[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: low fuel light - '95 r1100r



Generally idiot lights have the positive connected whenever the key is on and the sensor (in this case located in the gas tank) provides the ground (negative).  If you have a schematic for your bike you should be able to identify the color of the ground going to the light.  Probably the easiest place to access that wire is at the plug that connects to the tank wiring harness (the one you have to remove whenever you remove the tank).  Unplug it, connect a test wire to ground and attach to the idiot light ground wire.  With the key on, the light should come on, if not, the bulb is bad (or more likely, has a corroded socket that needs cleaning and dielectric grease).

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of ABSDoug2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 9:02 AM
To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: low fuel light - '95 r1100r


	5.25 is the most I've ever put. Ran FLAT out of gas. Turned my bike
upside-down for the last bit. Made it sputtering.
	If my light went dead, I'd forget it till I had to go in the tank. Go by
the mileage... but that is me. Unless it is the bulb. How to know though?
Anyone?

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Clive Liddell
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 6:02 AM
To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: low fuel light - '95 r1100r


Pete,
Neither my '96 R nor my '01 RT light up for verification, but I exercise
both the lights every tank.  I know that I still have around 80km (50mi)
left to find fuel.  I seems that something is amiss with either your light
or the float mechanism that activates it.  If the PO has recently replaced
the fuel filter it has been known that this quite delicate float mech can be
bent etc. or that the whole shebang (tech term for pump/filter/float
assembly) may have been replaced 60deg out  =:O

The R's light usually comes on around 200km (125mi) (used mainly in town)
and around 250km (156mi) (on a run, open road).  On one such run I managed
354km (221mi) but ran out of fuel.  Luckily many town are established in
valleys and it is often possible to coast in to the first filling station -
as it was on this occasion.  I mention this because I was able to "fill"
with only 18.29 litre (BMW says 21, IIRC).
Note.. I only fill till the fuel touches the bottom of the filler neck - I
suppose I could have squeezed another couple of litres in??

Hope that helps
Regards
Clive Liddell
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
'96 R850R   73k.km
'01 R1100RT 47k.km

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Pete Naylor <pete@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <oilheads@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 8:48 AM
Subject: low fuel light - '95 r1100r


> I recently purchased a 1995 R1100R with a defective low fuel warning
> light.  Before I start stripping things down to check the bulb, wiring and
> sender, I wanted to ask whether the light is always lit for verification
> purposes when first switching the ignition on - as are the low oil
> pressure and charging lights.  The owner manual and Clymer service book I
> have don't say anything about this topic.  My low fuel light is not
> illuminating under that circumstance but I don't know if I should read
> that as an indication of bulb burnout or not.
>
> Also, is it just me, or is BMW wildly optimistic about the fuel capacity
> of the R1100R's tank?  I ran out of gas (thanks to the non-functioning
> fuel light), stopped, leaned the bike to the right to get the last dribble
> of fuel into the pump, and then just barely made it to the nearest gas
> station - I had to roll the last 50 ft or so.  I was only able to get 5.15
> US gallons into the tank, yet BMW specifications claim 5.5.

------------------------------