1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Low Fuel Light doesn't work.

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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 03:11 PM
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Low Fuel Light doesn't work.

Since i bought my car my low fuel light hasn't worked. Or do RX7's even have one? I have nothing to do on my car this week so i figured i'd go ahead and fix this.
How do i make my low fuel warning light work?

Thanks,
-Crispin
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 03:33 PM
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Check the connector at the tank first, out of the 13 first gens I have owned all but 2 had the terminal at the tank dissolved in corrosion.

Isaac
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 03:51 PM
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Can I see pics or something of where this is at exactly?
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 03:52 PM
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You're kidding, right?

My 84SE has never had a low-fuel light. it has an 'Add Coolant' light, and an 'EXH Sys Heat' light, but never had a low-fuel light...

If you get that hooked up - post for everyone to see!
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 04:08 PM
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I've owned 9 FB/SA'S I dont think I ever saw a low fuel light. If you gets your working I demand pics! lol
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 04:17 PM
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low fuel light

My fuel light works in my 85 se but my gas gauge doesn't ha ha ha.....
psst.......(i just go off the mileage)
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 04:41 PM
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I know, but it's still something I'd like to fix. I like everything to work in my car, even if it's useless.
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 04:59 PM
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On the tanks bulkhead fitting area there is a connector, it is for the level sender and the low fuel light. If you remove the drivers rear wheel and remove the plastic splash guard you can see it on the tank. Judging from this thread you aren't the only person that needs to climb under there .

Isaac
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by rotor motor 85
My fuel light works in my 85 se but my gas gauge doesn't ha ha ha.....
psst.......(i just go off the mileage)
*hi5* hell yea! a year and a half of daily driving without a working gas gauge and only ran outta gas once! My light worked but it went on/off in stages:
1. Long left bank turn on highway = take note
2. left on street corner = ok...need to fill up
3. Accelerating in a straight line = Where's a gas station?!
4. On all the time = oh f***.
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 08:53 PM
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Pictures.

So i got the wheel off and cover and took a peek.
Here's the connecter, do i need to replace something or do all i need to do is clean it up??
Attached Thumbnails Low Fuel Light doesn't work.-picture-038.jpg  
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Crispin38
So i got the wheel off and cover and took a peek.
Here's the connecter, do i need to replace something or do all i need to do is clean it up??
Pull the connector and inspect the contacts on the tank, and the contacts in the connector, you will see the problem. Typically the spade on the tank side of the connector has dissolved into a green dust and is long since gone. I have soldered a new copper spade onto the small nub that remains and coated the whole thing with di-electric grease to remedy the problem on several cars.

Isaac
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by LongDuck
You're kidding, right?

My 84SE has never had a low-fuel light. it has an 'Add Coolant' light, and an 'EXH Sys Heat' light, but never had a low-fuel light...

If you get that hooked up - post for everyone to see!
Where have you been?!
Attached Images  

Last edited by Directfreak; Feb 7, 2011 at 11:08 PM.
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by flight_of_pain
Pull the connector and inspect the contacts on the tank, and the contacts in the connector, you will see the problem. Typically the spade on the tank side of the connector has dissolved into a green dust and is long since gone. I have soldered a new copper spade onto the small nub that remains and coated the whole thing with di-electric grease to remedy the problem on several cars.

Isaac
Honestly, all the connectors looked good. On tank, and the connector. I just cleaned all 6 terminals with Goof Off and a Q-Tip. Looked good when I got done.
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 10:38 PM
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If it's not the Low Fuel Light Sender itself what else could it be? Should I pull the sender out of the Tank?
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Crispin38
If it's not the Low Fuel Light Sender itself what else could it be? Should I pull the sender out of the Tank?
The light bulb in the dash, but those rarely don't burn out.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 12:39 AM
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From: PNW
Originally Posted by Crispin38
If it's not the Low Fuel Light Sender itself what else could it be? Should I pull the sender out of the Tank?

To test the light, ground the Yellow w/blue stripe wire in that 3 pin harness and turn teh key on.

The connector has three slots if you look at the end of it, 2 vertical, one horizontal.
_____
| 1 2
|
|_3__

pin 1 is the wire you want.



If the light illuminates then it is the sending unit, if the light fails to illuminate it is a failure between the connector and the bulb, or the bulb itself.

Isaac
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 05:23 AM
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Originally Posted by LongDuck
You're kidding, right?

My 84SE has never had a low-fuel light. it has an 'Add Coolant' light, and an 'EXH Sys Heat' light, but never had a low-fuel light...

If you get that hooked up - post for everyone to see!
installed a new sender in my 85 GS (converted to 13B from an SE) and the low fuel light works properly. comes on when i have about 3 gallons left. its a little orange light in the warning lights and it will fade in and out as the fuel sloshes.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 06:53 AM
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Originally Posted by mazdaverx713b
installed a new sender in my 85 GS (converted to 13B from an SE) and the low fuel light works properly. comes on when i have about 3 gallons left. its a little orange light in the warning lights and it will fade in and out as the fuel sloshes.
The low fuel light worked in my '85 and it worked in my '84 until I broke the terminal off when I went to remove the connector to fix the ground problem that the sending units all seem to get. D'OH.

Every Series 3 I've seen has the wiring for a low fuel light.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by flight_of_pain
To test the light, ground the Yellow w/blue stripe wire in that 3 pin harness and turn teh key on.

The connector has three slots if you look at the end of it, 2 vertical, one horizontal.
_____
| 1 2
|
|_3__

pin 1 is the wire you want.



If the light illuminates then it is the sending unit, if the light fails to illuminate it is a failure between the connector and the bulb, or the bulb itself.

Isaac
Thanks, I might take another swing at it today. I'll post my progress.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 08:48 AM
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grind off a part on the top of the sending unit and solder a piece of wire from the now clean ground part, to the ground pin on the sending unit, the ground goes bad and nothing works. does your fuel gauge still work?
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 09:29 AM
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Yes, my fuel gauge does still work.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 11:56 AM
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This is good info. My low fuel light is also not working. I was going to replace the sending unit to fix the problem because mine is all green dust on the fuel light connector. I do have a working fuel gauge. I'm going to try soldering a wire in and see if that fixes it.
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Old Feb 9, 2011 | 10:35 AM
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+1

WIll you also post pics?
Thanks,
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Old Feb 9, 2011 | 12:05 PM
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ill post pics later if i have time, it doesnt fix everything all of the time, only if you have a ground issue, but it did fix mine. i just happen to have my tank out too, for my sump and 3/8" lines
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Old Feb 9, 2011 | 06:49 PM
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Is this a GSL- SE only thing?

I'm going to have to put mine on the rack tonight and work and look for two wires! I'd love to have a light! Mines an '82 GSL.
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