help please - fuel gauge

[teamwimp]

had my 6000 service done recently and all was fine. Went out yesterday and after about 20 miles I braked heavily for a roundabout. My fuel gauge went from about 2/3 full to completely empty - not a single bar showing. Pulled over and checked fuel level by eye - looked ok - no leaks.

Filled up soon afterward (I'm a worrier) and only got 8 litres in.

I was wondering if there's a connector that gets undone during service that wasn't snapped back in and has now come loose - anybody got any ideas?

 

[swissrob]

the fuel gauge is just complete crap, mine often shows full then empty 2 mins later

 

[the civil one]

had my 6000 service done recently and all was fine. Went out yesterday and after about 20 miles I braked heavily for a roundabout. My fuel gauge went from about 2/3 full to completely empty - not a single bar showing. Pulled over and checked fuel level by eye - looked ok - no leaks.

Filled up soon afterward (I'm a worrier) and only got 8 litres in.

I was wondering if there's a connector that gets undone during service that wasn't snapped back in and has now come loose - anybody got any ideas?

You have probably had the latest "Fuel Gauge" Upgrade .
Its a Programming issue , Dealer only repair.

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

I'm glad i got on here tonight. Went for a long ride today and thought this GS thing is great (picked up bike yesterday) on the fuel as the gauge didn't move in 70 miles. Stopped for a break and then turned the bike back on and the fuel gauge went down to the last two bars????? WTF. Any body got any advice?

 

[Allan Davies]

Not much of a cure this:- Fill up, reset your trip1, ride the thing and make sure you fill up before it hits 200 miles. I do this as a matter of course as mine starting doing the same for a couple of weeks, then righted itself I think it knew I didn't care, and refused to take it to its computer friend at the dealership

 

[Viking]

Not much of a cure this:- Fill up, reset your trip1, ride the thing and make sure you fill up before it hits 200 miles.

I agree with Allen here, just reset the mileometer every time you fill her up at about 200 miles. cant go wrong that way.... Its a load of crap.. sometimes the reserve countdown looks good.. but then you stop and it resets itself and gives you some false security unless you know otherwise...

 

[teamwimp]

latest development:

started up 6 days after fuel gauge started reading zero and all appeared well - fuel gauge now showingf full bars - 200 ish range promised - hunky dory!


However 90 miles later still showing full and still promising a 200 range

less annoying than yellow triangles but equally useless

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Mine is still doing this. I fill up and then around the 90 mile mark it just goes down to the half way marker in a oner????. Does anybody know if this can be cured or is it really a case of re-setting the trip each time.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Same story here

- Fill up, reset your trip1 (T2 for me), ride the thing and make sure you fill up before it hits 200 miles.

When using the Zumo I tell it 190 miles on a tank, so I get another visual reminder. In reality I usually fill up before then as the journey, hunger, boredom, numb arse, dictates the fuel stops, not the fuel tank/gauge reading. Gauge dropping from max. to min. is almost a complete waste of time.


Never had a problem.

 

[ts2]

I've got an 06 GSA, and its the same story here. Only difference is that you can ride a bit further without filling up. Coming from bikes without fuel gauges I didn't particularly notice, as I just use the trip counter.

One thing I have noticed is that the drops in level are fairly predictable. Drops to half after 90-100 miles, then down a blip ~ every 5 miles, and sits on the bottom two for the rest of the tank. Reserve warning comes on and says I've 40 miles to go. It then counts down the miles till it has about a litre left.

Not really a gauge as such, more a pretty bar to amuse you on those long journeys.

 

[David Lee]

I've got an 06 GSA, and its the same story here. Only difference is that you can ride a bit further without filling up. Coming from bikes without fuel gauges I didn't particularly notice, as I just use the trip counter.

One thing I have noticed is that the drops in level are fairly predictable. Drops to half after 90-100 miles, then down a blip ~ every 5 miles, and sits on the bottom two for the rest of the tank. Reserve warning comes on and says I've 40 miles to go. It then counts down the miles till it has about a litre left.

Not really a gauge as such, more a pretty bar to amuse you on those long journeys.

I agree, I just wait for the low fuel light to come on. This seems to be pretty accurate, though I still managed 313miles and put 31litres in last time.

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

I've got an 06 GSA, and its the same story here. Only difference is that you can ride a bit further without filling up. Coming from bikes without fuel gauges I didn't particularly notice, as I just use the trip counter.

One thing I have noticed is that the drops in level are fairly predictable. Drops to half after 90-100 miles, then down a blip ~ every 5 miles, and sits on the bottom two for the rest of the tank. Reserve warning comes on and says I've 40 miles to go. It then counts down the miles till it has about a litre left.

Not really a gauge as such, more a pretty bar to amuse you on those long journeys.

That's the one. Bike is in soon so will post what they do / find.

 

[igsy]

I had the same on my 2008 GSA although it is accurate for 90% of time.

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

right promised i would keep you posted so here it is......Just got the bike back and .......................wait for it...................................there is nothing wrong with it, apparently it is quite normal for this to happen on the younger 05 onward models because of the float fuel system they use. Must admit even though it's not a great drama, I am still pi**ed off as you don't and shouldn't expect this kind of thing for the money you pay. Would rather they just didn't put a gauge on!

 

[Ali-bear]

I think there are several problems with this sub-system.

1. The fuel tank is irregular
2. The fuel level sensor is inaccurate
3. The fuel sloshes around
4. There is a considerable delay in the 'puter
5. Its a necessary feature for a bike with touring pretensions

All of which add up to a crap fuel gauge. The later model bikes aren't any better.

So use the trip meter like you would if it didn't have a fuel gauge in the first place.

And be grateful you didn't spend any extra money on the useless computer as well (unless you did of course)

 

[deaninkl]

boys and girls, enough has been said on this forum about GS fuel gauges for us all to know they are irreglar at best. One thing I will say is that the reserve part is relatively accurate and that from Full - to Empty is always pretty muct the same in overall km ridden. The interim bars are totally inaccrate and crap.

So you all get 2 trip meters on a GS, learn to use them. And remember only a few years ago you had a researve tank coque under your tank that you fiddled with in the rain as your bike was splutering at 80 in the fast lane.

spoild you lot..;o)

 

[stonetown]

errr 320+ miles if you're on a GSA

Not much of a cure this:- Fill up, reset your trip1, ride the thing and make sure you fill up before it hits 200 miles.

 

[Stu_C]

Glad to see that I am not the only one with this problem. It's not always been like this though, it only started about a week or two ago when I had to leave my GS parked out in the rain. Gauge shows full when tank is full and stays there till it drops to two bars over the reserve. then it stays there too!
I am cautious and don't want to get caught out so I use the trip to gauge myself when I need a refuel. Usually around 160miles.

It is a bit naff to have a bit of kit that doesn't work. And that BMW haven't sorted out a fix is even naffer (is that a word?) Ah well, at least I have a bike under my arse and petrol stations are abundant in my area

 

[teamwimp]

Err...............this thread has become somewhat sidetracked - it was not a general rant about fuel gauge inaccuracies but a post about a gauge that went from working perfectly (well.................) to not working at all. Suddenly showing empty when 2/3 full and later showing full when damned near empty.

Cause was? never explained but SLBMW remapped it/ flashed the eprom (is that legal?) and it is cured - now I can join in the general whingeing about inaccuracy as it is dangerously optimistic at low fuel levels.