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Thread: Low fuel warning light?

  1. #1
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    15th January 2008 - 08:38
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    Low fuel warning light?

    How do these work? What triggers them to come on?

    On my 2005 GSX-R 750 Suzuki it seems to come on well before there is only 1.7l left in the tank. According to the manual that is when it should light up.

    Is the mechanism "confused" by the tank leaning during cornering on the open road?

    I tried searching but couldn't find any information. Many thanks to anyone who can shed light (sorry bad pun) on this issue.

  2. #2
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    19th January 2006 - 19:13
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    Maybe its a 2 stage thing,on the TL it comes on in a slow flashing mode when down to a certain level then stays on when it time to find a garage or consider walking,dunno,just a thought
    Be the person your dog thinks you are...

  3. #3
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    7th December 2007 - 12:09
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    usualy it is like a float in a tube in your tank....at a certain level the float is low enough to close an earth circuit and presto the fuel light comes on....
    So yes leaning will affect when the light comes on....or going up or down steep hills.
    It is an indication only, get to know your bike, and see how much yo got left after it comes on permanently.....
    Opinions are like arseholes: Everybody has got one, but that doesn't mean you got to air it in public all the time....

  4. #4
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    15th January 2008 - 08:38
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    Yes, I wondered about that, too. But it just comes on and stays lit, and the manual says to head for fuel when the light comes on as there will only be 1.7l in the tank. Thank you for the suggestion, but I'm guessing it is something else.

  5. #5
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    15th January 2008 - 08:38
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    Oh, maybe that is what is going on, awayatc. I agree getting to know the bike is the way to go, but I was curious about how this thing worked and why it was so inaccurate. Thanks for the input.

  6. #6
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    9th February 2009 - 12:48
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    all sensors will be slightly different...
    1.7l is only an estimate to what it should be..

    at what level do you think it is at???

    mine comes on when I am about 15l down giving me 3l to play with..

    one day I will carry some extra gas and see how far I can go with the light on

  7. #7
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    It's just random - the light is connected to a sender unit in the tank (look underneath it next time you have the tank off, there will be a big hex head plug with a couple of wires coming out of it. Most of them work with some type of a sliding float on a rod or a sensor that lights up the light when the fluid level drops below the sensor.
    If it really bugs you, you can pull it out and bend/adjust it as required. Though be warned, this does take some experimentation!

    Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Okey Dokey View Post
    Yes, I wondered about that, too. But it just comes on and stays lit, and the manual says to head for fuel when the light comes on as there will only be 1.7l in the tank. Thank you for the suggestion, but I'm guessing it is something else.
    Seems weird,the TL one is annoying as it comes on when theres a shitload left,possibly an annoying Suzuki thing,i remember it coming on 1/2 way across the pig route going hard and i still made it back to Oamaru.Leaving you with only 1.7l before it comes on sounds a bit harsh.
    Be the person your dog thinks you are...

  9. #9
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    3umph, I guess that is an answer to my question- the sensors do vary. I'd guess mine is also leaving me about 3l to play with. Thanks.

    cs, thank you for the explanation of how they work. i appreciate it.

    98tls, Suzukis do like to be different- I think we have touched on how the speedos over-read 8% before tonight! Today the light came on at the top of the Lindis and I wondered if there was really less than 2 litres left!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Okey Dokey View Post
    3umph, I guess that is an answer to my question- the sensors do vary. I'd guess mine is also leaving me about 3l to play with. Thanks.
    at 3 litres is better warning than 1.7 litres...
    When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...

  11. #11
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    FJR, that is so true. We ride in some big country and I would hate to ever get caught out! 3l is much more forgiving...

  12. #12
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    9th February 2009 - 12:48
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    best way to roughly work it out would be go to the nearest garage when it comes on and fill up and se what it takes to fill...

    do it a few times and see if it is constant

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3umph View Post
    best way to roughly work it out would be go to the nearest garage when it comes on and fill up and se what it takes to fill...

    do it a few times and see if it is constant
    In Okey Dokey country... garages (that are open) are scarse at times...
    When life throws you a curve ... Lean into it ...

  14. #14
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    20th June 2008 - 23:51
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    bring back the old reserve tap i say.
    maybe i'm just old,but the reserve thing gave me more confidance than the light does
    forsale A100,awesome power.
    near ready for bucket raceing,or just a padock,beach hack.
    gotta be a good deal,surely

  15. #15
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    thre's a few different methods of it coming on.

    1. dry bulb - the fuel acts as a conductive medium between two points, when it's not there, the circuit is no longer present, and the light comes on

    2. float-type. quite rare (moving parts)

    3. prism/light type - when covered, the light being shone onto the prism is refracted into the fuel. when the prism is uncovered, it reflects back into the sensor, sending a signal to the system to light the fuel light.

    4. gauge sensor. when the gauge drops below a given value (like 1/8th of a tank), the light comes on.

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