Gas gauge question...

Does anyone else's fuel gauge read one bar short of full when it's full? Oh yeah, it's a 6th gen with the digital gauge...

 

no goes all bars..................................set your trip and see how far you go until it flashes thats the one that really matters is how much you have left..

 

I know, it seems kooky to ask such a silly question. The bike is just brand new to me and on my first ride last night the speedo reads mostly zero and sometimes erratic speeds and the damn FI light came on and stayed on. I'm just not used to Honda stuff having problems like this. My S2000 ran like a dream and never had any problems...sigh. I loved that cage. (Kind of an open cage though!)

 

that sucks about the f 1 light. there is a really detailed manual for 6 gen bike on this web site it took like 30 mins to down load but it tells you how to do pretty much every thing. i would check that out to try and fix your problem and my o7 is always a bar short when its full and its been like that from day one

 

Thanks Matt...that makes me feel better at least about the fuel gauge! I'll try again to download that manual. I bought a Haynes manual, but it seems to be lacking on trouble shooting especially.

 

Are you "filling" the tank with the bike on the side stand or the centre stand? There will be a difference.

 

I fill mine and the guage shows full for less than 10 miles and then goes down 1 bar, so I think the sender is kinda finnicky (mine's an '07)

 

On the side stand last night.

 

I've tried filling mine both ways, and also rocking it back and forth to "burp" the tank, doesn't make much of a difference...

 

I know this doesn't help much, but early on in my driving I learned no never take the gas gauge for the truth. It's great for an estimate though. I wouldn't sweat that.

 

Fill the bike on the center stand to the bottom of the neck for the hole and your gauge will show the first bar and it will be totally full. It will only last for 10-15 miles and that first bar on the gauge will disappear. The good thing about the 6th gen gauge is that is is very consistent and pessimistic. You'll find that if you fill up when the light blinks, you will take on 4.2-4.5 gallons of fuel yet the tank is supposed to hold 5.9 gallons I believe. There is more fuel in reserve than Honda tells you which is a good thing should you have to stretch it thin between stops.

Concerning your FI light and speedo problem, I wouldn't sweat it yet. I'd place money on your speedo sensor having a loose/corroded connection since it is working intermittently. I highly suggest downloading the honda service manual here on VFRW and following the procedures in chapter 5 of it to diagnose the problem. There is a code for the speed sensor and this is probably why it is on. With the exception of having a random short in the wiring, this should be a relatively simple and easy fix especially if it is just a loose/corroded connection as I suspect.

Download the manual and post what you find and we'll be glad to help ya out. I'd suggest starting a separate thread for this to make it easier to track and others to follow/help.

One more suggestion that I highly recommend is that you call your local honda dealer, give them your VIN number, and make sure that all recalls have been done on the bike. There should be a total of three that need to be done to your 2004 just like mine and two of them are very important wiring harness recalls. The third is for the possibility of a bad o-ring in the brake system. All inspections and replacement of parts will be free of charge if they have not been completed.

 

On my 2003 VFR, when I fill up using the center stand, the last bar only stays lit for a short distance so I think it is standard.

 

Many thanks Meatloaf! My Viffer is in the shop as we speak. I did a VIN check with my dealer and sure enough, the wiring harness and brake recalls had not been done. Talked briefly with the mechanic working on my bike today and he said the inspection for the brake recall was fine and mine wasn't leaking and didn't need the recall work done. He's in the middle of replacing/repairing the wiring harness now and will check the speedo/FI light problem next. I'm just having them do it since I did't have to pay for the hours to take the bike apart due to the warranty work being done. My bet is that it's a short in the speedo sensor because I checked the little nylon nut cap that fits over the hex nut at the front sproket and it didn't look worn like some pics I've seen. I'll let you know what they come up with.

 

My new 07 does it too. Oh well...

Flash

 

It's no big obviously from all the responses...just was having some other issues and was trying to get a picture of the whole MFD thing.

 

FWIW I filled up on the center stand and, voila' a full reading on the gauge! Stupid is as stupid does...it's a good thing I'm still learning.

 

I agree with Meatloaf. I think honda was wise by giving us a guage that indicates on the pessimistic side. If you consider the shape and size of the tank and the manner in which the fuel level is measured within the tank, the difficulty in displaying an "actual" fuel remaning should be self evident. Consider that even the weight of a rider and "sag" will affect the guage. That there is indication of what is remaining in the tank is someting for which I am very thankful. Far more indicitive than the "slosh" method of years gone by. As you have seen it is not possible to fill a container with liquid when the container is on an angle. Seems like common sense to me! Just keep the top half full and enjoy the ride without the worry. Keep on learning. There are only a few guys on here that know it all.

 

I fill mine on it's wheels with me sitting on the bike and it only indicates full for about 5 minutes. It's just not that accurate i believe. That's the way it was on my 05'; i haven't filled the tank on the 07' yet!

 

You are absolutely correct about it being not "accurate". How accuate do you want it to be? How accurate does it need to be? It's and indication at best! I'd be glad for it. Can't quite see the issue. Just and asside. Do you torque your oil filter? That's accuracy.

Now let me visualize your tank filling procedure. You sit on the bike, probably in a riding position. (I'm assuming) A stand up or down? (Are you just balancing the bike?) Then you insert the nozzle in the tank and dispense "gasoline". OMG. Is this a normal procedure? Should the nozzle get away on you, are you not concerned you might get "moron" your crotch than your in your tank? In the event that you loose control do you rely on the nozzle shuting off? What's the line "In God we Trust". WOW. I don't often make recommendations, but in this case I'd almost think that might be dangerous. To you personally and others.

 

If I was half as uncoordinated as you I wouldn't even bother riding. Pumping gas must be quite complicated for you.... When did this become a thread about anything other than a question about the gas gauge? Go troll some place else instead of trying to insight a flame war by hijacking this thread.

Sorry 2thdr, didn't want to mess up your thread. My response was in support of your question about the gauge rarely reading full. By filling the tank with the bike in an upright position (on or off the bike) you can get a full reading on the gauge as you have already discovered.