YELLOW GASOLINE WARNING LIGHT QUIT WORKING?

FM696969 · Post by **FM696969** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:18 am

hi:

THE YELLOW GASOLINE WARNING LIGHT QUIT WORKING [low fuel].

any ideas on what it could be???

dnorrell · Post by **dnorrell** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:49 am

Burned-out bulb? I dunno...maybe they are LEDs...just a guess...

Post by **Boxer** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:23 pm

It's just a tiny little bulb. The bezel around the orange lens prys off and the bulb is inside. Kind of hard to reach, but a pair of needle-nosed pliers will grab it. It just pulls out like a christmas tree light.

Of course it may be the switch inside the tank.

Post by **VABeachBMW** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:11 pm

I thought mine was out, too. But when I filled up, turns out the trip meter had been turned, prolly one of the kids messin. I wasn't out of gas, afterall. Anyway, hope that's the case with yours. Unless you ride around near empty a lot, can't see why the bulb would burn out sooner than say a turn signal bulb. Usually indicator bulbs are long life items (when was the last time you put a warning light bulb in your car's dash?). Level switch malfunction likely only if it's been "serviced" lately.

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:21 am

FM,

Did you ever get this resolved? I just ran into the same problem:

Saturday, I did my first TB sync, then took her out for a test drive. I noticed a whine coming from under the tank when I gave her gas from a complete stop. The whine would go away after a few seconds. At the time, I just made a note to inspect the alternator belt when I had the time.

Sunday, I did my first oil change and took her out for (what was supposed to be) a longer test drive. After about 10 minutes, the whine was back, only it wouldn't go away. I turned back home, figuring it was better to break down as close as possible. On the off ramp to a very busy intersection (rts. 80, 46, and 23 in Wayne, for Jerseyans in the know), my power puttered out. I was able to push it to a nearby mall parking lot and called for roadside assistance.

About 20 minutes before the tow truck came, it occurred to me to check my fuel. Since the warning light never came on, I just assumed it was something else. A shake of my gas tank told me sure enough I was on fumes. The tow driver was kind enough to drive me 2 blocks to the closest gas station to pick up a gallon. When I dropped it in the tank, she started right up. The ride home was uneventful.

I'm going to pry up the light cover and check the bulb first. If that works (I'll swap it with the hi-beam telltale, which I know is working fine), then it's back to the dealer to test that extended warranty. With any luck, it's just a loose/disconnected wire from when they dropped in a new battery for me. Either way, I should be covered.

Paul Mihalka · Post by **Paul Mihalka** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:21 am

A tip: If you have high mileage on your trip meter and think your reserve light should have come on, to check it park the bike on the sidestand and then switch on the ignition. If it was close to come on while riding, it will come on with the bike leaned over to the left.

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:04 pm

Unfortunately, I had to find out what my exact range was the hard way; this was my first full tank of gas since purchasing the bike 3 weeks ago. I puttered out at 140 miles. I figured the light would come on soon, and that would give me another 40 max. However, after filling it up from empty last night, I think I was a little too conservative with my first tank; I managed to get 5 gallons in! Guess I'll reset the trip meter and give it another go (assuming the good weather holds up and I don't have to get it fixed by the dealer).

Post by **rdsmith3** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:07 pm

On the off ramp to a very busy intersection (rts. 80, 46, and 23 in Wayne, for Jerseyans in the know), my power puttered out. I was able to push it to a nearby mall parking lot and called for roadside assistance.

Glad you made it safely to the parking lot (Willowbrook Mall?). That is a really bad area to ride through because of traffic coming from every direction, lots of roads merging together, and constant construction.

I had sort of the opposite problem last year, but it went away. The fuel warning light would come on when I still had a lot of fuel. This happened only once in a while, so it was hard to diagnose. The dealer could not find any problem.

Let us know what you find out. I always go by miles, not the fuel warning light.

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:36 pm

rdsmith3 wrote:Glad you made it safely to the parking lot (Willowbrook Mall?)

Yup. Wayne Towne Center (JC Penney's) to be exact. The funny thing is, if you know the area, there's a gas station less than a 1/4 mile further up the road. Had I suspected an empty tank, it would've taken me no more than 10 minutes to duckwalk the bike in. Still, that would've been 10 minutes in high-volume traffic...

Post by **CycleRob** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:09 pm

It's unfortunate that there isn't a low fuel light bulb test when you first turn the key on or when it's cranking on the starter. The fact is, and it was a complete surprise to me when I read it, that a bulb can be damaged more easily when it is off, than when it's on. The filiment is more brittle when it is cold than when it is white hot. Who knew? Chalk it up to another road bump and engine vibration damaged bulb.

I have a suggestion to everyone posting a problem. Please tell us the YEAR and MILEAGE of your ride so we (the wrenches) can better assess the likely problem(s) and give you better solutions.

Post by **dnat928** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:32 pm

Wait just a minute here - there is a bulb check for the low fuel light. When you turn on the ignition with the key, the light should light up for 1-2 seconds...that's the bulb check. My low fuel indicator also does not work - it didn't when I bought it (2002 R1150R - Blue) - and I found out the hard way. I carry a liter of gas in my hard case now. I am planning to investigate the sender inside the tank at the next fuel filter change. If anyone has and wisdom to share on this, I'd appreciate it. I heard it is a small floating ball near the pump/filter assembly. Funny, in the microfiche (online), I don't see and reference to the sender????

Post by **iowabeakster** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:06 pm

speaking of gas cans. Word of Warning.

Filling our tanks from a gas can can be difficult, due to the deeply recessed filler hole. I did this last nite. It really requires a LONG flexible nozzle (a half empty can helps too), or maybe a giant funnel. It would also be easier on the side stand. Too bad for me my bike was up against the wall with the right side exposed, and I wasn't going to rearrange the garage again to move it out.

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:50 pm

Echo that about the gas cans.

As for the warning bulb, I swapped it for the hi beam telltale and it was fine. Unfortunately, that only leaves one possibility: a bad sending unit. On the R1100R, the sending unit is part of the pump and filter assembly cap rather than a separate unit (like the 1150R has). To replace it, I have to get a new assembly cap, disconnect the pump and filter from the old one, then swap in the new one. Ugh. Hopefully, my XtremeGard warranty (thru SSI) should cover it after a $50 deductible.

telliott · Post by **telliott** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:47 pm

I want to re-start this thread. I am having trouble with my light/sending unit or my mileage is fluctuating dramatically.

I haven't had my R1150R very long, only one good trip. But the time the light comes on varies wildly. Twice it hasn't come on and the bike has started missing. Low fuel because when I filled up it ran fine again. Then it has come on at just over 100 miles and it didn't need much fuel. The light does work because it does come on. I just can't trust what it tells me.

From reading the previous posts it looks like there may be a common issue, anyone have an idea what it might be?

Thanks,
Terry
2003 R1150R

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:01 am

Finally brought mine into the dealership. He tested it and the sending unit was working fine. He said sometimes the little floaty can get wedged, preventing it from sinking enough to trigger the light. Dunno about a false trigger tho'. Sorry.

Best bet is the dealership.

telliott · Post by **telliott** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:45 am

Well if it can get wedged up stopping it from signaling, I guess it could get "wedged" down causing a false signal. Maybe from sloshing, sharp turns or bumpy roads?

If the float does get stuck in place that could be the common issue that is causing the problems. I did a search and it has come up in several discussions.

Doesn't look like there is a fix if that is it. I guess I'd better just be careful until I can figure it out.

Thanks

Rich Hamilton · Post by **Rich Hamilton** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:11 pm

As much as the low-fuel light is good as a reminder to fill up, it probably shouldn't be used like a fuel gauge for the very reason as it can burn out. Why not just reset you trip meter every time you fill up? Most of us know exactly how many miles our bikes can go before the fuel light comes on (mine very consistently comes on around 170 miles). So even if the bulb burned out or the bike didn't have a light at all, I would know exactly how many miles I can safely go before filling up by keeping an eye on the trip meter.

BTW, does anyone know what the R1150R's "reserve" mileage is (that is, how many miles between the low-fuel light coming on and empty)? Is it like most bikes (about 25-30 miles)?

telliott · Post by **telliott** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:14 pm

I ususally do that but so far it hasn't been consistant or I've messed up several times. It has come on around 140, 170, 190 and not come on when I was running out.

Good question on the amount of reserve we have, are there any consistant answers?

I guess I need to get a container that I can carry while experiment. Any suggestions that work well?

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:12 pm

I know on my R1100r, the reserve is 1 gallon. So if I get ~150 highway miles on a full 4.5 tank before the light comes on, I would expect to get (150/3.5) approximately 40 miles more before going dry. That sounds about right; the time my light failed (which also happened to be the first full tank I'd put in the bike), my trip odometer showed 188 miles.

Dunno how much of a difference there is between the 1100 and 1150 tanks.

Post by **JCsman** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:19 pm

The spec on the R1150r is 5.4 gal. I understand it doesn't get the last bit of gas when it is "dry". So, if you do run "out" you might want to lean it left and right to see if some is picked up. In any event I almost never can add over 4 gallons when I fill up (ASAP after the amber light). So, in theory I have 1.4 gallons when the light comes on with my bike.

I consistently get 40 or more mpg. So I should have 50+ miles to play with. I hope never to have to test that theory.