Fuel Gauge - what happened???

[rtm]

Riding along this afternoon after filling up and the fuel gauge went from full bars to zero with the amber warning light on but was still showing 350+ in the tank on the miles counter before shortly correcting itself. About 20 minutes later it did the same again but this time the fuel miles counter starting counting down from 330 to 290 miles rapid, literally as I was watching it before I pulled in thinking I had sprung a leak! Tank was still showing a lot of fuel so I drove home (gauge corrected itself on way home) then failed as I pulled in my drive way.

What is going on?? My bike is a 2008 Adventure with 20k on the clock. I also have warranty cover with Warranty Direct.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

It's the fuel strip sender that is stuffed. Search the forum and you will see loads of threads on them. They are absolute garbage.

 

[Bendy toy]

Google fuel strip zapper

 

[AberdeenAngus]

They fail regularly. Suggest you contact your warranty people.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

If you decide to get the strip replaced by your BMW dealer they give a 2 yr warranty on the new strip. But will cost you £150 or so. Only took them a few minutes to do.

I had mine replaced on my 2009 GSA at about 6K miles and a few weeks later the new one failed. When I can be bothered, and before the two years are up I shall get it replaced under the 2 yr warranty. No doubt I it will be an ongoing saga for the life of the bike!

 

[rtm]

I take it there is no problem driving it like this other than the gauge being all over the place? What sort of money are we talking to repair? I have a warranty direct policy but alas, this is not covered!!

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

I take it there is no problem driving it like this other than the gauge being all over the place? What sort of money are we talking to repair? I have a warranty direct policy but alas, this is not covered!!

See my post above. It's fine to continue riding, but the warning light is bloody annoying. You can always use the trip on the dash to monitor your miles.

 

[Rocketman]

Got quoted 200 by my local stealer to sort fuel strip out ,on my 08 ...gs that's ten full tanks . So I may get it done one day when I'm feeling flush but for now it's resetting the trip after every fill up for me ,which I do every 160- 190 miles just to be on safe side..

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

I got mine done whilst it was at the dealers for the fuel pump recall so got it done a little cheaper than normal.

 

[TLSgazza]

Mine packed up again on weds evening, asked wollastons how much to replace, was told 217 quid, this is the 3rd one since I've had the bike, almost makes me wish I'd taken out the extended warranty for yet another year.

 

[RonnieG]

Come on guys BMW UK say there is nothing wrong with these fuel gauge strips so they must be fine! This is despite BMW USA admitting there is and extending the warranty on the strips to 12 years in the US market.

I got quoted over £200 to fix mine even during the tank recall check so a few months ago when my fuel strip went similarly I just zapped it with the piezo out the garden gas BBQ and the gauge worked fine for a bit then has read full ever since which I can live with ok as it keeps the yellow warning light out and I always used the trip meter to judge fuel anyway so that works for me.

 

[Bendy toy]

There is also a "fix" with resistors to fool the electronics to read full fuel so no warning triangle.

 

[(RIP) orbit]

Mine has just died again since I "zapped" it nearly two years ago.

Still have 2.9 K ohm between the two centre contacts on the socket 2/3 but infinity on the two outside connectors 1/4

so looks like the problem is with the heater contacts. Anyone know what the resistance should read between pins 1+4 before I try "zapping" them?

 

[Andy63]

See my post above. It's fine to continue riding, but the warning light is bloody annoying. You can always use the trip on the dash to monitor your miles.

I once owned a car where the fuel sender broke I tried to calculate from the mileage. I ran out of petrol someone stopped and took me to the fuel station, a week later I ran out of petrol again at exactly the same place to my embarrassment the same person stopped and took me to the fuel station again.

Fix the strip calculating or watching the mileage will do your head in!!

 

[AlexG]

Interesting range of quotes for cost of replacing the fuel strip. Mine is in for rear wheel hub replacement next week so I enquired about having the fuel strip replaced at the same time...I was quoted £270-£300! Not too surprisingly I declined and will carry on zapping and watching the trip.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Interesting range of quotes for cost of replacing the fuel strip. Mine is in for rear wheel hub replacement next week so I enquired about having the fuel strip replaced at the same time...I was quoted £270-£300! Not too surprisingly I declined and will carry on zapping and watching the trip.

Rainbow BMW Rotherham replaced mine last year for £180, comes with 2 yr guarantee. They will be replacing it again very soon under guarantee.

 

[Bendy toy]

I once owned a car where the fuel sender broke I tried to calculate from the mileage. I ran out of petrol someone stopped and took me to the fuel station, a week later I ran out of petrol again at exactly the same place to my embarrassment the same person stopped and took me to the fuel station again.

Fix the strip calculating or watching the mileage will do your head in!!

Thanks for sharing this. I've been using the trip to guess remaining miles for at least 12 months but recently got caught out.
The 35 litre tank is nice to have but 300 miles (give or take) takes a long time so it's all too easy to get caught out.
For the cost of a fuel strip you could fit a Ballistic battery under the petrol tank and use the battery box space to carry a spare fuel can.

 

[Bendy toy]

With some fuel strips failing so soon after fitting I do wonder if the problem is down to clumsy handling in storage or fitting. At least in part.

 

[Andy63]

My bike was recalled a few weeks ago for rear disc flange while in they said they had to change one of the fuel pumps as well, when I got it back the gauge was saying empty.
I was told to fill the tank and it would re calibrate so filled it up and it did read full 180 miles later the fuel light comes on.

Its in as I write this having the fuel strip replaced.

 

[bod]

My (early) Twin Cam was done under warranty!

But it turned out that my bike actually had a float assembly ... but it had fallen apart?