Do MX5's have a low fuel warning light?

poison · Post by **poison** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:30 pm

Well mine hasn't

I was out in the car this morning and OMG the fuel gauge was way below Empty, and the nearest BP (Ultimate 98) was a way off so I started coasting down hills and even turning off the Engine at the lights… and yay... made it

I would have expected a fuel warning light, who looks at the gauge anymore especially as mine is a weekender car. So if I do have a light it's shagged

KSCRIM · Post by **KSCRIM** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:31 pm

No they don't. My '98 has about 8 litres left when the gauge reads "E". IE 40 litres to fill the tank from "E".
I have a couple of circuits for low fuel lights, one fitted to my car, with the light in the top of the little fuel pump on the gauge.
All wiring and circuit board inside the instrument panel.
I could assist if required, I'm in Massey.
I think that most cars have about 4 to 8 litres left at "E"

Stevo · Post by **Stevo** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:40 pm

98 1600cc NB roadster. Never seen it at all. Have run pretty low on gas at times. Cheers Stevo

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:48 pm

Mu 2003 NZ new has a fuel warning light – found out when I went to use it after Sally had been driving it – “where is the fuel cap?”

I would never want to rely on it though.

MN · Post by MN » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:37 am

[quote="MX5PWR"].....after Sally had been driving it – “where is the fuel cap?”

My wife did exactly the same thing! She was taking our daughter back to Havelock Nth a week or so after we got the car and on arriving pulled straight into the petrol station for fuel. She couldn't find how to open the fuel cover so turned to the attendent handed him the key and sweetly said "that's your job" and went inside the shop leaving him to figure it out - which he couldn't but he had the presence of mind to open the boot and opened the cap from there!!!!

poison · Post by **poison** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:03 pm

Yeah me too, damn fuel cap lever, my first solo drive of my new (OK Used) MX5, off to fill up with gas....and WTF?? Fortunately I found it after a few minutes of inner embarrassment. I thought I was goig to have to call someone for help.

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:02 pm

poison wrote:Yeah me too, damn fuel cap lever, my first solo drive of my new (OK Used) MX5, off to fill up with gas....and WTF?? Fortunately I found it after a few minutes of inner embarrassment. I thought I was goig to have to call someone for help.

That would have been embarrassing. But be sure, if you should find yourself in a similar situation, I would be only too happy to assist if I could. I will call you to leave my new mobile number on your 'phone.

poison · Post by **poison** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:10 pm

KSCRIM wrote:I have a couple of circuits for low fuel lights, one fitted to my car, with the light in the top of the little fuel pump on the gauge.
All wiring and circuit board inside the instrument panel... I'm in Massey."

Maybe not something I really need as it's just a weekender and now I know to be wary. But still sounds like an interesting project thanks. I assume the fuel tank level sender is just a variable resistor, sending maybe 0-5V or silmilar and the LED is set to trigger when the voltage drops below a given point?

Where is Massey? I have a feeling it's not Massey Uni...

KSCRIM · Post by **KSCRIM** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:22 pm

Yes they are. The low fuel light triggers are comparators, 1 uses an IC, the other is discrete transistors. Both are small.
Massey is just out of Henderson