I have a 99GXE auto (pretty barebones except for the driver's power seat) and I'm curious whether I would have a bulb behind my cluster that lights up the "low gas" light.
I know I can just look at the gauge but I'm just wondering whether maybe this bulb burned out (194 I think it is...?) or whether the GXEs didn't even have this (or maybe no Maxima has this)
I've had my cluster apart once and forgot to check and I don't have time now to take it apart again. But I do remember seeing some holes behind that looked like you can just screw the 194 bulbs into w/ that special plastic base. So if my car doesn't have it, can I just screw one in? Or is it just now wired? Also, there's a column of holes for more bulbs between the tach and speedo which looks like they're made for an auto trans to show you D, R, P, N, etc...
If I can screw it in, where can I get these bases from?
Thanks,

 

All maxima's have this feature..

I would use a #74 LED bulb as a replacement.

 

So basically, the bulb just burned out?

Using an LED bulb I wouldn't need one of those plastic bases, right?
Otherwise, where can I get those bases?

And, does this mean that if I put bulbs into the wholes between the tach and speedo I'll be able to see on my cluster whether I'm in D or R or whatever?

 

How do you know it burned out? It will only come on when you are at about 15 gallons.

 

15 gallons? Isn't that a few gallons shy of a full tank? Why would it go on so soon? Besides even if it does, I've driven on "fumes" before - meaning the needle looked like it was below the "E" and I've done it for almost 2 days before I went for gas so I know I was running almost on nothing.

 

18.5 is a full tank. Because its a WARNING light. How much gas did you fill in at those times? If not close to 18 you weren't really running on fumes.

 

all Maximas come with power seats on the driver's side btw

 

My low fuel light doesn't come on either. I checked it out and it wasn't the bulb. It is more likely the sender unit in the tank.

 

my 96 gxe didnt, though it does have a sunroof and factory spoiler

 

its possible that the bulb for low gas burn't out or maybe you haven't run it low enough to see it, I'm sure it varies for maximas on when the light comes on, I've put in 16gal and not had the light on

 

not really, my sister's 99 doesn't have power drivers seat. but mine does, it has every option except for heated side mirrors and heated seats.

 

K, I'm not quite following when you guys talk about 18 or 15 or whatever gallons. It should not matter b/c there's been numerous times when the needle has been all over the gauge. From above "F" to even below "E." So I know it can't have anything to do w/ the tank not being empty enough. Plus based on how I drive I normally refill at around 350 miles and on numerous occasions I've refilled at almost 400 and once, I think, I managed to get to 414 (can't remember how true that is though)... If I do take my cluster apart and find out that the bulb is not burned out, how hard would it be to fix the sensor in the tank? Or do you think it's even neccessary to fix it? I mean I do look at the actual gas gauge and I can tell by my milage.

Thanks to all for your help so far.

 

The needle is not accurate, have you noted how many gallons you put in at those fillups? If not you will not know if the light will come on since you haven't reached the point of where it would come on. If you really did run on fumes then maybe its not working, but its not that hard to fill up at the 3/4 mark

 

I know, I know... I always try to not go below half but sometimes I just don't have the time b/c of work and school... I'm not making excuses!
Actually other than being careless, a few times I purposefully let the gas go down just to test the bulb... I guess I'll just leave it alone for now.

Oh, BTW, I noted that when the gauge seemed just under the "E" I'd get around 16 gallons on my refills. Does that change anything? Did I not let it go down enough then?

Thanks again.

One more thing - what about the "extra" holes for other bulbs in the cluster in between the tach/speedo - can I just put them in so that I see the D, R, etc on the dash light up?

 

Yah you may not have gone low enough. From what I understand the lught comes on when you reach 2 gallons left, which would be at 16.5 gallons consumed.

 

actually GXE's only come with them if they have the security and convienience package or whatever it is called.

 

my gas light bulb is gayy...ive checked it soooo many times and they are all good and the light still doesnt come on, and i know im driving it low enough because it started to sputter on me one time and i just barely made it to the gas station

 

there is a defect which is noted in the FAQs about fixing the light so it stays on... instead of commin on for a second and then fading...

though i like it doing that. lets m e know im pretty low.. but whem up on fumes it stays on