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Fuel gauge surrenders

72K views 331 replies 69 participants last post by  Bladecutter 
#1 ·
The past two days my fuel gauge has been going a bit haywire. Fuel tank is full and yet all of a sudden the fuel indicator shows completely empty tank with blinking indicator light. I have noticed that this only occurs when the engine gets warm. Sweden has lately had an extreme heat wave (praise the lord) and when I drive the bike to work (around 18 deg C, no traffic) there is no problem, but when I drive back home (around 25-30 deg C and traffic) and the engine gets up to about 90-100 deg C, thats when the fuel indicator shows empty. After I got back home yesterday I parked the bike for about an hour and then headed out again. First 3 minutes fuel indicator was fine but then showed empty again once engine got up to 80 deg C.


Has anyone else encountered this issue? Ideas? I've contacted my dealer.


/Kara
 
#158 ·
@Derek
I can whole heartedly assure you that's the only filtration.
The oring on the top of the pump slots into the top casing. The bottom casing has a chamber with an 8mm feed hole, that's where the clip on filter is positioned. The return feed from the oring area then flows back to the bottom casing where the fuel pipe to the throttle body connects.
I had specks of paint pieces on my filter when I cleaned it. It doesn't look like there's any micron filtration.
 
#159 ·
Jeez! I just can't believe that. I had the pump assembly out of the tank when I had it re-painted but I didn't dismantle it. It certainly looked like there was more in there than just the pump at the very least it has to contain a pressure regulator, which of course may be built into the pump. Without some sort of micron filtering the injectors are sure to clog up.
 
#163 ·
Not the usual thing I'd do, stripping down a pump.

I couldn't find the spec on the pump. At the time I was trying to figure out the hot start issue so I thought about maybe increasing the flow rate of the pump, hence the one pic with the details on it. Just so happens the monster 1200 and the SS use the same spec pump, so I knew that would not solve it. I thought perhaps the fuel was vaporising in the feed from the heat.
It seems there's a difference in the 2017 SS pumps compared to the newer ones, the 2017 doesn't have an interference capacitor whereas the newer ones do. I personally haven't had interference without it.


Here's a small but obvious caution, with the key on, the pump is always running super silent.
 
#165 ·
My fuel gauge started playing up today. About ten mins into my commute this morning the gauge went blank, then it stated pulsing between blank and showing empty with the fuel light on at 1-2 second intervals. The ambient temp was 14C, 57F. After about ten mins it returned to normal for the rest of my one hour commute. Then again on my way home the same story but with ambient temp of 26C, 79F.
It can’t be old fuel, I’ve been using two tank fulls a week. I suppose time will tell if it gives up completely, strange how things wait for the warranty to end then start failing.
 
#169 ·
Are any Australian delivered bikes affected by this malady? I'm wondering if there is a link between the problem and fuels with ethanol.

Our fuels might have a high sulphur content, but ethanol laced fuel comes out a different bowser.
 
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#173 ·
Based on feedback here and the <10% ethanol fuel in my area, I’m going to rule out that the Ducati factory didn’t account for ethanol content. I now think they did. This was, for me, validated indirectly at the factory (in July) where they had a gaggle of bikes marked for the California market, a single state inside the United States that has different emissions standards. So, if Ducati is paying close attention and agile enough to manufacture bikes for a specific state, I think we can infer that the engineers included ethanol in the combustion calculations as well as the materials selection for the fuel gauge.

But I admit there are much smarter guys here who may prove me wildly wrong and I’m OK with that because I like to learn.
 
#170 ·
My spare fuel guage has arrived in typical African style. It only took four months of my governments capacity to get it to my local post office. Not the worst performance, the 14T sprocket took ten months.

So what do I do with it. Do I strip it for the heck of it or keep it stored up waiting for the original to throw a wobbly. For the moment I'm going to measure the resistance scale in a bucket of water.
 
#176 ·
Looks like I'm a victim as well. The fuel light and gauge started to blink this past weekend. I only have 3200 miles so far on crappy SoCal gas. I may bring it in this weekend. Ironically, my warranty ends in October.
 
#184 ·
So after letting it sit for a month with a full tank today it was a cranky beast. Ducatis hate to sit. The ride into work this morning all was fine with the fuel guage but the bike was a bit sluggish. 1 hour 30 later I was at work. 8 hours later I go out to go back home and the gas guage is blinking empty. I ride home and when it starts to get warm in traffic the guage springs into life. Then it cuts out... Then it is back... No it's not. Then it was intermittent all the way home .
 
#186 ·
I’ve been looking at a new fuel level sender unit, no rush until the spring. I found the correct part number, it seems it’s the same unit as used on the Monster 1200. Anyway the part number has changed from 59210251A to B, I imagine this is somehow improved and should be standard on the later models. I hope it does sort out the surrendering fuel gauge.
 
#189 ·
Today I had this problem for the first time.
Motorcycle stopped for two months, tank almost full (one bar less on fuel gauge).
Outside temperature of 5 degrees, after half an hour in traffic the fuel gauge and the light started to flash. Almost at home he returned to normal.
My bike was produced in April 2017, the latest models have another sensor, right?
 
#192 ·
I have no hard data to support this, but since my fuel gauge sensor mechanism has been replaced, it seems the fuel level is reading a little more accurately.

By that I mean, the original sensor was pretty accurate, but showed a bit more fuel in the tank than it appeared was really there. Not really a problem, just an observation.

Now, with the new sensor, it appears to be bit closer to the true fuel level. Not a big difference, but noticeable. After going for several rides on a 40 mile loop that I am very familiar with, it appears it took longer to drop one bar on the gauge.

Anyone else noticed this after the sensor was replaced?
 
#193 ·
OK, I'm joining your club today. My fuel gauge surrended I think first time since new. I was driving normally in small rain drops, normal engine temperature. I had half a tank and almost on my eyes on a small inclination of the road I got empty tank warning. I came back home and tried 3 times turn off/on the key to see a change but no.
TODO:
1. see again the reading when the engine is cold.
2. refuel it again to full.
3. end of April I have a yearly service so probably ask for replacement spcifically the part 59219251B with B.
I read also this topic:
which title is more accurate :) Maybe we can close it with last post showing this thread and change here the title a little (when hot / says empty tank but is full)?
 
#196 ·
Now mine failed for the first time, 10,500 mi. Came back around a few mi down the road, but suspect it’s the beginning of the end. Hoping Ducati will pick up the cost, they did so post warrantee on my friends SS.
 
#197 ·
Cross posted here. Gauge reading wrong, 2018 SSS, ~6100 miles. Annual service was a little over a month ago. Will book appointment for dealer to look at. Warranty ends in September. Latest part numbered mentioned here is: 59210251B. When I plug this in part search AMS Ducati, it comes up with 59210251C. Maybe there’s another part revision?
 
#198 ·
Latest part numbered mentioned here is: 59210251B. When I plug this in part search AMS Ducati, it comes up with 59210251C. Maybe there’s another part revision?
Interesting, because the Ducati parts catalog still lists the “B” part. Will be interesting to see what the part number is when replaced.

 
#199 ·
Today, after cranking, display read 3/4 tank for about 2 blocks, then went back to empty on reserve again. As usual, tank was actually full.
 
#201 ·
Hi guys, today I became the latest member in your fuel display & warning light club 🤔😫.
I rode to my daughters house around 10 miles away, no issues outbound but
during the ride home I noticed the displays had done what everyone else’s on this post
has done, see pics showing the display immediately after start and then the blanks.

Of course I’m pissed that this problem seems to be common on the 939 and of course my warranty expired as the bike is 3 years old this month with just 6600 miles on the clock.

Can any of our UK members (@DucColin) update me on the cost of the new fuel sensor fitted by Ducati UK ?

stay safe 😷
 
#203 ·
Hi guys, today I became the latest member in your fuel display & warning light club 🤔😫.
I rode to my daughters house around 10 miles away, no issues outbound but
during the ride home I noticed the displays had done what everyone else’s on this post
has done, see pics showing the display immediately after start and then the blanks.

Of course I’m pissed that this problem seems to be common on the 939 and of course my warranty expired as the bike is 3 years old this month with just 6600 miles on the clock.

Can any of our UK members (@DucColin) update me on the cost of the new fuel sensor fitted by Ducati UK ?

stay safe 😷
41017
41018

Hi, as a reference - I paid 30.04.2020 around 75 pounds. And remember to ask for B or newer version when they will change.
Thank you Grossi , does that price include fitting ?
 
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