A slightly different fuel strip question.

flo3flo

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Location
Hayle, Cornwall, UK
2008 GS.
18k miles.
Bought the bike just over 12 months ago. I am the second owner. Previous owner had FSH with Motorrad Plymouth.

The fuel gauge always showed more fuel than there actually was.
When the tank was brimmed, the gauge would show full and would decrease as the fuel was used.
Though 3 or 4 bars meant empty. (ran out a couple of times!) I never had the low fuel warning light come on.

I figured that the strip simply needed calibrating so I bought a GS-911.
I carefully took the strip out and plugged the strips connector back in to the pump housing and allowed it to fully dry outside the tank.

When I turned the ignition on it still showed 3 bars (empty tank for me). After the 90 second cycle it then changed to empty, the amber light came on and the word 'fuel' flashed on screen.

All attempts to calibrate it with the GS-911 failed with an error message and fault code 'implausible or unreliable signal' (or words to that effect)

I replaced everything and brimmed the tank. I now have the very common, permanent empty amber light etc etc!:mad:

I tested the external fuel strip connector terminals (at the pump) and got 0.07v. This is the same as the live readings on the GS-911 when connected to the strip.

I then tested the same terminals and started the fuel strip heater test cycle on the GS-911. The readings remained the same 0.07v.
Surely the volts should rise during the test cycles when the ECU is asking the strip to heat up?

I'd appreciate advice from any electrical gurus.
 
Not sure whether the 1200 has the same float set-up as the 1150 - on that you could quite easily reinstall the fuel float/filter/pump ring to the tank in the wrong position which would give wrong readings (hope I've made that clear). Just a thought.
 
I thought it had to be calibrated in the tank whilst filling with fuel gradually, or at least that's what I thought the dealer meant,
I had mine done at the dealers, mostly because of the warranty on the new strip
 
flo3flo said:
In that case, where is the cheapest place I can buy a replacement.


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Click to expand...

I don't think you have much of a choice other than a main dealer. Motorworks told me that they weren;t allowed to sell them anymore. I paid £114 including postage.
 
gazza12adv said:
I thought it had to be calibrated in the tank whilst filling with fuel gradually, or at least that's what I thought the dealer meant,
I had mine done at the dealers, mostly because of the warranty on the new strip
Click to expand...

When using a GS911 it's calibrated dry with the strip outside of the tank.
 
Apologies for my pathetic input Flo - am relatively new to the 12 (2011 GSA) and hadn't read all the problems this item has kicked up. Your post prompted me to read Spike's thread which has made me fully conversant with the issue...fingers crossed and all that.
 
Many people have simply dropped in new fuel strips and had them work just fine. Until they pack up like every other fuel strip does.

Have you confirmed that you are actually emptying the tank when it seems to run dry?

If the fuel pump controller is faulty, the return fuel flow (back from the injectors) is not sufficient to empty the right side of the tank so you run out with fuel in the tank. Take a spare can with you and run the bike until it stops. When it's filled work out how much fuel was actually used (mpg etc). If the bike is not fully emptying the tank you'll know its the fuel pump controller or (much less likely) the fuel pump itself.
 
Sunny Jim said:
Apologies for my pathetic input Flo - am relatively new to the 12 (2011 GSA) and hadn't read all the problems this item has kicked up. Your post prompted me to read Spike's thread which has made me fully conversant with the issue...fingers crossed and all that.
Click to expand...

No problem. Cheers.


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Bendy toy said:
Many people have simply dropped in new fuel strips and had them work just fine. Until they pack up like every other fuel strip does.

Have you confirmed that you are actually emptying the tank when it seems to run dry?

If the fuel pump controller is faulty, the return fuel flow (back from the injectors) is not sufficient to empty the right side of the tank so you run out with fuel in the tank. Take a spare can with you and run the bike until it stops. When it's filled work out how much fuel was actually used (mpg etc). If the bike is not fully emptying the tank you'll know its the fuel pump controller or (much less likely) the fuel pump itself.
Click to expand...

I don't believe in suffering the non emptying problem bendy.
When I syphoned out that last bit of petrol out, there was only 1.5 litres left.
I put this back in the tank and rode a few miles to the petrol station no problem.


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Bendy toy said:
If the fuel pump controller is faulty, the return fuel flow (back from the injectors) is not sufficient to empty the right side of the tank so you run out with fuel in the tank.
Click to expand...

What part does the FPC have to play in the return fuel flow? All the FPC does is turn the fuel pump on and off, it doesn't have a physical connection with the vacuum pump on the other side of the tank. If the FPC is faulty the fuel pump just won't run and the bike won't start.
 
A controller that's not working properly can mimic a weak fuel pump. The bike will run if the pump operation is weak but the return fuel flow can be too slow to drive the ejector pump. So a failing controller can cause the problem. Its easy to test - bypass the controller and see if problem resolves.
 
Does the controller not reduce the pump output when full output is not required??
So the pump is not running full pelt when you are just cruising to tesco?
 
Sadly, despite many attempts, zapping my fuel strip has not worked.
I made a zapper that makes a lovely strong arc at the end of the wires with spade connectors.
With a full tank I connected my zapper to the two middle terminals of the fuel strip socket on the outer of the fuel pump.

It isn't arcing outside the tank anywhere, so must be taking the path of least resistance inside somewhere.

I'm going to wait until my fuel has dropped to near empty and take the strip out and try again. Hopefully I'll be able to see where the arc is taking place (or not).
Bugger and balls!:mad:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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