Hello clever people So first ride of the year, did about 40 easy miles in just under 1 hour. Pulling into my road to finish up and the fuel warning light comes on. Now, I normally reset the counter and it was showing as 70mls so thought that was a little soon but hey. Filled up, exactly 10 litres, started up and fuel light went out for about 100yrds. Stayed on apart from when accelerating with spirit away from a set of lights. Was on the rest of the way home. Thoughts please. I'm hoping for a bit of crud that will magically fix itself. G
Notoriously unreliable things, using the trip meter is a good idea. info from elsewhere: Troubleshooting an erratic low fuel light is pretty simple. A faulty fuel level sensor is usually the problem but an intermittent short circuit in the wiring or connectors could also be the problem. If the light fails to come on when you first turn the ignition key, the bulb itself is burned out. The electrical circuit is a simple one. The fuel level warning light becomes lit when the fuel level sensor (switch) closes the circuit allowing current to flow through the sensor to the light and then to ground to complete the circuit. So, a problem in the wiring or connectors will bypass the sensor (short circuit.) But, since erratic behavior of the fuel level sensor is quite common it should be the first suspect. Ducati has tried a number of different sensor and connector designs and changed vendor sources over the years in an attempt to improve reliability. Consequently, if you have to replace a fuel level sensor on an early year bike, it's probably best to replace it with a unit made for a later year even though this will sometimes require changing the connector type. There are two small pinholes on the side of the sensor that lets the fuel in/out. Try using compressed air to clean out the holes. A faulty sensor will continuously, or intermittently, stick open or closed. If the light stays on, either the sensor switch is stuck closed, or there is a short circuit that has bypassed the sensor. So for example, the warning light may come on prematurely due to fuel sloshing, and stay on due to a sticking sensor even though there is an adequate fuel reserve in the tank. Or, an intermittent short circuit will cause the same behavior. Similarly, the warning light may extinguish due to fuel sloshing, and stay off due to a sticking sensor even though there is a low fuel reserve. Or, an intermittent open circuit will cause the same behavior. Or the indicator lamp is burned out. But the only way to be sure is to use your service manual and a multimeter and check it out yourself or take it to your dealer. First, disconnect the wire harness under the tank. The two smaller wires are the low-fuel dash light signal. Short them together and if the light comes on, the sender is faulty.
If you remove the sender for any reason be careful not to over tighten the plastic nut, if you do be prepared to buy one of final editions ally replacement nuts. Steve
Is it built into where the fuel filter is? If I need to take it all out I may wait till it's fuel filter time. Looking through Haynes they seem more concerned with it not coming on rather than not going off. Is there any reason to not get a used one?
It is in the fuel pump assembly but can be removed without the pump being removed, just undo the large plastic nut and it slides out, second hand ones tend to be expensive and you take the risk. Steve
Cheers Steve. I should have bought 2 996. 1 to ride and 1 for spares. I've ridden her 4 times and she has gone wrong twice! That's 50%. Good job she looks and sounds amazing. She is a proper diva.
Reading crankers useful earlier post it does say they can stick and to clear the two pin holes. Steve
Quick update: After stopping for a bacon roll last weekend it was fine on the way home. Today no low fuel light until about 105mls on the trip, filled up (nearly with V-Power diesel! Actually had the petrol cap open, fuel pump over open fuel tank and counters set to £000:00 ready to go and something in my bones made me double check! I didn't even know they did a V-Power diesel. Now that would have been a long and painful thread!). Rode on for another 60 mils and no fuel light. So either a piece of crap was lodged or I have a lose wire, I'm going with a bit of crap where it had laid up over winter. Peace
As mentioned useless bloody things these sensors, only electrical prob i have had. Had 2, both an older version and a newer one with opposite results, light stuck on, light not illuminating. Got used to not having it though now.
My fuel sender was faulty from new on my 998, which is the same a as 748 - 9** models. It's such a common occurrence. It might be worth doing a full pump overhaul with a new filter, O rings,and a good clean of the mesh pump filter. You then have full peace of mind and it's another less job to do.
Cor..... how bigs the thread going to be with getting the pump back in to the tank without fubaring the seal........
