How to fix fuel gauge -?

[leftofcentre]

Can somebody point me in the direction of where the fuel gauge sender "resistance strip" is on a 57 gs please. Can thispart be obtained? Is there a part #?

I have been trying to source parts and research on this next problem i am having with my quality motorbike but so far to no avail - just lots of members celebrating on how they have joined this next Equipment Failure Club

Dont mind having to ride from the trip computer but the flashing hazard symbol in my face is p**sing me off. Can this symbol be disabled?

Cheers
Andy

 

[Mark Hooton]

Not much of a help

Soz mate, I can`t be much of a help here but i did have mine replaced last week and they had to remove the top tank cover to get at it so it`s somewhere in that area

Wish i could be of more help - one of the more knowledgable lads on the forum will know for sure failing that pm Toad as he seems to know everything!

Regards,

Mark
www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk

 

[leftofcentre]

Soz mate, I can`t be much of a help here but i did have mine replaced last week and they had to remove the top tank cover to get at it so it`s somewhere in that area

Wish i could be of more help - one of the more knowledgable lads on the forum will know for sure failing that pm Toad as he seems to know everything!

Regards,

Mark
www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk

No probs, any help much appreciated.

I have found an item entitled "Additional Fuel Sender" on motorworks. This leads me to believe there are more than one? ??

 

[TeaPig]

there's an effing big round cap thing on the top LH side of the tank that holds the infamous FPC. Below that, inside the tank, but held onto the round cap is the fuel pump and a dangly float that estimates fuel level by casting runes into the void. The resistance strip varies the voltage that is passed to the ECU as the float wobbles up and down in the petrol

If your fuel level reading is all to cock it may be due to a failing resistance strip, but if it's done it all its life it may simply be thet the calibration that is programmed into the ecu is to blame. I've tried to get the dealer to reprogram mine but they claim it's within spec' which means BuMW are happy with a fuel level reading that's 20% to cock. Thank god they don't make aeroplanes anymore....maybe that's why they stopped

 

[leftofcentre]

there's an effing big round cap thing on the top LH side of the tank that holds the infamous FPC. Below that, inside the tank, but held onto the round cap is the fuel pump and a dangly float that estimates fuel level by casting runes into the void. The resistance strip varies the voltage that is passed to the ECU as the float wobbles up and down in the petrol

If your fuel level reading is all to cock it may be due to a failing resistance strip, but if it's done it all its life it may simply be thet the calibration that is programmed into the ecu is to blame. I've tried to get the dealer to reprogram mine but they claim it's within spec' which means BuMW are happy with a fuel level reading that's 20% to cock. Thank god they don't make aeroplanes anymore....maybe that's why they stopped

A float? I thought the GS had a pressure thingy??

AND its not a case of it being inacuracte, more a case of the whole bloody fuel guage bar has disapeared and the display now flashes "FUEL" in my face all the time.

BMW are SHITE at making bikes!

 

[Rasher]

there's an effing big round cap thing on the top LH side of the tank that holds the infamous FPC. Below that, inside the tank, but held onto the round cap is the fuel pump and a dangly float that estimates fuel level by casting runes into the void.

Although I am normally very critical of BMW's failings, but it has to be said they seem to be grouping all the shite parts together which is convenient, while your there you could swap out the FPC before it fails mid-overtake.

BMW are SHITE at making bikes!

Your starting to sound like me

 

[[email protected]]

fuel warning

i had this happen to after parking up my gsa on a hill where it sat all day.went to ride off flashing no petrol.hadnt looked what was in the tank when i parked up so went to the nearest petrol station put in £12 thought wtf.As i went to leave the garage forecourt I had to slam on as the car in front of me decided not to go on to the empty road ahead put turn sharp right instead. There i was cursing the build quality of Bmw and stupid car drivers so i decided to take a bumpy back route home.wasnt happy and pressed on a bit as you do. About half way home fuel gauge working again not had a problem since.Dont know if it was the sharp need to brake or my spirited riding that fixed things but you may want to try a safe brake test to see if it fixes itself before you get all oily with the spanners

 

[Hexme]

BMW are SHITE at making bikes!

As been said before, if you're not happy sell it.......

 

[ebbo]

My gauge has been reading wrong for a few years now (too high). I took a look at the sensor strip which on my RT is a odd shaped plastic molding hanging from the underside of the filler cap surround. It has 4 wires attached and I doubt there’s a thing you can do with it. I’d love to know if just fitting a new one would sort the problem without need for calibration

 

[Pukmeister]

i had this happen to after parking up my gsa on a hill where it sat all day.went to ride off flashing no petrol.hadnt looked what was in the tank when i parked up so went to the nearest petrol station put in £12 thought wtf.As i went to leave the garage forecourt I had to slam on as the car in front of me decided not to go on to the empty road ahead put turn sharp right instead. There i was cursing the build quality of Bmw and stupid car drivers so i decided to take a bumpy back route home.wasnt happy and pressed on a bit as you do. About half way home fuel gauge working again not had a problem since.Dont know if it was the sharp need to brake or my spirited riding that fixed things but you may want to try a safe brake test to see if it fixes itself before you get all oily with the spanners

There is a time delay between the level changing and the readout following (probably to prevent the level from bouncing continually up and down). Notice next time you fill up that the level stays low then rises slowly, also the range builds in the computer slowly (if you have it fitted), then suddenly decides your tank is full and gives you full range.

 

[jepo1967]

Hi my 09 se was done 3 weeks ago.Disconect battery. Drain tank. Remove tank plastics and side panels. Remove fuel lines( held on by clips) and 2 electrical cons on pump assy on top left of tank.Remove tank and loosen petrol filler.Unscrew large 5 inch ring holding pump assy in tank.Carefully lift out pump assy.remove level plug on bottom side of pump .sensor which is connected to filler can now be removed.Fuel level sensor part- 16147675547. Make sure sensor bottom end is located in slot in bottom of tank on re-assy.Sensor should re-calibrate itself when tank refilled (takes a while).I contacted BMW uk by e-mail telling them about the poor design, they said they weren,t aware of any problems. Maybe anybody else with this fault should do the same.Contact Claire Dale Customer Service Exec. E-mail [email protected]

 

[cookie]

AAMOI how does the tank panel come off?

the old, pre 08, models were retained by the filler which was held by 6 torx screws. new type not so obvious.

i only really glanced at it, but need to remove it for another job shortly.

 

[leftofcentre]

As been said before, if you're not happy sell it.......

But ive only just bought it!! AND only because i read how wonderful these machines are/best selling uk bike etc etc

 

[leftofcentre]

Hi my 09 se was done 3 weeks ago.Disconect battery. Drain tank. Remove tank plastics and side panels. Remove fuel lines( held on by clips) and 2 electrical cons on pump assy on top left of tank.Remove tank and loosen petrol filler.Unscrew large 5 inch ring holding pump assy in tank.Carefully lift out pump assy.remove level plug on bottom side of pump .sensor which is connected to filler can now be removed.Fuel level sensor part- 16147675547. Make sure sensor bottom end is located in slot in bottom of tank on re-assy.Sensor should re-calibrate itself when tank refilled (takes a while)

Splendid, thank you.

Just a quick question though - why the need to remove fuel tank?? Cant it be removed in situ??

 

[ebbo]

Hi my 09 se was done 3 weeks ago.Disconect battery. Drain tank. Remove tank plastics and side panels. Remove fuel lines( held on by clips) and 2 electrical cons on pump assy on top left of tank.Remove tank and loosen petrol filler.Unscrew large 5 inch ring holding pump assy in tank.Carefully lift out pump assy.remove level plug on bottom side of pump .sensor which is connected to filler can now be removed.Fuel level sensor part- 16147675547. Make sure sensor bottom end is located in slot in bottom of tank on re-assy.Sensor should re-calibrate itself when tank refilled (takes a while).I contacted BMW uk by e-mail telling them about the poor design, they said they weren,t aware of any problems. Maybe anybody else with this fault should do the same.Contact Claire Dale Customer Service Exec. E-mail [email protected]

Is your’s a strip type sensor Jepo?

"Sensor should re-calibrate itself when tank refilled (takes a while)"
Not sure how the sensor can calibrate itself as it won’t know when you've filled the tank or how much fuel you’ve put in, still, if it fixed your gauge’s inaccuracy then it looks reasonably doable.

“Make sure sensor bottom end is located in slot in bottom of tank on re-assy”
That’s a point as mine is likely not seated in any slot and maybe floating around in the fuel, I’ll have to check that out.

Thanks for the info Jepo

 

[getting older]

Mine's just gone today - flashes yellow and range went from 140 miles to zero in 10 miles. Problem is I'm no spanner man so it's a dealer job, & guess what, the warranty ranout 10 days ago! I would like to think my dealer will still fix it - any views? (or idea of cost!)

 

[ppgser]

I thought mine was shite so I sold it...

 

[jepo1967]

you could probably do this job with tank in situe but would be very fiddly threading sensor cons. back through tank to the bottomside of pump.Two torx bolts ,one each side removes tank. Forgot to say,on reasembly make sure pump seal/o-ring is seated properly and ring is tight or fuel will leak everywhere when tank is full, like mine did! Dont know how sensor re-calibrates itself ,but it strangely it does.I brimmed the tank and the range started at 90 miles then gradually over about 45 mins of riding built upto 180.It works ok ,but before the bike would do about 150 miles before warning light ,whereas now it does 130! At least the warning lights arent flashing in my face.Hope this helps.

 

[leftofcentre]

Hope this helps.

Yes it does - thanks mate!

Just out of interest, how much you pay for your sensor?

Thanks
Andy

 

[ebbo]

Dont know how sensor re-calibrates itself ,but it strangely it does.I brimmed the tank and the range started at 90 miles then gradually over about 45 mins of riding built upto 180.It works ok ,but before the bike would do about 150 miles before warning light ,whereas now it does 130! At least the warning lights arent flashing in my face.Hope this helps.

It all helps thanks, may well give this a go now, thanks again