GSA fuel range read out inaccurate - known problem?

[Lord Snooty]

I recently purchased a 10 plate R1200GSA from this forum and managed to run out of petrol a couple of days later.

Ok, a muppet thing to do but I have mitigating circumstances - firstly the amber reserve warning light did not illuminate and secondly the range read out said I had fuel for 60 plus miles so both of these indicators led me to believe I had fuel...

I have used the search facility and it appears to be a known problem? Has there been a recall for it?

I called Clarke's BMW at Rednal and they said it could take all day to sort it as it requires a lot of investigation - hellooooo, 7 hours labour at £70 an hour - I don't think so

Any advice would be welcome, is there a fix?, is it a recall?, or do I just live with it?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Fuel sender is duff as are a lot of them. There was never a recall and they never found a cure other than putting a new sender in which generally fails again.
Options are get it replaced or say hello to your new friend the trip meter.

 

[Beemerman59]

Do you know if your bike has a fuel strip or the later type? If you have a GS911 it can tell you. I think BMW switched over from the fuel strips in 2010 sometime as they were painfully prone to failure or inaccuracies. I would use the trip and work on 10 miles to a litre for safety.

 

[KAYCEE]

Sounds like the known issue with the fuel level strip thats in the tank.

I was quoted just over £200 to have it replaced. As far as I know its not covered under a recall. However, my bike a 08 GSA is covered by a recall to sort out some seal in the fuel tank, and the dealer said that he could change the fuel level strip at the same time and it would save me £100. ??

 

[Bendy toy]

Some seem to fail time and again. Others go on and on. Is this because the unfortunate bikes have been "repaired" every time by the same kak-handed mechanic?

Just get a peizo gas lighter and zap the thing.

Also get the fuel pump recall done. If its not pumping fast enough, the fuel tank wont empty properly.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

The pizo trick only works on broken strips (never change or read empty all the time) not inaccurate ones. A GS911 or dealer would be able to recalibrate it but odds are it will go out again.

 

[cxp]

I heard that there is a fix that gets rid of the warning,...any one know the details ?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

It's the pics gas lighter mentioned above or do you mean adding the resistors to give a fake reading?

 

[SteveM]

or do you mean adding the resistors to give a fake reading?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Might be wise to read the whole thread to get an understanding of what is going on but this is direct to the diagram.

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=770624&page=6

 

[Pukmeister]

It could be enough fuel in the tank, but insufficient return flow to the left hand side of the pump where the fuel pump sits.

Do a search for "Sucking jet pump" and you should find the relevant information.

The fix is to replace the fuel pump with a new one to improve fuel pressure/flow rate and drive the jet pump sufficiently to return fuel to where it should be.

If the bike stutters and cuts out again, lean the bike over to the left as far as you can and see if it will then restart once upright again.

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine just filled up with 35.96 litres of Shell super posh. There were no hiccups but so much for relying on the trip meter.