2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

gas idiot light

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Old Sep 9, 2002 | 11:57 PM
  #1  
rx-7s rock's Avatar
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gas idiot light

I like how the rex's don't have that handy warning light that tells you you're low on fuel. The only warning I get is when the car gets little bursts of fuel and keeps hesitating until I get to the closest gas station. I just thought it was funny. Second time this has happened. I'm a poor college kid, what can I say? Not that I need warning lights or anything, I just like this system better. No annoying light.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 12:10 AM
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There is a light....mine has worked before....
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 12:18 AM
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Yeah, mine wont ******* go off. Even if the tank is full. oddly enough, the guage is working jsut fine..
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 12:26 AM
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yeah, its gay
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 12:31 AM
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mine works...kinda.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 01:41 AM
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Strange, with me the light always goes off but my fuel gauge never seems to work accurately. Perhaps I'll take out the float and gice It a good cleaning. Right now that Is the ONLY thing that Is not In spec on my car.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:06 AM
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I just keep filling up when I get down to 1/4 tank. I've ran it all the way down to E and the light comes on. Even then, there's still 2 gallons in the tank.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:11 AM
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Yeah, how the hell do you calibrate the fuel gauge?
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:13 AM
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I thought my fuel light worked.
But then I ran out of gas in my drive-way, and it never came on, lol
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:52 AM
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I've ran my car more than 250+ miles on the same tank of gas and didn't get the low fuel light to come on. I was scared to take it up much more past that because alot of people say their cars don't go that high and they see the low fuel light at about 200.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:58 AM
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While on this subject, what is the sender type for the fuel gauge? is it a GM 0-90ohm or something else?
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 09:31 AM
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Fuel Light

Mine comes on every time I don't fill it until just above E.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 09:40 AM
  #13  
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Re: gas idiot light

Originally posted by rx-7s rock
I like how the rex's don't have that handy warning light that tells you you're low on fuel.
as everyone else pointed out... They do.
The only warning I get is when the car gets little bursts of fuel and keeps hesitating until I get to the closest gas station.
Ah so your gas gauge doesn't work either??? or you didn't know that "E" means empty

anyway the gas gauge sender and the low fuel warning light sensor are built into together in the sender in the gas tank.

Chances are that if the gas gauge is working, but the light is not, that the idiot lights/clock need re-soldering or you have a burnt bulb.

To check to see if you have a burnt bulb, if you turn the key to the on position (but the car is not running/started), all the idiot lights should light up including the low fuel warning.

if it doesn't again you need to check the bulb and if it is good, re-solder the idiot lights.

*edit
BTW, the absolute worst thing you can do to both your injectors and fuel pump is to run the car so low on gas that it is bucking. The extra gas in the tank cools the fuel pump and prevents it from overheating. And when you run the car out of gas (or very low) the fuel pump sucks up whatever crud is in the bottom of the fuel tank and pumps it into the fuel filter (which gets dirty enough, or full of water) it then pumps the dirty gas and crud and water into your injectors.

The idiot light on our cars is to prevent that from happening. You will clogg your injectors and you will clogg your fuel filter and you will burn out the fuel pump if you run it too low too many times

Last edited by Icemark; Sep 10, 2002 at 09:48 AM.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 10:25 AM
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Mine tells me like 3 gallons to go and then it comes on intermitently here and there until it almost stays on with a gallon to go
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 06:27 PM
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So in short, when your gas gauge Is giving you erroneous readings, like 3/4's full when you fill up, Its likely the float level sender unit Is suspect? Couldn't you just give It a good cleaning to restore It to proper specs?
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 06:30 PM
  #16  
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mine doesn't work and it runs out of gas before E
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 06:49 PM
  #17  
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally posted by silverrotor
So in short, when your gas gauge Is giving you erroneous readings, like 3/4's full when you fill up, Its likely the float level sender unit Is suspect? Couldn't you just give It a good cleaning to restore It to proper specs?
Yes, and yes, a good cleaning and adjustment, or replacement and adjustment, is needed.

But the min level (idiot light) sender should just need cleaning, they almost never go bad unless you have had a lot of water in the gas tank
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 11:31 PM
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Originally posted by Icemark


Yes, and yes, a good cleaning and adjustment, or replacement and adjustment, is needed.

But the min level (idiot light) sender should just need cleaning, they almost never go bad unless you have had a lot of water in the gas tank
Doesn't your Float Level Sender lights up the Low Fuel Light when low and also sends the Fuel level status to the gauge, like a two In one?

How do you adjust the Float? Isn't It a direct swap? Old with the new?

Are you suggesting there are two sensors that play the role of sending a reading to the fuel gauge and the other to the Idiot light when you are low In fuel?
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 11:34 PM
  #19  
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according to the wiring diagrams, yes there are two sensors. Not related to each other, other than mounted on the same sub-assembly.

Its been so long since I pulled out a fuel pump though I don't remember seeing (or for that matter looking) for two.
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 11:56 PM
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Hmmm...I got some homwork than? Even still, I was planning, next time I am on low fuel, to take a shop vac and suck and rinse the debris out that I may or may not find In there. I think my problem exists within the damn float sender unit.
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Old Sep 11, 2002 | 12:05 AM
  #21  
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hmmm a shop vac???? I (cringe) wouldn't. Not unless the tank is completely dry without a trace of a fume.

AC powered motors like in a shop vac have carbon contacts that do arc electricity on every revolution of the motor. On a shop vac that is guite a few times a second.

Sounds like an explosion waiting to happen.
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Old Sep 11, 2002 | 12:13 AM
  #22  
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Ha ha. I knew my comment was going to draw a reply such as yours Icemark. I should have perhaps mentioned that I will be using an adapter that Is as long as from here to Idaho, I guess I should have mentioned that aswell.
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