rcy

OK, since I'm lazy, I usually wait until the low fuel light comes on before I fill up. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that I'd been driving for ages with the needle sitting on empty, but hadn't seen the gas light (now I know why they call them idiot lights ). Anyhow, the light came on while I was on the highway for about four seconds, then went out, then I ran out of gas. Bah! The gauge itself works fine. Does anyone out there know how the light works...is there a sensor in the tank or something that might be sticking, or do you think it's as simple as a burned out bulb? Thanks.

89maxSE

lol...i'd actually like to know this answer also :-D

MaximamixaM

if the light came on, wouldn't the bulb work? Maybe the sensor was acting weird.

rcy

Update - OK, I drove around with the needle on empty for the last two days (with a jerry can of gas in the trunk in case my light was truly malfunctioning) Finally, the low fuel light came on. I have no idea why it didn't come on a couple weeks ago when I ran out of gas. Weird.

Paul89SE

You're playing russian roulette with injectors and fuel pump, especially for how cold it is in Toronto. You better use Heet or some kind of gas anti-freeze.

StRacer718

Running your car on empty isn't a good idea in the winter or the summer, all the crap in the tank clogs up the filter.

MrGone

iTrader: (30)

ohhhh where did I put my new fuel filter, I forgot I bougth a new one.

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

i always fill mine up by the time the light pops on, i did run out once though last summer

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I'm too broke to keep filling my tank always run it til it's MT

MrGone

iTrader: (30)

I only fill up my tank 1/2 way right now, until I get around to replacing the lines. normally put in about $15 each time.

xveganxcowboyx

iTrader: (1)

Mine does the same thing. It used to come on, I'd drive for a while and fill up only 14 gallons or so. The other day I drove past E and no light. Car started sputtering on the highway. I just barely made it to the gas station. i don't think the sensors are great.....or maybe it's just mine getting old.

AscendantMax

iTrader: (7)

man, i fill up once i hit 1/4 tank, waiting til the gas light comes on is crazy (imo of course)

rcy

Canadian gas has gas line antifreeze in it. At least Petro Canada does, and Sunoco has 10% ethanol which is a natural antifreeze. Anyhow, I know all about not letting the tank run dry for fear of sucking up the gunk in the bottom of the tank, and how you should never go below 1/2 tank in winter so you don't get condensation in the tank which can freeze up the lines. Normally, I don't run out of gas, I just fill it up when the light comes on. This was just an experiment to see if the light was working.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

You should really go buy how many miles you have run. ie.. I can run about 300 miles and fill with 15 gal of 92octane. I know I could probably push it to about 340-ish. I've put in 17.x gal before. THAT is close. Every car is different. This car is LOW when the light comes on(ie.. 2-3 gal left). Old car would have about 4-5 gal left when the light came on.

bvtran

iTrader: (3)

If you got condensation, you might wanna use the blue STP bottle to remove some of that excessive waters.

StRacer718

You can't really go by how many miles you traveled because different driving patterns can cause your gas mileage to change. Like me I let the engine rev to around 4000rpm before I shift, later shifting could cause you to burn gas faster than I would

Golden Ice

..between paychecks I've had to put $0.75 worth of gas in my tank before just to get by for a day or so..muchless filling it by 1/2 a tank..I try to set aside $5-10 out of each paycheck for gas..I tend to use a lot on the way to work..Yeah I get about 10-15 mpg..no its not the injectors or fuel filter or air filter..its my lead foot

...and people ask me why I don't drive my older full size pickup that gets 8 mpg downhill with a tail wind if I stay out of the back 2 barrels..


I don't trust fuel lights..I go by what the tank sounds like when you tap on it from underneith..my p/u has run out of gas many times going by the guage, and I still trust it more than the low fuel light in the Max..

eric93SE

iTrader: (1)

On the fuel pump there is a floatation thing, and attached is a very crude sensor, its just a contact that moves and brushes against a set of fixed contacts (only like five or six connections, its very crude). When I replaced my fuel pump I saw that there is a little bit of varnish or carbon or whatever on those contacts, so I whipped them clean, now the light works perfectly.

I've heard lots of storys about people having their fuel pump changed, and the mechanic will tell them that there was a lot of junk/sludge or whatever in their fuel tank. I personally think thats just a scam to get more $$ from people, my fuel tank was almost spotless when I last looked. I guess it may also have to do with the gas stations, whether or not they replaced their filters. The older gas stations have steel tanks that eventually rust out, some even leak into the ground water, that happened to a station thats like 400 yards from my public drinking water supply maybe thats why I'm like this. I'm pretty sure all new gas stations tanks are now fiberglass, at least around here they are.

I think that your light didnt come on when you were totally empty because the contacts never had to go that low, and over time there was enough 'whatever' on the surface to have prevented the connection.

Seyath

IMO waiting for refuel light to come on is asking for trouble. You are jeopardizing your fuel injection system and when you often stress your car like that, your engine can suffer damage. The spark plugs don't meet the proper amount of fuel, too much air gets int the combustion chamber and you can potentially screw up pistons, piston rings, and your combustion walls.

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

...

stephenho56

same thing happened to my car.. the low fuel light never come on.. i took it to the dealer and they changed the sensor for me. the part costs about US$120 + 2 hours labor. everything works fine since then..

rcy

!!!!!!??? For $120 US and two hours labour, I'll just gas up when I hit 1/4 tank.

white90se

iTrader: (1)

my low fuel light only came on once since i got my max...and it wasnt even on empty...i had a 1/4 tank left...the light came on for about 2 minutes then turned off...and i've had the car below E a few times this summer when i was broke and the light didnt come on then...makes no sense