Help! No low fuel light!!

[DF1010]

I bought this bike about 6 months ago and the low fuel light has never worked.. I'm not very mechanically inclined but my dad and brothers have worked on cars forever.. Not sure how much knowledge transfers over if any. Either way I've done all the maintenance on the bike so far. Oil, spark plugs, air filter, brakes, battery. So I would like to do most or all of the work myself if possible but idk where to start when it comes to something like the fuel light.. Any suggestions? Thanks
-Doug

 

[Shawns]

What kind of bike is it?

 

[Shawns]

There have been problems with the sensor in the tank. Get a service manual and it will show you how to check it. It could be a bulb as well. Does it come on when you turn on the key before starting the bike? There is a link at the top of the forum for a few service manuals.

 

[jamason_2000]

^ that's possibly the best answer your gonna get. Download that service manual. I can garantee that it will save you bacon.

 

[jamason_2000]

^ that's possibly the best answer your gonna get. Download that service manual. I can garantee that it will save you bacon.

 

[djs2k2]

250 miles better fill up

 

[sparky300]

^You get 250 mi to the tank?! Are you coasting downhill or did you install pedals?

 

[anrkizm95]

You get 250 mi to the tank?! Are you coasting downhill or did you install pedals?

[up] thats pretty funny

 

[DF1010]

It's a xb12r. I already have the manual so I'll look up the sensor and light tonight thanks

 

[DF1010]

so i cant find the section where it talks about the light its self and its all gibberish with awful diagrams. if someone could show me the section or page number that would be greatly appreciated. btw the light does not come on when i turn the key before starting the bike.

 

[Shawns]

I would look at pg 303 which illustrates the wiring diagram for the fuel system. Looks like yellow/red feeds one side of the lamp. I would gather is 12 volts and the other side is ground, don't take my word for it but that is what it seems. No signal from the fuel pump connector no light. I am not sure of wether the indicator comes on with the key. I was looking at an 05 firebolt service manual. The awful diagrams are basic evtm (electronic vehicle technical manual)diagrams, they all look that way. I hope this helps.

 

[theMelvster6]

How positive are you it's not working? Have you ran out of gas and got stranded? The manual says the light will illuminate when there is about .8 gallons left in the tank. On my '05 xb9sx the light comes on about 1 gallon left. Now, like mention before...it has been known that the wires come loose at the fuel pump assembly inside the frame. Which is really not terribly difficult to fix. But you gotta pull the whole assembly out. Also...but not as common, the LED can burn out on the gauge cluster. In which case, it easier just to buy a "new" cluster, unless you are proficient with a soldering iron. Those are two of the common issues why the gas light fails. Other than that you may have a short, cut wire, bad connection somewhere else in the harness.

 

[DF1010]

I haven't literally ran out of gas but the guy I bought it from said that he did. But I have never seen the light come on yet in 6 months. But I am good about checking my gas and filling up on a regular basis. The bike I had before this didn't have a gas light so I'm used to it. I just wanted to get everything working. Thanks for the info on the harness in the tank

 

[Cooter]

Then I guess the best thing to do is check to see if it works first.

On the fuel pump mounting flange (left side of the bike, bottom of "frame", in front of the swingarm) there is a drain plug. Set up a clean catch can and use tinfoil or plastic (i use those cheap, thin, teflon cutting boards like these)
Turn on the key, pull the plug, and wait. If the light comes on and stays on, it works.
It's also a good time to plug the tank right when the light comes on, change drain pans and let it drain completely. You can measure what comes out and that's EXACTLY the reserve for your bike[up] Win!

If all your gas comes out and no light, pull the pump assy out to check it. The tanks empty….

 

[DF1010]

Thanks for that little bit. I never would have thought to plug it back up real quick!

 

[user_deleted]

If all your gas comes out and no light, pull the pump assy out to check it. The tanks empty….

[up] bingo!

 

[Danicles]

I'm having the same problem on my Ulysses. I'm sure on my fire bolt that the fuel light comes on when you turn the key on. It dose not come on on my Ulysses. Ran out of fuel twice no light. My fire bolt works fine. Both 09 models. I'm thinking it's the led in the cluster. I have it apart and it dose not look easy to replace. More diagnosing needed at this point.

 

[rchuff]

It could be the low level fuel sensor on the fuel pump and that is in the frame.