"Piezo Lighter Zap Fix" for faulty fuel strip on 2009 R1200RT

[tmwilmotte]

I'm curious about the success rate for using a modified piezo lighter to zap a malfunctioning fuel strip. My (third) fuel strip hasn't completely failed yet, but sometimes (often) it "goes out" and I get the yellow caution triangle light along with the empty fuel level indicator. Some ingenious guy on the Adventure Touring Forum posted how to take a cheap piezo charcoal lighter and convert it to a "fuel strip zapper" to fix a fuel strip that may have a break in the filament that runs the length of the fuel strip. (Or at least that is how I understand the theory of how it works.) I've constructed my "piezo zapper" according to the instructions, but before I use it, I'd like to get some feedback from those who may have tried it and whether it worked. TIA

 

[racer7]

Its worked for some (only applies to some kinds of failures anyway), not for others and some say it only worked temporarily.
I haven't had to try it, yet, but have one handy to try if I do.
You've got nothing to lose by trying.

 

[deilenberger]

Tom - hopefully your 3rd strip is still under the parts/labor warranty (2 years from date of installation.) In that case I'd take it back to BMW for a replacement. According to my friendly local dealers service manager - the ones they've installed since sometime this past spring haven't been failing. They claimed not a one installed since then came back.. I'm hoping that's true since I'm on strip #7 or something like that, and replacement becomes tiresome after a while (they've all be under warranty - but it still takes a day of my time to get it done.)

 

[racer7]

You've been contending for the record at the same time the original in my 08RT keeps working with no issues. Got to be something besides luck of the draw I suspect, but what?
I never run my tank extremely low and put it away full if its going to sit for more than a couple days but no idea if any of that makes a difference.

But mine killed an fpc to make up for the strip working..