Low Fuel Light

[Handyman]

Now and then I see"low fuel light" mentioned. I have a 1999 venture with no such creature. I even walked once and nothing. Do all ventures have them or does mine just not work. If mine doesn't work, does anyone have any ideas where I might start to get one.

 

Thanks

Richard

[LilBeaver]

Do you have a F trip meter that counts up when you have to switch to reserve?

If not, you fuel sending unit is probably shot. It is easy to confirm the diagnostic on that; first symptoms, as you describe, indicate the 'low fuel' light is out or the sender is not working properly.

 

Pull of the ignition cover (black thing around the fuel cap) and the electrical connection there is where the sender plugs into the bike. The shop manual has instructions as to how to test this or you can check the electrical wiring diagrams for what wires should have continuity.

 

The fuel sending unit has two separate componets on it; one contains the fuel float which drives the fuel gauge (the bars that go between E and F depending on how much fuel you have in the tank) and the low fuel light/F trip meter that triggers when you have less than 1.5 gallons left. YES, your fuel gauge MAY function normally if the low fuel light/F trip meter part of the sender has failed.

 

This is a pretty simple diagnostic and a pretty simple fix. It does require that you remove and drain the tank. Then some finagling to get the old sender out and a new one in, but it IS doable. I think mine took 30 minutes start to finish; maybe a little longer because I looked inside my tank to see what kind of condition it was in.

 

I picked my replacement up from Pinwall on e-bay for $20 including shipping (I think I lucked out on that one). New was around $60 or $80 if memory serves me correctly.

 

[Handyman]

I don't have a count up or light but I do have a guage. Do you know if a 1999 and up to a 2009 will all work? I'll go ahead and get one and change it out. Even if that's not it I'll have a spare. But I bet it is. I never had one so I guess I never missed it.

 

Thanks for the help

Richard

[Sylvester]

Learn to watch your mileage and the gauge. When it gets to 3 bars, look for fuel. Always keep the petcock in the six o'clock position so you can switch to reserve (12 o'clock) if needed. That will give you another 20-30 miles. Remember to restore your petcock to 6 o'clock or you will run out of fuel while looking for a station.

 

[LilBeaver]

I don't have a count up or light but I do have a guage. Do you know if a 1999 and up to a 2009 will all work? I'll go ahead and get one and change it out. Even if that's not it I'll have a spare. But I bet it is. I never had one so I guess I never missed it.

 

Thanks for the help

Richard

 

It appears to be the same part number from 99 to 2011 (4XY-85752-00-00) So you should be in good shape with any of the years.

 

I rode for a long time without one too. The book said it should be there so eventually I ran across one at Pinwall for 20 and figured 'what the hay'. I am glad I did as the unit that replaced the one I had drops the fuel bars more evenly throughout a tank not to mention it is handy that the light comes on right at 4.5 left (when I could be flipping to reserve anywhere within 20 miles of that light coming on depending on how many left turns I made).

 

So there you go.

 

Others will have a different opinion about actually USING the petcock (either using 'on' and 'reserve' as Sylvester described); I pretty much do as described above but to each his own.

 

On a normal day of riding, I have a rough idea of where my fuel stops ought to be. If I am traveling in a well populated area (fuel stops every 25 miles or so) I'll wait until 150 miles or so before starting the fuel search (last 2 or 3 bars). If the area is pretty sparse I will push it back to more like 100-125 if my consumption is 'typical' (I can get a pretty close approximation of my fuel economy when my first and second bars drop). Also, having a rough idea of the density of the fuel filling stations along whatever route I am on helps too.

 

Anyhoot, replacing that puppy ought to fix you up just fine!