Low Fuel Light?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

jimbo - 08 Jun 2004 03:03 GMT

I recently bought a 98 model Series II and the fuel light does not light up
when the tank is low on fuel.
I thought it the globe must have gone, but after reading a few threads, and
i mentioned there was no Low Fuel warning light in this car but they didnt
state it directly.

Can someone confirm if this car has a Low Fuel warning light?

Reply to this Message

Leon van Dommelen - 08 Jun 2004 03:58 GMT

>I recently bought a 98 model Series II and the fuel light does not light up
>when the tank is low on fuel.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Can someone confirm if this car has a Low Fuel warning light?

I can confirm if there is a low fuel warning light. But since there is none,
confirmation remains pending.

However, fortunately there is a low fuel warning *sound*. :) Listen for a
loud silence: this will indicate low or missing fuel.

Leon

Signature

Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
To reply to me, the word Miata must be in the subject.
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

Reply to this Message

Grant Edwards - 08 Jun 2004 04:31 GMT

> However, fortunately there is a low fuel warning *sound*. :) Listen for a
> loud silence: this will indicate low or missing fuel.

I was stunned at how badly calibrated the fuel gauges on Miata
are. On my 96 when the needle was dead on 'E' you had about
1/4 tank left. About 3 needle-widths below 'E', the gauge hit
the peg. At that point you still had over 2 gallons (1/6 tank)
left. Under normal conditions, I rarely filled up until the
needle was buried below the 'E'. The tricky bit was
remembering how long the needle had been against the 'empty'
peg. Unfortunately I got used to driving around with the
needle well below 'E', and I did run out of gas once.

Signature

Grant Edwards grante Yow! Remember, in 2039,
at MOUSSE & PASTA will
visi.com be available ONLY by
prescription!!

Reply to this Message

BRUCE HASKIN - 08 Jun 2004 05:36 GMT

Well, the "Very Low Fuel" LIGHTS will come on shortly after the engine
stops. Many of the instrument lights will come on.
It's a good idea to start looking for a place to get gas when the needle
on the gage is just above "E". It saves a lot of time walking to where
you were going.

Bruce RED '91 (with new clear taillights)

Reply to this Message

jimbo - 08 Jun 2004 06:46 GMT

So...... there is no light indicating low fuel level?
Why did they leave it out?

> Well, the "Very Low Fuel" LIGHTS will come on shortly after the engine
> stops. Many of the instrument lights will come on.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Bruce RED '91 (with new clear taillights)

Reply to this Message

Sock Puppet - 08 Jun 2004 10:11 GMT

>So...... there is no light indicating low fuel level?
>Why did they leave it out?

Why would they put it in?

Reply to this Message

Pacocase - 08 Jun 2004 16:16 GMT

>So...... there is no light indicating low fuel level?
>Why did they leave it out?

Because - silly them, they thought that most people properly interpret a fuel
guage.

Paco

97 Montego Blue Miata
91 Toyota Previa
77 Suzuki RE5

Reply to this Message

Grant Edwards - 08 Jun 2004 16:26 GMT

>>So...... there is no light indicating low fuel level?
>>Why did they leave it out?
>
> Because - silly them, they thought that most people properly
> interpret a fuel guage.

As in "The needle's on 'E', so I've got a quarter of a tank of
gas"?

Signature

Grant Edwards grante Yow! I am having FUN... I
at wonder if it's NET FUN or
visi.com GROSS FUN?

Reply to this Message

Lanny Chambers - 08 Jun 2004 18:59 GMT

> > Because - silly them, they thought that most people properly
> > interpret a fuel guage.
>
> As in "The needle's on 'E', so I've got a quarter of a tank of
> gas"?

Stop bragging, Grant. The rest of us have to content ourselves with
gauges that work as the owner's manual describes: on "E," two gallons
remain.

I like the fact that Mazda didn't use a return spring to send the needle
back to "E" when the ignition is off. I can check the tank as part of my
instrument scan at start up, while I'm fastening my seatbelt. A low-fuel
light is unnecessary on long trips, because my bladder is full long
before the tank is empty. And because the fuel gauge is still part of my
regular instrument scan.

Signature

Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

Reply to this Message

Pacocase - 08 Jun 2004 22:17 GMT

>As in "The needle's on 'E', so I've got a quarter of a tank of
>> gas"?

Hah... Well I just got to know mine over time. I let it get a little below the
line and it holds somewhere around 11 gallons. It's supposed to be bad to suck
up that last half gallon of fuel anyway because of all the crud in the bottom
of the tank.

>I can check the tank as part of my
>instrument scan at start up, while I'm fastening my seatbelt. A low-fuel
>light is unnecessary on long trips, because my bladder is full long
>before the tank is empty. And because the fuel gauge is still part of my
>regular instrument scan.

I second that. On a long trip I've found that gas stops are usually pretty
close to necessary bathroom and stretching out stops. My only complaint about
my car (which is my fault) is that since I set it up for autocrossing with the
FM springs, the ride on a long trip on the interstate is a little punishing.

Paco

97 Montego Blue Miata
91 Toyota Previa
77 Suzuki RE5

Reply to this Message

chuckk - 14 Jun 2004 01:56 GMT

From whgat I could find out, the Low fuel light is market dependent.
Obviously the USA version does not have it.

> >As in "The needle's on 'E', so I've got a quarter of a tank of
> >> gas"?
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> 91 Toyota Previa
> 77 Suzuki RE5

Reply to this Message