Fuel Guage not working properly

[DavidJames]

I just got the bike back from the dealer after its 12000 mile service and the fuel guage is playing up. On the way to the dealer it went into reserve and so when I picked it up it was showing 30 miles until empty. I have run the tank low before without any problems so was not bothered as the distance until emtpy got down to 8 miles, but then it spluttered and cut out. My initial thoguhts was that the fuel pump problem had appeared, but as I broke down very close to my wife's office I got her to bring some fuel to me. I put a can of fuel in a it started no problem, but the fuel guage did not go up. I rode all the way home with the guage continually dropping until it got to 0 and then stayed there. I have tried switching everything off and on several times, given the bike a good shake (not sure why ) but still no change.

Any ideas anyone?

Cheers


David

 

[nedflanders]

I'd be onto the dealer sharpish finding out if they'd put any software updates on, mines going in next week so dreading it coming back worse than when it goes in as I'm away for 3 months and won't have chance to find out

 

[ianm00]

Its a standard well known problem. Probably the fuel guage sender unit needs replacing. I've had this replaced twice.

Ian

 

[DavidJames]

Its a standard well known problem. Probably the fuel guage sender unit needs replacing. I've had this replaced twice.

Ian

The sender seemed to work fine going down, just not coming up again - wierd!!

Oh well looks like another trip to the dealer

 

[spock]

what you need to do is, get a good thick branch from a nut bush and give it a good wackin with that.

 

[Shrek]

...I put a can of fuel in a it started no problem, but the fuel guage did not go up. I rode all the way home with the guage continually dropping until it got to 0 and then stayed there. .

Try Filling it up.

I know it happens with some cars, if you run out, one can of fuel is not enough to trigger the computer to reset or register fuel has been put in the tank.

 

[Moto loca]

Its a standard well known problem. Probably the fuel guage sender unit needs replacing. I've had this replaced twice.

Ian

you are right mine is the same

 

[GSmonkey]

The countdown will start from a given level in the tank. It will continue to countdown until it gets re-filled to a certain level, certainly more than a can full.

Try filling the tank back up and see how it goes.

 

[John Armstrong]

IIRC it needs more than 5 litres to "reset" the countdown. Probably in the manual

 

[DavidJames]

I'll give it a go - thanks.

Could not find anything in the manual

 

[the civil one]

Upgrade ! My Arse of an upgrade

earlier this year ,mine went in for a service , and came out with the Latest
fuel Gauge upgrade , it worked great until the tank emptied . It has shown
empty since , i just havent got around to havin it sent back to get it sorted.
What i was wonderin , when i do leave it back , will i have to pay or will the
dealer that gave me the""Latest "" upgrade , which i didnt ask for and
obviously dont want. ?.Repair it as a courtesy or will i have to pay.
Outa Warranty

 

[DavidJames]

Filling the tank did reset the guage and is now working as normal - i think!!

I am a bit worried why I ran out of fuel with 8 miles still showing, so I will carry a can of fuel and test it again when it gets low.

Cheers for the advice.

 

[Wapping]

As you have realised, the truth is often simpler than a lot of the complex theories.

Your (and others') immediate thought was that the fuel pump had gone wrong...but in reality you had simply run out of fuel.

Then you thought the gauge was faulty....or some thought that a software glitch had come in....but in reality it just needed a tank full of fuel to trip the guage back into life.

The same applies to the distance to empty reading....you ran out with, apparently, eight miles to go. The reason? The guage is simply not accurate. You have what, a 200 mile range? A 4% error would give you +/- eight miles. Just as easily next time you could run straight through the empty and carry on for, perhaps, twenty miles. Then the next time come to a grinding halt with, say, five miles showing.

The answer? Simply do what we all did before fuel guages became fashionable. Fill up before it runs dry....

Use the trip meter and look at how much, on average, you are putting in to fill the tank up. You will then get a pretty accurate measure of the bike's range.

 

[Shep]

As you have realised, the truth is often simpler than a lot of the complex theories.

Your (and others') immediate thought was that the fuel pump had gone wrong...but in reality you had simply run out of fuel.

Then you thought the gauge was faulty....or some thought that a software glitch had come in....but in reality it just needed a tank full of fuel to trip the guage back into life.

The same applies to the distance to empty reading....you ran out with, apparently, eight miles to go. The reason? The guage is simply not accurate. You have what, a 200 mile range? A 4% error would give you +/- eight miles. Just as easily next time you could run straight through the empty and carry on for, perhaps, twenty miles. Then the next time come to a grinding halt with, say, five miles showing.

The answer? Simply do what we all did before fuel guages became fashionable. Fill up before it runs dry....

Use the trip meter and look at how much, on average, you are putting in to fill the tank up. You will then get a pretty accurate measure of the bike's range.

Well said

On both my Budget 1200's I could get 200 miles before looking for fuel. no matter how I rode the bike. Ran out twice at around 220mls

Shep