibration or heating load.

Or possibly in that connector that you tried to get

apart. IF the problem is in the connector then your

problem (intermittent connection) is probably in either

the (gray/black/yellow) wire connection or the

(gray/red/yellow) wire connection.