Yellow fuel warning triangle despite half-full tank

[Tim Cullis]

Interesting problem on my 56-plated 1200GSA.

The onboard computer reckons there's fuel for 130+ miles which ties in to what I know is in the tank, yet the fuel bar guage shows empty and the yellow fuel warning light is on.

I stuck another 10 litres in to see whether it made any difference. No.

Advice welcome, especially as I'm trying to get it ready to sell.

Tim

 

[Tim Cullis]

Any ideas?

 

[Racey]

Tim

This happened to mine (2008). The local BMW lads seemed to know all about the fault as soon as i mentioned the symptoms...

Apparently this is a regular issue on the 1200. There is some form of "strip" inside the tank which registers fuel quantity remaining in tank. On occasions this "strip" either detaches from top or bottom fixing and gives false readings or just stops working for a different reason - invariably as you have found, showing empty when there is fuel in there...

I was lucky mine happened during the warranty period.

It was a case of the lads replacing said internal "strip" and then quite a long recalibration / reprogramming process. But all is well now...

Part No: Fuel level sensor 6147675547 (11 on reference diagram)

 

[phooey]

Tim

This happened to mine (2008). The local BMW lads seemed to know all about the fault as soon as i mentioned the symptoms...

Apparently this is a regular issue on the 1200. There is some form of "strip" inside the tank which registers fuel quantity remaining in tank. On occasions this "strip" either detaches from top or bottom fixing and gives false readings or just stops working for a different reason - invariably as you have found, showing empty when there is fuel in there...

I was lucky mine happened during the warranty period.

It was a case of the lads replacing said internal "strip" and then quite a long recalibration / reprogramming process. But all is well now...

Part No: Fuel level sensor 6147675547 (11 on reference diagram)

+1

 

[Tim Cullis]

Thanks for that, guys.

Tim

 

[grasmith0149]

Yellow warning light

My 2004 1200 just started something similar, althougth it only shows half full when I know its full, seems to work ok for the bottom half of the tank though

 

[elevensies]

Tim,

its a common fault, weird though, as there is no trip counter, its very difficult to judge unless you note the mileage.

im used to mine now

 

[Giles]

I've had two fuel guages go on my RT. I spoke with my local dealer yesterday about something else, and asked him about the fuel guage problem, he tells me the 2010 GS has gone back to a float system because they've had so many problems with the electronic strip.

 

[springonion]

had the same problem with mine. Mine just went suddenly as in it stuck at half full. As I used it purely based on the fuel guage reading (bad move I know now), I ran out of fuel!

The dealer recovered me an put a new strip in under warranty. If you see the quality of the strip they use though, it doesn't inspire confidence that it will stay working.

On top of that my mates 09 GSA is now booked in for the same problem!!

The techies told me it was a bit of a sod of a job as you have to drain the tank, let it dry out, fir the new strip etc.

 

[Mark I H]

Hi I had the same problem on my 07 GSA that was nine months out warranty Clark's sorted me out and I only had to pay for the labour cost. £63.00. BMW provide the part free as they know it a well none fault. When it was in for repair they also had a three month old GSA in with the same fault. When you take it in for repair the dealer will want the tank full to the brim.

 

[Racey]

Hi I had the same problem on my 07 GSA that was nine months out warranty Clark's sorted me out and I only had to pay for the labour cost. £63.00. BMW provide the part free as they know it a well none fault. When it was in for repair they also had a three month old GSA in with the same fault. When you take it in for repair the dealer will want the tank full to the brim.

Bollox... The tank needs to go in as close to empty as you can...

The solution has been posted... Why oh why do people feel obliged to contribute thereafter ?

Just to get their post count up ?

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Bollox... The tank needs to go in as close to empty as you can...

The solution has been posted... Why oh why do people feel obliged to contribute thereafter ?

Just to get their post count up ?

what do you mean

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Oh i get it now