Low Fuel Warning

[Frontbrake]

A bit of advice please, I've not had my 02' 1150GS very long so please be gentle with me . Yesterday is the first time I have been out and run the fuel low . In the handbook it states that when the fuel indicator gets down to two bars the low fuel warning light illuminates . I ran it down to one bar and the light did not come on. I know this is really just a minor blip but I thought I'd ask . This is the first bike I have owned that has no switchable reserve . I have noticed that when I turn on the ignition all of the other warning lights come on the fuel level one does not. Could it just be a bulb and if so are they easy to change. Thanks in advance .
Cheers . Frontbrake

 

[motobiker]

on just one bar its usual for the light to come on if the bike is put on its sidestand. particularly if the bike is on a slight slope that exaggerates the 'lean'. It IS conceivable that the bulb has gone. Best way to test this is to run it dry with a few litres of fuel carried on the back (or in the panniers)

I think there's a fair amount of leeway between individual bikes as to when the light 'does' come on - and what fuel is actually remaining. you can really only discover the facts of the matter by testing it.

I normally look for a refill when the bars are steady on '2' and can normally squeeze between 14 and16 litres in.

 

[Pekkavee]

A bit of advice please, I've not had my 02' 1150GS very long so please be gentle with me . Yesterday is the first time I have been out and run the fuel low . In the handbook it states that when the fuel indicator gets down to two bars the low fuel warning light illuminates . I ran it down to one bar and the light did not come on. I know this is really just a minor blip but I thought I'd ask . This is the first bike I have owned that has no switchable reserve . I have noticed that when I turn on the ignition all of the other warning lights come on the fuel level one does not. Could it just be a bulb and if so are they easy to change. Thanks in advance .
Cheers . Frontbrake

When the light comes on you have 4 litres left.

Pekka

 

[Grim Rider]

The yellow fuel warning light on my 01 1150 doesn't usually come on until the last of the fuel bars has disappeared - if I stop fairly soon I can get around 18 litres in, don't start really worrying until have done 30 miles with the light on!

 

[DaveGSCymro]

The yellow fuel warning light on my 01 1150 doesn't usually come on until the last of the fuel bars has disappeared - if I stop fairly soon I can get around 18 litres in, don't start really worrying until have done 30 miles with the light on!

Me too.

 

[ianboydsnr]

The yellow fuel warning light on my 01 1150 doesn't usually come on until the last of the fuel bars has disappeared - if I stop fairly soon I can get around 18 litres in, don't start really worrying until have done 30 miles with the light on!

most I have had is 44 miles once the light was on, if you run out, lean the bike over to the right, there is allways a litre or so left in the left hand side of the tank, which you cannot access unless you tip the bike over to the right

 

[Steve.f]

Mine came on just when the last bar went off but when i had to brake a bit harsh the last bar came back on, i was thinking the same at first, didn't think it was working but did at least 20 miles before i filled up.

steve.

 

[vilguy]

60 miles on reserve the other day! with extremely steady throttle hand and keeping it below 70. But it took 22.5 litres to fill up the tank! Phew... just made it

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

The yellow fuel warning light on my 01 1150 doesn't usually come on until the last of the fuel bars has disappeared - if I stop fairly soon I can get around 18 litres in, don't start really worrying until have done 30 miles with the light on!

Yep - 03 GS and the light comes on when the last bar goes out - I'm in Hong Kong so we're using Kilometres but I can safely get AT LEAST 40 kilometres more with the light on ...

Nick

 

[Frontbrake]

Thanks

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated , but does the bulb illuminate when the ignition is turned on prior to starting the engine .
Cheers . Frontbrake

 

[paddy dougan]

fuel light

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated , but does the bulb illuminate when the ignition is turned on prior to starting the engine .
Cheers . Frontbrake

No, only when fuel is low,
P

 

[vilguy]

if its on its side stand it will come on even if you have loads of fuel left. Mine does it, light will be on but then a few seconds after being lifted up straight the bars will notch back up to 4 or 5 and the light will go out a few seconds after that.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Bungee a can of fuel to the back and ride it till:~

A) the light comes on,
B) it stops

then you'll know for sure!

Sounds like you need a new lamp to me tho, not a tricky thing to replace.

 

[Frontbrake]

Bungee a can of fuel to the back and ride it till:~

A) the light comes on,
B) it stops

then you'll know for sure!

Sounds like you need a new lamp to me tho, not a tricky thing to replace.

Sounds like a plan . Cheers .
Frontbrake

 

[ukaloon]

Mine used to come on after all the bars had gone off, then I changed the fuel filter and now it comes on with two, or sometimes one bar left.
I had the dealers telling me I neaded a new fuel sender for a couple of hundred pounds or something silly.
I recon it must have been an air lock which released when I had the tank on it's side.
The advice about running with a can of fuel on the back sounds good to me.

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

Mine used to come on after all the bars had gone off, then I changed the fuel filter and now it comes on with two, or sometimes one bar left.
I had the dealers telling me I neaded a new fuel sender for a couple of hundred pounds or something silly.
I recon it must have been an air lock which released when I had the tank on it's side.
The advice about running with a can of fuel on the back sounds good to me.

After the dealer replaced my fuel filter at a regular service, the bars on the meter NEVER go to full - it always stops at least one from the top - the tank is full, obviously. This is because they obviously moved or knocked something when replacing the filter. It's not a huge problem as the trip meter still tells me that I am ready for a refill and the fuel light still seems to come on at the right time. Don't tlet the dealers get silly money out of you for this type of thing ...

Cheers,

Nick

 

[GeoffC]

Ditto HK Nick. After a 24k service my fuel bars are all over the place. Iid this last year as well, after a bit of work but settled down after a few fill-ups, but not so this time. I believe the fuel gauge sensor is right under the tank so an empty tank is best before fiddling - but how much is a new sensor, is it straightforward and is it worth it?

 

[ukaloon]

After the dealer replaced my fuel filter at a regular service, the bars on the meter NEVER go to full - it always stops at least one from the top - the tank is full, obviously. This is because they obviously moved or knocked something when replacing the filter. It's not a huge problem as the trip meter still tells me that I am ready for a refill and the fuel light still seems to come on at the right time. Don't tlet the dealers get silly money out of you for this type of thing ...

Cheers,

Nick

That sound exactly the opposite of what happened to mine. It would never illuminate the top bar or two before the filter change.

 

[ukaloon]

Ditto HK Nick. After a 24k service my fuel bars are all over the place. Iid this last year as well, after a bit of work but settled down after a few fill-ups, but not so this time. I believe the fuel gauge sensor is right under the tank so an empty tank is best before fiddling - but how much is a new sensor, is it straightforward and is it worth it?

Judging from what happened to me and Nick I'd say keep your money in your pocket and either live with the gauge reading out or have the tank off and tip it on its side to see if it rights itself.

 

[motobiker]

If the fuel gauge starts to misbehave following a filter change then its VERY likely that the mechanic has distorted the sensor as he refitted the whole caboodle - why anyone would think (or suggest) they should fork out for a new one after that - beats me completely.

As it happens following the change over of tanks on my bike - the gauge has gone from never showing all the bars when brimmed - to acting exactly as it should do. I think its safe to assume its fitted correctly now.