Gas Gauge Light
04-19-2005, 02:23 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Gas Gauge Light
I have an issue with my reserve fuel light. It seems that the gas gauge is working correctly, however once the gas level has gotten into the reserve area on the gauge the light does not illumanate. I removed the instrument cluster to check the bulbs and they all work fine. Does anyone have any suggestions on what the fix is.
04-19-2005, 03:12 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
Is your can a late or early model? I have the same problem with my late model dash. The fuel needle goes past the empty mark before the light turns on. I believe this is attributed with the gauge only reading 3/4 full with a full tank. I have a feeling the needle is mis-calibrated. You should see the fuel warning light turn on with all the idiot lights when you have the keys in and in the position before ignition.
04-19-2005, 03:58 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've got the same problem in my car. I think it is a burned out bulb, but I could not find a resonable spot for it when I had my dash out. I might have over looked it, and I did not take apart the tach cluster to see if it was in there.
04-19-2005, 07:17 PM
#7
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
LOL, my idiot light doesn't come on until it's at the bottom of the reserve.
It'll only come on when there are only about 2 gallons left in the 21.1 gallon (85.5+ model year) tank. It's spooky to wait that long, but the short of it is, try it out, you should be able to calculate your mileage based on a 21.1 gallon tank. How much gas to do you put in normally when the needle hits the reserve line? That should tell you how much gas you had left in the tank. I've put in over 20 gallons at one time (with the light lit for quite a while). I still had a gallon or so left, plus what was in the fuel lines.
The light is on a totally separate circuit from the gas gauge. The only thing it shares is a common ground. There is an actual contact at the bottom of the level sender that closes that circuit and lights the warning light.
Do the simple calculation. My guess is that it never actually got to the reserve limit. Yea, it's scary to test it out for the first time.
Dal.
It'll only come on when there are only about 2 gallons left in the 21.1 gallon (85.5+ model year) tank. It's spooky to wait that long, but the short of it is, try it out, you should be able to calculate your mileage based on a 21.1 gallon tank. How much gas to do you put in normally when the needle hits the reserve line? That should tell you how much gas you had left in the tank. I've put in over 20 gallons at one time (with the light lit for quite a while). I still had a gallon or so left, plus what was in the fuel lines.
The light is on a totally separate circuit from the gas gauge. The only thing it shares is a common ground. There is an actual contact at the bottom of the level sender that closes that circuit and lights the warning light.
Do the simple calculation. My guess is that it never actually got to the reserve limit. Yea, it's scary to test it out for the first time.
Dal.
Trending Topics
04-19-2005, 07:42 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
To those with the 3/4 full problem. I cleaned the fuel level sender on the tank and it made no difference at all. I also cleaned the connectors at the back of the gauge cluster. I believe the only fix to this would be to phsyically reallign the needle. Take it off the post and position it so that it sits 1/4 higher.