Anyone have experience with a malfunctioning low fuel light on a 4th gen? The dash light is operative as it comes on as soon as the ignition is turned on as then goes off as usual however, it does not light when fuel is low. (I found out the hard way, twice!!!) I'm guessing that the problem is in the sending unit but details of this sender are not covered in my shop manual. It's not a biggie, but that nice little red light is a great reminder to fill-up.
Seems like mine comes on too soon. Sometimes I'll only need 2.5 gallons when it comes on. Who knows, maybe mine has a limited edition extra large reserve.
There ought to be a sensor in the tank. Has yours been doing this for some time?
VFR79, Dec 20 2006, 02:38 AMSeems like mine comes on too soon. Sometimes I'll only need 2.5 gallons when it comes on. Who knows, maybe mine has a limited edition extra large reserve.
There ought to be a sensor in the tank. Has yours been doing this for some time?
Hard to say when the problem surfaced as I am not in the habit of running tank way down before fill-up. I know that it was working this summer.
Could this be a result of our fuel now being part ethanol? I have heard of a number of problems with marine engines after the switch to ethanol additive.
Physically there should be very little difference between pre-ethanol fuel and the blend we have now as standard 87 octane (10% ethanol). Chemically however, there is a big difference. Things that were not soluble in old style fuel may now be very soluble in ethanol. The problem with marine applications that I mentioned in an earlier post is related to ethanol dissolving deposits in gas tanks that had previously been unaffected by old style fuel.
I have a 95 and it does the same thing. I know the light works fine when I start the bike the fuel light comes on. However, while riding it, the low fuel light never comes on. I reset the trip each time I get gas so as not to get stranded. The last time I bought gas I filled 5.5 gallons and the light never came on. How large is the tank anyways ? 5.9 ?
I tend to get gas at the 175 to 190 mile mark to be safe. I was tempted to wait and almost run it dry, but I figure 5.5 has got to be close enough. I really don't feel like getting stranded. Most of the roads I ride are back roads with very little (if any) shoulder room to stop if I run out of gas anyways.
Looks like I need to look at the sending unit as well.
Same here. The fuel light on my 95 hasn't worked for years. Doesn't bother me though. In fact I used to find it mildly irritating, especially at night. It usually comes on too early (when it did work) and I hate being distracted by lights on the dash. So I just rely on the fuel gauge and my current trip mileage.
QUOTE: So I just rely on the fuel gauge and my current trip mileage. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
We have a reserve tap here in Oz and I still use the trip meter and the gauge. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif)
Adjusting the gauge, which I presume the light sensor also runs from, is not an onerous job when done with the tank near empty.
Remove tank. Turn upside down on something soft to prevent scratching. Unbolt the sender unit and extract. Visualise, with the sender the right way up, it's action with fuel level and bend float arm accordingly.
If you get it wrong, too much or too little, have another go next time the tank gets towards empty. It won't affect the running of the bike.
It should be possible using an earthing lead to also check the "empty" light detection circuitry with the float out of the tank. Plug the float back into the wiring and connect the earth lead to the baseplate! (It is only a simple sliding resistor contact.)
It's worth emptying the tank every 12 months or so, depending on distances travelled, just to get rid of water, scale and other junk which collects in the tank presumably supplied at the same cost as the fuel from petrol suppliers! It helps prevent that inevitable problem of too much gunk causing carb or injector problems.
My fuel light on my '97 quit about the same time I put in a K&N air filter. They don't work with other than OEM air filters. Kidding. I'm not sure if it was coincidence or if I wiggled something loose when I was messing with the filter. I did not remove the tank, but just had my wife hold the front of it verticle while I changed the filter. I have physically checked all of the connections under there twice since then and found nothing to be loose. I also stuck a long screwdriver into the tank when it was almost empty to make sure the float was mobile and not stuck in a funny position from being tipped back so far. Yes, I touched the screwdriver to the bike first to discharge static electricity. I didn't want to blow myself up with a spark inside the fuel tank. I know the bulb isn't burned out since mine also comes on during initial start up. Thankfully, we also have a fuel gauge to monitor the situation. I haven't been bothered enough to pay the shop to fix it. Any idea how much a new sending unit runs?
fricksdad, Dec 20 2006, 01:34 PMAnyone have experience with a malfunctioning low fuel light on a 4th gen? The dash light is operative as it comes on as soon as the ignition is turned on as then goes off as usual however, it does not light when fuel is low. (I found out the hard way, twice!!!) I'm guessing that the problem is in the sending unit but details of this sender are not covered in my shop manual. It's not a biggie, but that nice little red light is a great reminder to fill-up.
I had the same experience with my '94.
Well, almost. I only ran out of fuel once.
(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
I asked my local dealer, they said the fuel light didn't come on for low fuel on the '94 model. There is apparently a mod you can do, the cost was several hundred $ AUD.
I didn't bother. I just made sure I noted when the needle was dead on the 'E', I had about 50km left from there.
Dang thing never worked right on my old 87. I think I finnaly unplugged the thing
I just ignored it, and relied on milage. Once I hit 160 I look for a station. at 180 I get antsy, at 200 I make deals with God. At 210 I Totaly Freak OUT! But when I finaly fill it up, I'm a Hero.
There is a sensor in the tank that when covered by fuel is high resistance and when uncovered is low resistance and allows the light to illuminate. The wiring diagram is in the manual. The light is illuminated at start up by a 'indicator light check unit' Mine doesn't work so I had it out today to check it. I had a few of these modules somewhere in the shop and am trying to find one now. (There are 2 mounted on GSXR fuel pump, might also work.) The fuel guage is a resistance element attached to a swing arm for level. seperate from light but in same housing.
Here is the part number for a 95 37800-MZ7-008 Fuel unit $59.49
My light stopped working when I added the twin turbos and nitrous injection (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif) I had my tank apart to slot the expansion dam around the fill neck and simply wiped the sensor and compressed air dried it: it worked for a couple of days..those of us with ADD really miss the light-in-the-face feature. I'm with TommyHoffman re the fool/hero thing. BTW - slotting ( 2 hacksaw cuts 6mm apart and bending the resulting tab back ) the expansion dam on the high side while on the side stand, or for those of you w/o ADD, on the right side of the opening, netted me another 10mi every tank.