| Author | Message | ||
     Jjr1125 |
I searched through the archives and noted that several people have experienced a fuel pump fuse failure when it was hot outside and the fuel level was low. I have experienced this once on my 09 Uly and I have a friend who has experienced it twice on his 09 Uly. Was anyone ever able to pinpoint a cause other than checking for grounded wires? | ||
| Pos90 |
I had those symptoms with my '09. First the dealer replaced my ecm then my fuel pump, both under warranty. I haven't had a problem since. | ||
| Froggy |
The problem is the fuel pump, it needs to be replaced, there was a bad batch. | ||
| Jjr1125 |
Thanks. Should I expect an argument from the dealer or is there a service bulletin on it? The last time I took it in to them, I had to show them how to take the seat off. | ||
| Froggy |
There was no bulletin for it, but odds are they replaced one or two before so they might know about it. | ||
| Rwven |
That's just peachy. This happened to me on Friday. Nearly got me run over by an impatient MFer when the bike died as I was pulling away from a light on my way to a gas station. I thought this was a problem only on earlier bikes, did the 08 & 09 models have it also? I passed it off as a glitch. Never had the problem before in almost 30K miles.... (Message edited by rwven on June 02, 2011) | ||
| Froggy |
This problem is only on the 09's. The issue on older bikes was wire chaffing. | ||
| Jjr1125 |
Thanks Froggy. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. | ||
| Miibradley |
Awesome. I took a ride on Monday going to Foking, Austria and as soon as I passed over the border my 09 died. Oil was a little low, so after a nice walk to get some more, I filled it up and thought I was good to go. Still a no go. I called my stealership and the first words out of the mechanics mouth was check the fuse. Bingo, now I carry more fuses. | ||
| Eternalbiker |
I thought my dealership might give me some crap since my warranty was going to be up soon. But they found the short, and replaced it no problem. It had only blown the fuse twice. | ||
| Sirvait |
My bike is at the dealer now. This has happened to me three times now, the last time I had about a half a tank of fuel. Mr Froggy can you tell me more about this "bad batch" of pumps. | ||
| Eulysses |
Ahem...so just where is that fuse? Lazy boy. | ||
| Jjr1125 |
The fuse is in the fuse box under the seat. Check your owners manual. | ||
| Rwven |
The fuse on mine didn't "blow" it "melted". This makes me question whether or not the fuse is really up to handling the inrush current of starting the fuel pump.Perhaps a slo-blow "J" type automotive fuse should have been used. If mine goes again I am going to stick a 15 ampere fuse in it. The external wiring can handle it, if the windings in the motor go...Oh Well! | ||
| Portero72 |
My fuse blew once. All I did was replace it, has been fine for 15k more miles. | ||
| Spotts |
Happened to me yesterday. 2009 XT. Putting along at 3000 rpm in slow traffic on a two lane road. Engine just died like someone hit the kill switch. Though I may have fouled the plugs, so I tried remembering the burn routine (got it wrong, correct way is to open the throttle full and turn on the ignition, rinse, repeat). Cranking the bike I'd get an occasional pop, no catch. Had to have it towed to a non-Buell Harley dealer. Felt out of place without pirate gear, spider and skull tats and a soup bowl for a helmet. I do sport the requite gray beard. Two hours later I hear the tech talking to the adviser: “Bueller ran it out of gas. Sat on the side of the road, cranky, cranky, cranky... Blows the fuse spinning the pump with no fuel”. Right. The fuel level was low, but the light hadn't come on yet. This concerns me as a safety issue. I now know to replace the fuse if it happens again. What go you think the chances of getting a new pump warrantied if it happens again? | ||
| Sharkguy |
Mine just blew a fuse for the second time last week. Thankfully it was in the garage this time instead of idling at the light like it did before. Mine's an 09 also. Last time it was at about 1/2 a tank and a warm day in stop and go traffic. This time it was a hot engine. I had shut the bike off and decided to restart to check the oil. It idled long enough for me to kneel down and start to remove the dipstick then died. This time I had only put about 40 miles on a full tank. My warranty expired in April  of course. I plan on changing the pump, but how do I know if I'm just getting another bad one? At the price they are getting for them that would truely suk. | ||
| Froggy |
You won't. | ||
| Eulysses |
The voice of ignorance speaketh: is another electric pump (maybe automotive) and option at some point? | ||
| Sharkguy |
Eulysses, that's what I'm thinking too. I've seen it done on K bike and oilhead beemers using a ford mustang pump married to the original pump mounting hardware | ||
| Ulyxb |
Looks like I just experienced this very same problem, with my '09 Uly XB. Riding back from work on a nice, sunny and warm day - bike gives up like it has run out of fuel, right on a nice busy roundabout, with lots of traffic. Wheel it off the road, it cranks fine but won't fire. Low fuel light did not come on, but realize I am probably fairly low on fuel. Luckily I do have recovery cover, call them out, and roll it onto the van to take home. (These recovery guys don't really want to look at your bike at all, but he does take me to a service station so I can fill it). We throw on a booster pack, but it still won't fire. Checked the fuel pump fuse just now, and sure enough, it is blown. Pop in a replacement, after it spins up and primes again, starts just fine. A bit of a cough at idle, but looks to be running again. So the question is, I can sort of understand if the fuel pump works too hard and blows the fuse if it has run out of fuel and is not primed - but if it just basically blows because the weather is a bit hot, then it definitely has issues. Everybody seems to be saying there is a known issue with the fuel pumps on '09 Uly's - does anyone know what specifically is the problem? | ||
| Frankrizzo |
I just had my bike at the dealer for this problem. Mine blew in very hot weather, low on fuel, in the left lane of a tollway without a shoulder. Oh that was fun. Luckily I found the spare and was on my way until it popped again. Anyway, the dealer found a loose connector in the wiring harness for the pump and repaired it. They were not aware of any issue with the fuel pumps on '09s and they are supposedly a big buell dealer (St. Charles, IL). They were very kind, but assumed that my bike was out of warranty since it's an '09. I'm not sure if they would have changed the pump had they known. It's plenty hot out now, so I may very well find out soon. If nothing else I have a bag of 10A fuses along for the ride! (Message edited by frankrizzo on June 04, 2011) | ||
| Ms_xb12xt |
First ride of the year today and it happened to me twice. Had only 26 miles on a full "tank" the first time, and nearing empty the second. Both times the bike was hot and in slow moving traffic. Timing couldn't be better though, as my warranty is up next Saturday the 11th, so I've got to get it to the dealer this week. Just to make sure they don't think I'm simply out to get a new fuel pump a week before my warranty expires, I'm going to print out this post and bring it with me for proof. So, thanks to everyone who has written about this issue! I ride an '09 XB12XT with a few hundred miles over 10K. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Hello Renee and welcome to the madness known as badweb! Curious how your dealer will react to you having this thread on hand when you go it. Neither of the dealers that saw the X when it was sick really cared for the fact that we checked with some internet forum for troubleshooting advice. Oh and out of curiousity, are you Mrs. S3ters? BeLinda. | ||
| Buellmeister57 |
Mine too. Was riding on I-70, low fuel light on, looking for a gas station. Bike quits and I assume it's out of gas. D.O.T. truck gives me some gas but the bike wouldn't start. Finally dawned on me I couldn't hear the fuel pump when I turned the key on. Replaced the fuse and it fired right up. Of course the warranty ran out in April. Guess I'll carry spare fuses and hope for the best. 2009 XB12X 12,000 miles | ||
| Buellmeister57 |
Anybody know the price of a new pump and how big of a job to replace it? | ||
| Andymnelson |
I know some will scoff at this idea....but a 10 amp fuse is pretty small for a fuel pump, and a 15 amp will still protect against a short. Has anyone tried stepping up to a larger fuse? Mind you this: I would NOT consider this if you're still under warranty! But if out of warranty and facing a potential pump replacement (that may not even fix the issue).... I think I'd try it. I can definitely see the draw of the pump exceeding 10 amps on a hot day under normal use. | ||
| Eternalbiker |
Buellmeister, I think the fuel pump assembly is around $600 forget where I heard that though. There is a pump puller tool used in the service manual, don't know if there is a way to remove it without the tool. Rear wheel has to be removed. | ||
| Froggy |
Actually, its $350, you don't need the puller tool, and you don't need to remove the rear wheel.  | ||
| Eternalbiker |
Okay, I wasn't sure on the price, or the puller other than my manual having the puller being used. But how can you do anything with the tire in the way? |
