ENGINE FAILURE!!!???

[Steve101]

Right this morning I thought it would be a good idea to get up real early and go to the Ace Cafe for breakfast.

We ended up getting a ride back to Wimborne from Fleet in a recovery lorry. I didn't even get breakfast!

About 20 miles from home the fuel guage went from full to empty! I looked in the mirrors expecting to see 30L of fuel over the motorway. I pulled over and checked the tank to still find it full. So I thought what the hell and carried on determined to get our breakfast!

40 miles down the road travelling at a steady speed in 6th I got a splutter as if it was running out of fuel... she died about 100 yards further on so coasted to side of road, to await recovery.

When we got home to make it easier to push up the driveway we stripped the luggage off of it. On the exhaust side pannier there was a big black patch of carbon deposits. I'm almost certain I would have noticed this before.

Recovery driver said it was probably the fuel pump and the the wiring burnt out.

So guys before it goes to the BMW dealer on Tuesday as that is when it next opens I turn my mini disaster over to the top team and ask you all for help?

I'm going to pop into the garage now and take the tank off to see if anything becomes obvious. However any suggestions are greatfully recevied to bring me out of a stressy, would be super!! (The other half would also appreciate me not being in a stressy too)

 

[Tarka]

There`s too many things that need checking for a proper reply,mate.

With the ignition switched on,are you getting the warning lights ??

Can you hear the fuel pump running ??

Does the engine turn over via the starter motor ??

Are the plugs sparking ??

Is there oil in the engine ??

You need to follow a logical sequence of checks to narrow it down.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Which model bike is it? Could be fuel pump but that wouldn't affect the fuel guage. So, assuming the two symptoms are connected, it sounds more electrical than pump. Loose battery connections?

Paul

 

[Paul Young]

Like Tarka said, there are lots of possibilities.

If you switch on the ignition & get power to the fuel pump, you'll hear it whine & then stop as it gets up to pressure. If no sound & no fuel gauge on the RID, check the connector block on the fuel tank electrics. Pull the panel off the right hand side, below the tank. Pull the connectors apart & clean up the contacts. Snap it back together & turn the ignition on again.

HTH,

 

[Steve101]

I knew I could rely on you guys! Paul Young was spot on. When I went out to the garage I went to remove the tank first off as everything else had been eliminated. So upon removing the side panel I checked the connector block and it clicked together.

I reckon when they carried out the service a short time ago it was not put back in correctly and over the last thousand miles the vibes have loosened it.

I started her up and she ran like a dream once again. Fuel guage back on too, & showing a full tank... oh joy good excuse to use the tank of jungle juice just to make sure it works!!!

I think I will give the dealers a ring though just to inform them what had happened!!

Cheers Troops!!

 

[Tarka]

Good one...well done

Cheers for reporting back,too.

Hope you`re having a rather enjoyable beer now.......I am anyway.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

BEER BEER???????

What's up with the cider? You haven't runout of it have you

Moi, I'm currently topping up the two pints of lunchtime Grolsch (no real beer, & only Strongbow available) with a bottle of Shiraz.

Thanks again for your physcological backup. HMM strange spelling there must be the alcohol

 

[Tarka]

BEER BEER???????

What's up with the cider? You haven't runout of it have you

I used the term 'beer' as a generic term for 'alcoholic refreshment of one`s choice'.

In my case,cider....hmm,a case of cider...sounds like a plan....


As for me running out of it.......that`s about as likely as me running out of bike cleaning equipment or hair products.....

 

[ELIMINATOR]

During my varying bouts of depression, I've been known to favour.......



Frosty jacks or White Lightning Quick result.

I remember one day going to work (07;15) & passing 2 winos, drinking Heldenbrau, I thought "sad bastards", later I realised that I was on the way to work, while they were happy. I thought, " Who is the sad bastard?" Ok them, but you know what I mean.