Fuel gage 3 bars to blinking

Birdman

Birdman

Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
41
Location
Fairview, TX
My fuel gage has started to go from 3 bars to flashing. Anyone else seen this? Looking to get a good understanding for the cause may be before taking to the dealer for repair. This started about a month ago but I was never sure it was me forgetting to look at the gage. I have now carefully check the last two tank. Yes, the tank is near empty with it starts to flashes.
 
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Mine started doing that a couple of weeks ago. A wee bit annoying. Glad to hear I'm not the only one.
 
I haven't gone in to fix mine yet but I think you're right on the part. I doubt the unit is actually bad. I would bet one could either clean or tweak that one to be good as new.

Ray
 
Sure like to know what makes it fail. Sticking, or bad float/sender? Can you reach it with a small soft gas tube and simulate the fuel level? Reason I ask is I have a boat with the same issue and had to isolate the sending unit from the guage.
 
removing the tank and examining the part should be simple enough. if the float arm was bent, bending it back is an inexpensive option.
 
Would like to thank everyone for the information - I now understand what happen and why. I feel that it is a bent float arm. Stopped at the dealer (Maxum Honda in Allen, Texas) and talked to service. They are ordering a new part, even with me telling them that it may only need to be bent back and will call me when the part is in. Should only be a 1 day repair.

I have been with this dealer for sometime - not the best but services understands that I generally have the correct data on the problem and it helps them get a good repair with the lease time cost to them.
 
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Second tank thru since this happened. The 1st time it did show 2 bars a couple times, like when on the side stand warming up and then again stopped at the redlight. This time it never showed 2 bars. I used a siphon hose many months ago but the gauge just started doing this.
 
NightRDR said:
Lucky you. ...Three days for the part to arrive then the install on the bike. So, 3 - 5 days in the shop. ...
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This is the main reason that my bike has not see the stealer shop since I bought it. I hate the fact that they want me to drop off my bike no matter what the issue, why can't they just make an appointment, take a look at it fix it and give it back?

Believe it or not, when I complained that the reflector on the front wheel vibrated off shortly after buying the bike the stealer wanted me to drop my bike off for warranty work. I'm going, "you?re teasing right?" he said "no". I respond, "You mean you can't just get a reflector out of stock and replace it right now?" He said, "No, it has to be dropped off for any and all warranty work."

That was the last time I spoke to anyone at that service department.

This must be how they limit how much they have to spend on warranty work. It still makes me mad when I think about it even after more than a year. :mad:
 
I have a good rapport with the SM at my local dealer. As long as I can demonstrate the problem for him, I just let him know what part(s) are needed, he confirms the parts required and orders them, I swap them out and return the defective part(s).

I don't care if he gets paid for labor, I know the job was done right with no additional damage and virtually no down time. I think the SM also doesn't have to worry about the job getting done right without additional damage.

Ray
 
After the 2nd tank of gas did the same 3 bars to 1 bar flashing thing, this current tank was almost completely empty in the upper tank so I decided to pull the float and 'tweak' it a little to see if maybe I had possibly 'bent' the float arm while putting gas in. Being very gentle, I removed the float assy and it looked fine. There apparently is a delay with the computer to display the float movement because I could not make the dash bars change by manually raising the float. So I gently 'realigned' the float upwards. That is I bent the float arm so the float would ride a little higher in relation to the sweeper arm of the sensor. Being careful/gentle I reinserted the float into the tank making sure the gasket was where it should be so I should not have any fuel leaks after this next fill up. Turned on the key and bam... 2 bars indicated. Should be seeing the 1 bar flash this afternoon on the ride home if all is well. I'll then fill it up and see what happens. Fingers are crossed.
 
My 06 has started the 3 bars then flashing routine as described in the thread, I see from the dates that Greg did his experiment in 2007. Does anyone have anything new to contribute on fixingor shold I just place an order for the sender unit?

I know I can fill it up and just reset the odo but I really like having everything work as designed.

Oh and I am 6 months out of warrenty....:(

Chris
 
I was discussing this with the guys this weekend.. mine does the same thing
'04... just started doing it... I either zero the od when i fill up, or i just go by the single flasher and get some gas when i see that.
 
clmixon said:
My 06 has started the 3 bars then flashing routine as described in the thread, I see from the dates that Greg did his experiment in 2007. Does anyone have anything new to contribute on fixingor shold I just place an order for the sender unit?

I know I can fill it up and just reset the odo but I really like having everything work as designed.

Oh and I am 6 months out of warrenty....:(

Chris
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Chris, they replaced my upper fuel tank sending unit and it solved my problem. They also replaced the fuel line between the upper and lower tank. I believe the manual says to replace it if removed. My bike was under warranty. I believe you are safe just ordering the part and doing the work yourself. It's up to you if you wish to change the fuel line as well. Probably a good idea though.
 
dteel said:
Chris, they replaced my upper fuel tank sending unit and it solved my problem. They also replaced the fuel line between the upper and lower tank. I believe the manual says to replace it if removed.
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Yes, they do. If you're careful, you can probably change the sender without removing the tank from the bike, sparing you having to replace the tube.

--Mark
 
Had the 3 bar problem ...fixed it easily with new upper sender (about US$70). Takes about one hour max to do even if you haven't done it before. You don't have to remove the tank or disconnect any fuel lines (just raise the tank as if you were doing an air filter replacement) - it is a bit fiddly but quite do-able. Empty upper tank is a given of course as any fuel will pour out as soon as you break the sender units seal.

Don't give the new sender a hard time by trying to force it in...it will slip in at just the right angle which may take a little while to figure out.

Main cause of the problem is that the fine sensor contacts on the elctronics end of the sender get dirt/rust/corrosion/crud from the fuel over time and with the usual amount of wear of the float rising and falling it all adds up and the unit starts sending (or not sending as the case may be) the right signal to the gauge. Its most prone to happen also if the bike has been left sit for any length of time which of course happens where some dealers have stocks in holding areas for many months. The sensor contacts mechanism corrodes as a result.

I also see comments on the 'bent' float arm -- Yes this may be a cause but as someone pointed out - Don't shove the fuel nozzel way into the tank and especially not towards the left rear side of the tank...that's were the float and float arm are and not a good idea at any time. However, if there was a bent float arm I would think the gauge would read consistently incorrect all the time ..not just at 3 bars.
 
Replacing the upper tank sending unit is on my to-do list.. Mine has been going from 2 bars to blinking for about the last 15,000 miles or so...dealer agreed to replace it under warranty but after they couldn't diagnose a bad tire that caused a vibration in the front end...I refused to let them touch my Bike again.... I wouldn't even let them Dust it off if they paid me...:banghead:
 
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