Gas gauge light,.. How to make it go on,.. now.

[Guyana00]

I need to look into my system, my light comes on when the fuel gets low and wherever the hell I am I get to a gas station nervously. At first knowing how much fuel should be in there I wouldn't be so nervous.

One day, driving on the highway on the way to work, the car was low on gas, the next exit is the one I get off to get to school and the gas station is right off the highway. Car ran out of gas, no warning with the gas light. I started it back up thinking I had other issues and drive it a few seconds and it was done again. It was the gas. A tow truck charged to take me to the gas station and come back with a Jerry can that I had to buy at the gas station.

I need to find out why my system isn't reading too accurately. I will admit I haven't checked into it yet though and just played it safe ever since.

One more exit.

 

[Slow66]

Drain the tank.

 

[CyFi6]

Drain the tank.

The sender is right there and accessible through the trunk, no need to drain your tank.

 

[ValgeKotkas]

My light is dim, but so is the whole cluster (somethings wrong somewhere...). I've seen a 92 with a very bright light, even in the daytime.

 

[IJ.]

The sender is right there and accessible through the trunk, no need to drain your tank.

Thought you could get to the pump not the sender.

 

[jetjock]

^ You feeling ok?

As Poodles pointed out there should be 2-3 gallons left if everything is working right. Easy to figure out on a per car basis though: run until the light comes on then do a fill up and the math. Mine is 2.8 gallons but I usually fuel off of the the trip meter. Toyota uses a thermistor for this. That's why it slowly comes on and brightens. The only way to make it come on sooner is to physically move it. You could also build a simple circuit that connects to the normal fuel sender wire and allows a light to be set at any level you choose. Here's an example:

http://tinyurl.com/dkw7he

 

[KeithH]

Connect battery directly to bulb. Light will come on immediately.

I wouldn't think a high output LED would be necessary for the low fuel light. You just want a light to come on... not blind you.

 

[upgradedsupra]

The low level sensor is seperate from the main sensor so you "could" cut it off the assembly and clamp it higher up the leg giving an earlier light.

Or just look at the gauge once in a while. lol After all, you will still need to look at it to see the light.

Different ideas for different people I guess.

Duane

 

[IJ.]

^ You feeling ok?

As Poodles pointed out there should be 2-3 gallons left if everything is working right. Easy to figure out on a per car basis though: run until the light comes on then do a fill up and the math. Mine is 2.8 gallons but I usually fuel off of the the trip meter. Toyota uses a thermistor for this. That's why it slowly comes on and brightens. The only way to make it come on sooner is to physically move it. You could also build a simple circuit that connects to the normal fuel sender wire and allows a light to be set at any level you choose. Here's an example:

http://tinyurl.com/dkw7he

Been 9 years since I've had a stock Tank

Or just look at the gauge once in a while. lol After all, you will still need to look at it to see the light.

Different ideas for different people I guess.

Duane

The MoTeC dash keep track and gives me updates when it's running low

 

[Mk3runner]

Why "LOL"?

I do this whenever I get a new car, I take a Jerry can of fuel and just drive till it stops so I can get an idea of any warning/behaviour it exhibits as it runs low.

LOL.... My iPhone is the only net I have at the moment.. So trying to type something is sometimes a pain.. I agree I run every car I have outta gas at least once to see how far I can push it.. Then after that when I run out it's usually cuz I'm stubborn and think I'll make the half mile to next station.

 

[Koenigturbo]

Connect battery directly to bulb. Light will come on immediately.

I wouldn't think a high output LED would be necessary for the low fuel light. You just want a light to come on... not blind you.

Thanks Keith that's the answer I'm looking for, I just thought a L.E.D. would do a better job since the light seems to be so dim, it would be great to have it bright, not earlier. It's not bright at all in the day time I know I'm not clear some times, when i explain some things, but you understood me,.. thanks

to everyone else: sorry, I wasn't clear...

 

[IJ.]

It starts Dim and gets Brighter the lower the fuel gets.

 

[Koenigturbo]

It starts Dim and gets Brighter the lower the fuel gets.

o.k. I just wanted to see it now because I'm doing the l.e.d. conversion, that way I know which bulb to use, I thought I'd put a brighter one, since I think it's dim, especially in the day time, I'll probaly regret the l.e.d.

 

[Poodles]

Well, LED's don't dim quite the same way, so it might not turn on at all until later...

 

[Koenigturbo]

Well, LED's don't dim quite the same way, so it might not turn on at all until later...

poodles, are you sure,.. My l.e.d.s dim in my dash... I'll gonna go make sure.