Fuel Light on the Blink - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

djump · 10-16-2006, 09:15 AM

Hi there

Cruizin around, got 210K's on the trip meter and the fuel light starts bllinkin'. OK no biggy, its about time to fill up. 8K's latter the fuel light goes on solid.

"Hmmm" Ok lets fill up i think. Do the bizo and jump on, igition on and start.......the fuel Lights blinkin

......Hmmm

Move the bike around no effect, switch off and back on, no effect. Ride home, no effect.....Leave bike for couple of hours, turn on and "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK"..

Lift tank and check wiring, wiggle this and that, check that all plugs are ok, no chaffed wiring, put back together and "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK"..

Any ideas?

**Louis** · 10-16-2006, 09:51 AM

If it got gas, and the wiring is okay then it might be the sensor that's screwed up...

If it's under warranty, have it checked. If not if you have your Service Manual, check it yourself, check first the error code.

jpwM50 · 10-16-2006, 09:56 AM

That's normal, the sensor thought you were really low and went to a solid light but after turning it off and on again it senses that its not that empty after all and blinks. It could be the way the bike was tilted/cornering etc when the light went solid. Check the owners manual it describes what it does better than me.

**Louis** · 10-16-2006, 10:12 AM

jpwM50, yes it is normal when gas is low... not when the tank is full!

Rockhead · 10-16-2006, 10:22 AM

A less technical approach would be to unscrew the bulb.

t3project · 10-16-2006, 11:22 AM

a really easy approach would be to fill the tank up.....lol

jpwM50 · 10-16-2006, 01:11 PM

"jpwM50, yes it is normal when gas is low... not when the tank is full! "

oops, I guess I can't read. OK, what Louis said...

**Louis** · 10-16-2006, 01:15 PM

It happens

Toolboy · 10-16-2006, 07:10 PM

Looks like a warrenty job Djump....

Just on the fuel light,,, My M begins to stall i go throttle back to idle eg; slowing at a traffis light.... when i run low of fuel, not real low like last drop of fuel low but with a litre or 2 left, before the solid fuel light comes on,,,does this happen to anyone else????

Toolboy

djump · 10-16-2006, 08:08 PM

Hi there Guys

Thanks for the input, I'm guessing the sensor is on the blink, will take 'er in to the shop for a check-up under warrenty.

Cheers

Hey TB, my bike stopped with 14.85L used from the tank, thats 0.65L not used or about 10K's from what my burn rate gave me in predicted milage, luckily I rolled into Burra with the clutch puled in

big ears · 10-17-2006, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toolboy

Looks like a warrenty job Djump....

Just on the fuel light,,, My M begins to stall i go throttle back to idle eg; slowing at a traffis light.... when i run low of fuel, not real low like last drop of fuel low but with a litre or 2 left, before the solid fuel light comes on,,,does this happen to anyone else????

Toolboy

Yeah mate, my M dies at the lights a lot when low on fuel. Havn't run out yet. I figure it's an extra reminder once the red one goes solid.

Danr · 10-17-2006, 06:51 AM

it's normal for the fuel light to start to come on for a while then go out for a while when the fuel is getting low and to come on steady when the level reaches a certain point. I'm guessing there is a float in the tank that controls a rheostat and the bikes ECM senses and controls the light bulb function via the resistance value it sees. If I had that problem I would find a speed bump and go over a little faster then normal to try and jar that sensor if it is hung up in the low fuel position, other wise it's off to the dealer Bud.

djump · 10-17-2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danr

I'm guessing there is a float in the tank that controls a rheostat and the bikes ECM senses and controls the light bulb function via the resistance value it sees. If I had that problem I would find a speed bump and go over a little faster then normal to try and jar that sensor if it is hung up in the low fuel position, other wise it's off to the dealer Bud.

Hi Danr
Yeah, I tried the bouncing it around thing but no luck. The roads around where I live are shocking, don't know why but they are!

I'm taking it in the the shop tomorrow (else its a three week wait) and hope fully they can sort it out. I'll give an update after that.

Danr · 10-17-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djump

Hi Danr
Yeah, I tried the bouncing it around thing but no luck. The roads around where I live are shocking, don't know why but they are!

I'm taking it in the the shop tomorrow (else its a three week wait) and hope fully they can sort it out. I'll give an update after that.

Hey just for heck of it, you might try disconnecting the Negative terminal of the battery, wait a few minutes and reconnct and see what happens.

djump · 10-18-2006, 06:08 AM

Well got 'er back from the shop and all is well again. Apparently there was a "kinked" wire under the tank which apparently just started to break and hence cause a higher resistance in the circuit.

Well I've got to give it to them though, even though I was the last one to take the tank off, they covered the cost of the auto-electrician as part of their on going service; so cheers to Peter Stevens Adelaide

**Louis** · 10-18-2006, 07:03 AM

Glad it all worked out for you!

djump · 10-18-2006, 08:42 AM

Yeah, its good to get the type of service you can promote

10-16-2006, 09:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
djump Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: VZ800K M50 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 280	Fuel Light on the Blink Hi there Cruizin around, got 210K's on the trip meter and the fuel light starts bllinkin'. OK no biggy, its about time to fill up. 8K's latter the fuel light goes on solid. "Hmmm" Ok lets fill up i think. Do the bizo and jump on, igition on and start.......the fuel Lights blinkin ......Hmmm Move the bike around no effect, switch off and back on, no effect. Ride home, no effect.....Leave bike for couple of hours, turn on and "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK".. Lift tank and check wiring, wiggle this and that, check that all plugs are ok, no chaffed wiring, put back together and "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK", "BLINK".. Any ideas? __________________ I CHOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND NOW WHERE THE HECK AM I?

10-16-2006, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	If it got gas, and the wiring is okay then it might be the sensor that's screwed up... If it's under warranty, have it checked. If not if you have your Service Manual, check it yourself, check first the error code. __________________ Louis

10-16-2006, 09:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
jpwM50 Clutch Cadet Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: Blue M50 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 944	That's normal, the sensor thought you were really low and went to a solid light but after turning it off and on again it senses that its not that empty after all and blinks. It could be the way the bike was tilted/cornering etc when the light went solid. Check the owners manual it describes what it does better than me. __________________

10-16-2006, 10:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	jpwM50, yes it is normal when gas is low... not when the tank is full! __________________ Louis

10-16-2006, 11:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
t3project Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2005 M50 Location: North FL Posts: 166	a really easy approach would be to fill the tank up.....lol __________________ Americans for English: Boycot "Dora the Explorer" and her cousin Diego

10-16-2006, 10:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rockhead M-J.Com Master Poster Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: M50 Location: 1060 West Addison, Chicago Posts: 3,767	A less technical approach would be to unscrew the bulb.

10-16-2006, 01:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
jpwM50 Clutch Cadet Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: Blue M50 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 944	"jpwM50, yes it is normal when gas is low... not when the tank is full! " oops, I guess I can't read. OK, what Louis said... __________________ Last edited by jpwM50; 10-16-2006 at 01:13 PM.

10-16-2006, 01:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	It happens __________________ Louis

10-16-2006, 07:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Toolboy Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: Black 06 M50, RM250 07, RM125 05, RM400 79 Location: Alice Springs, Australia Posts: 182	Looks like a warrenty job Djump.... Just on the fuel light,,, My M begins to stall i go throttle back to idle eg; slowing at a traffis light.... when i run low of fuel, not real low like last drop of fuel low but with a litre or 2 left, before the solid fuel light comes on,,,does this happen to anyone else???? Toolboy

10-16-2006, 08:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
djump Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: VZ800K M50 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 280	Hi there Guys Thanks for the input, I'm guessing the sensor is on the blink, will take 'er in to the shop for a check-up under warrenty. Cheers Hey TB, my bike stopped with 14.85L used from the tank, thats 0.65L not used or about 10K's from what my burn rate gave me in predicted milage, luckily I rolled into Burra with the clutch puled in __________________ I CHOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND NOW WHERE THE HECK AM I? Last edited by djump; 10-17-2006 at 02:35 AM.

10-17-2006, 06:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
Danr Sit speling cheker Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,616	it's normal for the fuel light to start to come on for a while then go out for a while when the fuel is getting low and to come on steady when the level reaches a certain point. I'm guessing there is a float in the tank that controls a rheostat and the bikes ECM senses and controls the light bulb function via the resistance value it sees. If I had that problem I would find a speed bump and go over a little faster then normal to try and jar that sensor if it is hung up in the low fuel position, other wise it's off to the dealer Bud.

10-18-2006, 06:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
djump Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: VZ800K M50 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 280	Well got 'er back from the shop and all is well again. Apparently there was a "kinked" wire under the tank which apparently just started to break and hence cause a higher resistance in the circuit. Well I've got to give it to them though, even though I was the last one to take the tank off, they covered the cost of the auto-electrician as part of their on going service; so cheers to Peter Stevens Adelaide __________________ I CHOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND NOW WHERE THE HECK AM I? Last edited by djump; 10-18-2006 at 06:15 AM.

10-18-2006, 07:03 AM	#16 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	Glad it all worked out for you! __________________ Louis

10-18-2006, 08:42 AM	#17 (permalink)
djump Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: VZ800K M50 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 280	Yeah, its good to get the type of service you can promote __________________ I CHOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND NOW WHERE THE HECK AM I?

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