I ran out of gas saturday, and I think it's because I depend on the low fuel idiot light to work! And it's not working on any of my 3 cars. What's up? How do I fix it?

B

 

haha yeah if that light ever stopped working on me I'd be screeewwed.

 

mine has NEVER worked!!!!! good luck. if you find out, i'll be the first in line to fix mine!

 

I must've worn mine out, i never went anywhere without it on.

 

Do all the years have idiot lights, or just some years/models? Cause if mines got one, I had no clue.

Brian

 

Turn your key into the "on" position without starting it, look at your idiot lights, there should be a yellow one with a gas pump.

 

comes on, just does not work when fuel is low?!

 

Might be the sending unit. If the gas guage works then the float is working. Actually come to think of it thats strange the low fuel light wouldnt work yet the gas gauge would continue to work. Guess im not too sure exactley how it all works.

If it is the sending unit i have one from my old rusted gas tank that i know is good. PM me if you want it.

ps: just replaced my manual choke....what a PAIN IN THE ***!!!!!!!!!!! japanses hands! I need small japanese hands!!!

 

dunno how to fix it. My 1980 doesn't have one. The last couple of times I have gotten gas I have had less than 1 gallon in the tank. Try Zen driving!

 

s3 here in oz don't have em hehe. oh well, how hard is it to look at the needle?!

 

Looks like there is a switch in the sender unit at the gas tank that closes at some setting. Wish I knew how to fix it cause mine doesn't work either.

 

do the gauges have to be removed inorder to change the lights?

 

yes, the entire gauge pod needs to be removed.

 

check the 3 prong connection on the top of the fuel sender on the gas tank, it sits behind and inside the driverside tire in the wheel well. You'll have to remove a cover panel to get to it. The metal prongs on mine was corroded all the way through. picked up another sender unit but I had to drop the gastank out to replace it. I think this happens to a lot of these cars. Check that. this should be a f.a.q.

 

there should be a thermosistor in the tank that comes on when the temperature gets high enough for it to activate (like when the gas is below its level)

if that thermosistor isn't working, the idiot light won't come on, but the fuel guage will still work, as the two circuits are completely separate (hence the 3 wires instead of two coming out of the tank)

But, on a side note, you guys shouldn't be running your cars that low on gas anyways, as the dirt, etc at the bottom of the tank becomes more concentrated, as well as water (condensation becomes a problem when it gets cooler outside) that will get sucked into your fuel system.

 

only 84-85 model years have them