i've been trying to get the gas light to show up, but i'm convinced it's dead. right now i'm at the end of my tank with the needle right at E. now the light should go on with approx 4 or 3 gallons left. I don't get it

 

I'm interested in this as well. I've never seen my fuel empty light go on, but I've never tried. My gauge stays over full for about 1/8th of a tank, and then drops more rapidly than it normally would.

One interesting and maybe relevent is this, which I found in a technical Maxima pdf:

COMPONENT TESTS
FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT

Remove fuel gauge sending unit from fuel tank. Measure
resistance between sending unit connector terminals "E" and "G". See
Fig. 1 resistance values are not as specified replace sending unit.
See FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT RESISTANCE table.

FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT RESISTANCE TABLE
Float Position Ohms
Empty .................................... 80-81
Half Travel .............................. 32-34
Full ...................................... 5-8

-Smitty

 

Take off the rear seat cushion and you have access to the wires...

You could always bend the float arm a little (Though I don't recommend this) if your sure the low gas light actually works.

 

You might have a defective dash light bulb.