Fuel Gauge Problems

[SamSpade]

Hey Folks, anyone had a problem with fuel gauge not reading correctly? I was out for a ride last week, looked at my fuel gauge and noticed two bars. I figured I would start looking for a fuel stop soon.a few minutes later I looked and the fuel gauge was back to three bars. I did not think much about it just assumed it was right on the borderline between two and three bars and changed depending on acceleration/braking/cornering etc. However...... fifteen minutes later it still said three bars! I was beginning to wonder and kept an eye on it for the next while. I finally pulled over when I knew that there was no way I still had three bars. I turned off the main road onto a gravel side street and did a u-turn. then looked at the gauge and it was flashing one bar! I assume the float had stuck and when slowing to do a u-turn and leaning the bike over a bit the float had unstuck and started reading correctly. Thing is my fuel gauge now goes from full to three bars and stops there, I've tried sloshing the fuel around but it stays at three bars. I put in 18 liters of fuel the other day when the gauge still said three bars. The tank holds 21.5 liters so I definitely did not have three bars left! Anyone else have this problem, just curious before I start pulling the thing apart?

Sam

[__Ray__]

Never heard about this problem before.
There is no float that can be stuck, all sensors but don't know exactly how.

[thetrecker]

think you may have a problem with the sensor.
A guy on here filled the tank while the bike was running and drove the gauge crazy, similar to what you say, but I think it cured itself after a while.

Tom

[Hartley]

Never heard of that before.

[SamSpade]

Tom, I've never filled it with the bike running but if it's a sensor and not a float, perhaps I'll try disconnecting the battery and see if it resets itself.

Thanks,
Sam

[zphenyl]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

Hey Folks, anyone had a problem with fuel gauge not reading correctly? I was out for a ride last week, looked at my fuel gauge and noticed two bars. I figured I would start looking for a fuel stop soon.a few minutes later I looked and the fuel gauge was back to three bars. I did not think much about it just assumed it was right on the borderline between two and three bars and changed depending on acceleration/braking/cornering etc. However...... fifteen minutes later it still said three bars! I was beginning to wonder and kept an eye on it for the next while. I finally pulled over when I knew that there was no way I still had three bars. I turned off the main road onto a gravel side street and did a u-turn. then looked at the gauge and it was flashing one bar! I assume the float had stuck and when slowing to do a u-turn and leaning the bike over a bit the float had unstuck and started reading correctly. Thing is my fuel gauge now goes from full to three bars and stops there, I've tried sloshing the fuel around but it stays at three bars. I put in 18 liters of fuel the other day when the gauge still said three bars. The tank holds 21.5 liters so I definitely did not have three bars left! Anyone else have this problem, just curious before I start pulling the thing apart?

Sam

I've had something similar start happening in the last 1000 miles or so and bike never did this when brand new.   Just for reference my bike is a 2016 manual with around 8k miles . There was some other posting somewhere (either here or advrider don't remember).  I think for that person in the post it eventually sorted itself out.  It's a little annoying, but I always keep track of mileage with trip odometers.  I'd personally rather have reserve than fuel gauge as it would more helpful when running out fuel (don't ask me how I know).  Let us know if disconnecting the battery fixes the issue.

[SamSpade]

zphenyl, that's interesting, my bike is also a 2016 manual with 12800 km which is right around 8000 miles! Disconnecting the battery had no effect. I have an appointment for a service on Wednesday, I'll report back if they can fix it.

Sam

[__Ray__]

I think it also can be caused by a dying battery.
The fuel gauge is connected to the board-computer and with a dying battery the power can drop once in a while and confuses the computer.
The DCT models sometimes get shifting problems when that's the case also.
Hook up a voltage meter and check the voltage during the start, it should not drop below 10V.