Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: muskrat on November 07, 2010, 06:06:31 AM

Title: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 07, 2010, 06:06:31 AM
Just bought a 2002 M 900.  I filled it up and the fuel light stays on along with the code flashing FUEL on the instrument panel.  Is there a remedy for this?  I will be painting the tank and gutting the internals so if it's something inside the tank that needs fixing let me know.  I also have a 1-30 and then counts down to 0.  Once that's done it cranks but yesterday I also got a 2-30 counting down when I turn the key (never seen this).  It will start right up without problems but only when the countdown starts, if I turn the key and this is not present I have to reset and turn key again.  Is this something normal for these monsters?

Thanks.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: ducpainter on November 07, 2010, 06:14:27 AM
Chances are the sender is bad for the fuel light. Pretty common.

I know some of the newer bikes give you so many seconds to start the bike before the key needs to be recycled. Maybe it's the same. If you let it count down to 0 will it start?
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 07, 2010, 06:55:29 AM
yes it will start but only if it counts down.  If I turn the key and there's no count I have to recycle the ignition again to get it to start. 
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: ducpainter on November 07, 2010, 07:05:26 AM
Sorry, no help then.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 07, 2010, 02:04:21 PM
 [bang]
anyone?
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: Meerkat on November 07, 2010, 02:21:30 PM
Not really help here...my '03 620 only counts when trying to start it with the red key. ???
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 07, 2010, 04:56:50 PM
That's interesting
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 13, 2010, 10:04:05 AM
so the fuel sender will need to be replaced?  Is it a hard job to change for an idiot with tools?
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: Speeddog on November 13, 2010, 10:11:25 AM
Quote from: muskrat on November 13, 2010, 10:04:05 AM
so the fuel sender will need to be replaced?  Is it a hard job to change for an idiot with tools?

Not a hard job to replace.

Drain fuel tank.
<optional> Remove fuel tank.
Unplug sender.
Unscrew nut on sender.
Remove bad sender and swap nut to good sender.
Reinstall....

Before you do that, though, make sure the connector is fully mated, see if that effects the light.
Unplug and re-plug the connector a couple times to see if that helps.
Unplug and inspect the connectors, sometimes a terminal will slip back in the housing.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: muskrat on November 13, 2010, 10:26:03 AM
got it.  I think I'm getting this mechanic stuff down..........yeah right.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: SDkid on April 09, 2011, 08:28:01 AM
I am having the same issue with the fuel light.  Is there a better option to order the sender from other than the stealership? 
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: ducpainter on April 09, 2011, 03:26:30 PM
Quote from: SDkid on April 09, 2011, 08:28:01 AM
I am having the same issue with the fuel light.  Is there a better option to order the sender from other than the stealership? 
It is only available at the dealer AFAIK.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: Howie on April 09, 2011, 03:55:01 PM
A less expensive alternative is a piece of tape over the offending light and use the tripmeter :P
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: djrashonal on April 10, 2011, 10:55:37 PM
I got one off of eBay from a low miles bike for about 50 bucks. I'm sure you can find one out there. The install was a 30min job including tank drain/refill
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: ducpainter on April 11, 2011, 05:36:21 AM
Quote from: djrashonal on April 10, 2011, 10:55:37 PM
I got one off of eBay from a low miles bike for about 50 bucks. I'm sure you can find one out there. The install was a 30min job including tank drain/refill
Does that include pulling the cap holder and unplugging the sender from your pump?

If so you should look into becoming a tech.
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: djrashonal on April 11, 2011, 08:35:51 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on April 11, 2011, 05:36:21 AM
Does that include pulling the cap holder and unplugging the sender from your pump?

If so you should look into becoming a tech.
My wife has tiny hands, she got that done in a jiffy, so I suppose if you don't have a small handed person to get in there really quickly then it would take a bit longer  ;D
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: ducpainter on April 11, 2011, 09:01:11 AM
Quote from: djrashonal on April 11, 2011, 08:35:51 AM
My wife has tiny hands, she got that done in a jiffy, so I suppose if you don't have a small handed person to get in there really quickly then it would take a bit longer  ;D
I have to pull the pump out. I can never get the connector undone. [laugh]
Title: Re: fuel light and starting
Post by: djrashonal on April 11, 2011, 10:43:41 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on April 11, 2011, 09:01:11 AM
I have to pull the pump out. I can never get the connector undone. [laugh]
I can't even get my hand in to get the connector out! So Muskrat if you've got big hands you may want an assistant. It kinda stung that she got it done so quickly after 15 min of me fighting to reach it by sticking my fingers in  :-\