Faulty fuel guage

Hello

Yesterday I bought a very nice condition SWing, a 2002 model with 35k on the clock. On the 150 mile journey home it ran out of petrol whilst the fuel gauge was showing 2 bars. I have since filled it up and the gauge still shows two bars. Does anyone know what the problem is and more importantly, the answer to the problem.

Kind regards...Col

Probably a stuck float. You might try putting some Techron through the scoot, to see if that helps out.

Given the low mileage and the age it is possible that the fuel level sender unit in the fuel pump is gummed up with fuel deposits. The least expensive remedy would be to use Techron additive in the fuel. It may take a few tanksful but it will certainly help clean off the varnish deposits on the sender unit wiper.

The second option would be to remove the seat undercover, disconnect the fuel sender leads and short them together to see wether the fuel gauge is actually working.

If all else fails then you'll either have to replace the control panel or remove the fuel tank itself then remove the fuel pump/sender unit to either clean the brown deposits off the sender wiper or replace the fuel pump assembly completely.

Go for the Techron treatments --several of them-- first.

I'm sure that other UK members will weigh-in on other product treatments to use if Techron isn't available there. They'll possibly also be able to advise you about the color codes for the sending unit test.

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on with this. Maybe you should search eBay for a Factory Service Manual (FSM). They are pretty much all the same up until 2008.

Now all that said, please extend us the courtesy of introducing yourself on the Introductions page.

Tim

Thanks for the tip regarding Techron. I haven't come across that product in the UK. We have a product called Redex which is a fuel additive used to help clean valve seats (I think).

I will do a bit of research and see what I can get. The other options don't fill me with happiness, I must say.

Thanks again.....Col

Your local auto parts store should be able to steer you to a fuel additive. Does the trip mileage work?   

Hello Hi Yo

Yes the trip works OK. And I am using it to work out how far I can go before the next fill up. I have owned plenty of bikes that didn't have a fuel gauge and so used the trip to tell how much further I could travel. The fact that the wing has a gauge but it's not working annoys me. The scooter is in excellent condition apart from this one fault. My Piaggio X9 has a fuel gauge and is pretty accurate. Also, for good measure, when the fuel is low, a red light comes on to emphasise the point. One of the few things I hate about the X9 is its unreliability, hence my buying a Honda. So it is cruelly ironic that the Piaggio has trumped it on the first day.

Many riders get their kicks from fixing and fiddling with their machine, others spend their time cleaning and polishing. I just want to ride the bloody thing, fast preferably.

Kind regards......Col