MAXIMA4LIFE

my fuel light will not come on
what could it be ?

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

Hmmmm, I'm thinking maybe you haven't gotten it low enough for the light to come on? Maybe thats just crazy talk though....

MAXIMA4LIFE

i stalled 3 times

vmok

was the fuel gauge pointing to empty? is your car a gxe? does it have the security and convienence package? how many miles did you have on that tank of gas?

-V

MAXIMA4LIFE

I did it so I could check it
it was on E
I just drove around till I ran out of gas and the light never came on
when I did my indigos I checked the bulb

Daniel B. Martin

The fuel pump is located inside the gas tank. The fuel gauge sending unit is attached to the fuel pump. It consists of a float which operates a variable resistor. For vehicles with conventional analog fuel gauges the resistance value for a full tank is 8 ohms and for an empty tank is 82 ohms.

An on/off switch is incorporated into the gauge sending unit. The switch is normally open, but closes when the fuel level is close to empty. This switch operates the Low Fuel dashboard warning light.

The Low Fuel warning light circuit is simple. The light has +12 volts whenever the ignition is ON. The ground side of the circuit is completed by the in-tank switch, as described above.

Diagnosis procedure.

1) Move both front seats all the way forward. This is to give you more room to work in the rear seat area.

2) Fasten all rear seat seat belts. This is to keep them out of the way and facilitate subsequent installation of the back seat.

3) There are two release latches at the bottom leading edge of the rear seat bottom cushion. Pull these latches toward the front of the car.

4) Lift the leading edge of the rear seat bottom cushion and pull the cushion toward the front of the car. Remove the cushion from the car.

5) Note the fuel pump access access cover in the center of the car. Remove three 10mm bolts. Lift the access cover and move it aside. You can now see the top of the fuel tank.

6) There are two electric connectors. Remove the one on the passenger side. No tools are necessary, just press the latch, wiggle, jiggle, and lift.

7) Turn the ignition ON. No need to start the engine.

8) Note that one of the wires leading into the disconnected connector is red with a black tracer. Use a test lead to connect this terminal to ground. The Low Fuel warning light should go on. Remove the test lead. The light should go off.

9) If the Low Fuel warning light did not go on the dashboard bulb is defective or the wire between the fuel tank and dashboard has an open circuit.

10) If the Low Fuel warning light did go on the in-tank Low Fuel switch is defective.

This diagnostic procedure takes only ten minutes. It is not difficult and does not require any special tools.

If the switch is faulty you may remove the fuel pump and repair the switch or replace the assembly. Instructions for removing the pump are found in the Chilton repair manual (page 5-2) and the Haynes repair manual (page 4-4).