Erratic fuel gauge, 2006 GSA

Well that's very interesting and great news :D I've done no more - I've been waiting to see what happened with you, at BMW's expense!

So I think I'd better order a new regulator, and if that doesn't do it, then I'll go for a pump. Did you ever discover whether they replaced only the pump, or the flange as well? Which dealer was it, I might give them a call to check what they were measuring?

Be good if you could just confirm how many litres she takes?
 
I'll post up tomorrow what fuel I get in.

I'm popping in to the dealer to let them know how its been so i'll speak to the tech guy to find out what measurements were taken.


I would say they only changed the pump, not flange but trying to find out for sure isn't easy :blast:blast
Its amazing how much info gets lost between the chap working on the bike and the person on the desk!!
But then the tank swap would have proved that.


Hope this has been helpful.

Speak to you tomorrow.
 
Another one

Very interesting read... I have a 2010 GSA doing exactly the same thing.
Went in last week and they said they replaced the fuel gauge under warranty (assuming they mean the sensor), very pissed off to find the range jump from 170 range to 70 again this morning within a couple of miles then down to 38 and back up to 60 (I'm not that erratic on the throttle :-).

Please post again Tony & confirm all is still OK so that I can make my dealer aware of the regulator/pump "fix".

Any details you can give about your dealer - or even the name of the BMW top dog who finally sorted would be gratefully received.
Cheers
Steve
 
Hi Ian

Can't get to the dealer until the morning but I have
filled up with fuel!
10 miles left on the range and from my calculations I figured
on being able to do perhaps 30 miles.
Which would be great as I would expect there to be
some fuel left even when reading empty.
30.2 litres went in. Bike hasn't cut out once.
I reckon that's a good result.


Hi Steve

Just make sure we're talking about the same problem
as there are few!
And I'm sure mine had at least two!

If your bike is stopping (as in running out of fuel) but the goes again after
a shake, and when you then fill up you only get
about 27-28 litres in, meaning approx 5 litres left then
I'd say it's the fuel pressure/flow issue as with mine.

If its just an erratic fuel sender, then the new one could be nackered too! :blast

I'm sure the chap that my dealer spoke to over the phone
was called Ian, I'll see what details I can get tomorrow.

Cheers
Tony
 
Tone, I do reckon you've cracked it! The miles/litres sound right. Mind you not sure we'll be able to afford 33 litres in one go now, it was a lot cheaper last time i got that much in :D If you glean any further info from dealer re measurements etc, I'd really appreciate it.

Steve, I'm not at all sure you've got the same problem we're talking about - my fault really, as the thread title was just a symptom, not the real cause.
 
yeh - sorry for jumping on the bandwagon guys - just erratic fuel guage/range at the moment and was clutching at straws I guess - haven't let it get low enough to run out of fuel cos when the range starts jumping about I fill er up.

To be honest I can use the odometer most of the time but for over 12 grands worth of bike (plus extra for the computer option) and only 18 months old - I expect the bloody thing to work.

Will see if ANOTHER new sender sorts it when it goes in.

Glad you fellas sound as though you are sorted anyway :-)
 
Right mate, the measurements were in mbar.
So from what I can gather you need at least 188mbar or 2.7psi
to get the Venturi sucker pump working correctly.
Mine was reading 130mbar / 1.9psi
Now it reads 488mbr / 7.1psi

You probably know a lot more about this than I do Ian,
but it looks like the return fuel pressure needs to be around 1/2 bar
That sound about right to you, if it's going in at 4bar :nenau

Hi Steve
It does sound like a different problem but it's still needs
sorting. I think we're all used to using our trips to gauge
when we need to fill up accurately but you would expect it to
repeat it's reading, even if it's wrong :duno:duno:duno
Sometimes the gauges just need recalibrating.
Hope you get it sorted.
Let's us know, may help some others looking for answers:type

Cheers lads.
 
Thanks Tone.

I don't have anything handy to measure that range of pressures accurately, so a new Regulator's on order - I'll let you know how it goes!
 
:beerjug:Problem solved.:clap

Hi all,
Having been suffering the same problems as you guys from the day I purchased my 2011 GSA it went in under warranty for the second time to fix the problem.
This time the 'Fuel Pump' was replaced. One full tank later I've managed 314 miles and just put 32.6 litres of fuel in. Up until now I've never managed more than 270 miles and a max of 28 litres of fuel.
Well happy and now taking the jerry can out of the top box.
Hope this helps anyone suffering with the same issues.

Cheers all

Nick:JB
 
Well glad you're sorted Nick :)

But not such good news for me, as I'm hoping the regulator fixes it (now on order) :blast Guess I'll try it first, being the cheapest bit @ £38.50 + vat. Pump next :eek:
 
IanC said:
Guess I'll try it first, being the cheapest bit @ £38.50 + vat. Pump next :eek:
Click to expand...

And I'm going to be even cheaper by waiting to see if the regulator fixes it for you :D (besides, the bike is currently being split in half to replace the clutch, extra fuel ain't going to make it go much further at the moment).
 
My 2010 is going in next week due to this. Was told there is a note on the system from BMW which acknowledges the problem of fuel only draining from one half of the tank, but has no details of a real fix. Interestingly it does state that the suction jet pump *isn't* the cause and as such won't be replaced under warranty, but instead advises the replacement of the fuel pump. FPR wasn't mentioned, but will try push for that too.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Well guys, it's sorted :JB Got 35 (yes thirty-five!) litres in today, when I was showing 6 miles range remaining (I did the fuel neck mod while I had the tank apart). I was ecstatic for a few seconds, right up until I reached the cashier :D

Turns out it was the fuel pump, though not sure whether the actual pump or the flange was at fault as I came accross a secondhand one and replaced the lot.

So for anyone with the problem in the future, here's what (I think) we've learned:

Basic problem is that the Sucking Jet Pump (which is not mechanical or electrical, just a simple venturi) doesn't function when there's not enough pressure/flow on the return line from the Fuel Pressure Regulator. I reckon by my own very approximate measurements you need at least 500cc/min. Normally it should be continually transferring fuel from RH to LH lobes.

But this can be for a variety of reasons (and probably more):

If I came accross the problem again, and the above didn't fix it, I'd also consider:
  • Blocked 'sock' on the bottom of the fuel pump
  • Kinked pipe inside the tank (from the SJP)
  • Kinked/pinched fuel lines
  • Blocked tank breather
  • Probably not the Fuel Pump Controller - I'm told these either work or don't! But if nothing else fixed it....
  • Probably not the Sucking Jet Pump, as it's almost too simple to fail - but again, if nothing else works?
  • Fitting a Balance Pipe?
  • Buying a Triumph Explorer :D
Hope this saves someone else the grief we've all had!
 
Alternative pump on ebay

Just found this on ebay

It looks like the right pump, the size seems correct from what I can remember. At $70 + $15 postage it is not a bad price. Might have to give it a try.

Anyone used one of these? Has anyone got the measurements of the pump diameter, length and outlet diameter?
 
That looks like it, and at a good price! I reckon from US if they say it's for a 1200GS, it will be.

But I never ascertained whether mine was actually the pump or the flange at fault. I think the pump would be favourite though. Good luck!

Hope your clutch sorted OK - just noticed my FD's now going (75k miles) for 2nd time but 1st out of warranty :eek Going to dealer who says they can replace main bearing in-situ for ~£300 which is not as bad as I'd feared.
 
Bike still in bits. I was sent a 24 spline clutch plate, 1200s take a 17 spline plate. The dealer was most apologetic and I had a replacement in a week so it all goes together this weekend (I hope!). I've just hit the 100K miles and final drive is still good (touch wood).
 
IanC said:
That looks like it, and at a good price! I reckon from US if they say it's for a 1200GS, it will be.

But I never ascertained whether mine was actually the pump or the flange at fault. I think the pump would be favourite though. Good luck!

Hope your clutch sorted OK - just noticed my FD's now going (75k miles) for 2nd time but 1st out of warranty :eek Going to dealer who says they can replace main bearing in-situ for ~£300 which is not as bad as I'd feared.
Click to expand...

Ian,

Just replaced the fuel pump on mine with the bosch unit. A little tricky getting the old one out with[out breaking the clip holding the bottom piece on the old one. It finally solved the fuel transfer problem!:beerjug:

used this pump (one on ebay looks correct):http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/product-p/fp-379.htm

Joe
 
bwallis42 said:
I have one of the ebay ones on order, should arrive next week so I'll let you know how it goes when it is installed.
Click to expand...

Just finished the installation and it was easy enough (I'll post some photos sometime soon). Took about 3.5 hours in my usual slow and methodical way (my how I've changed since I was a teenager :-)

Using the GS911 to run the fuel pump test I was getting a return fuel flow rate with the old pump of about 50ml/30 seconds now I am getting a return fuel rate 5 times that, about 250ml per 30 seconds. That should drive that sucking pump!

No testing yet, it is six degrees (C) and raining so I'm not inclined to go out. Will find out in a week or so if I am now getting to the whole tank full of fuel.
 
Woohoo!

Just filled up at 611 kms, took 30.55 liters. Might have got another 40-60kms but got scared I was going to run dry and didn't feel like pushing. This was my third fill since fitting the new pump, other two were about 27 liters at around 550 kms each.

Fuel gauge was reading empty/0km to go for the last 10 kms but I don't really believe it.

Looks like the new pump has solved my problem. Well worth the $70 + $15 postage.

I'll try to post the details of the fitting procedure tonight.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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