Gas light not working?

[DJR]

My 99 EX 4 cylinder confuses me sometimes. One thing is the gas light. The other week, I had the gas down to where the needle was touching the top of the "E" bar. I know not to let the gas get that low, but payday was the next day, so I was going to immediately put gas in it asap. I stopped at a red light, and the gas light came on. It got my attention because it was dark outside at the time. I started to go, the light went out. Never came back on the rest of the night, but yet the gas gauge didnt go up at all. The next day I put gas in it. I figured it hit one of those spots where it isn't too accurate as far as the light goes. Fast forward to tonight. After spending all my money from my paycheck on books for college, I don't have money for gas. The needle is all the way on the "E" bar now. No gas light. I pulled the gauge cluster out and switched the bulb, the bulb works. My question is... what tells the light to turn on? The sending unit? The ECM?

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by DJR

My 99 EX 4 cylinder confuses me sometimes. One thing is the gas light. The other week, I had the gas down to where the needle was touching the top of the "E" bar. I know not to let the gas get that low, but payday was the next day, so I was going to immediately put gas in it asap. I stopped at a red light, and the gas light came on. It got my attention because it was dark outside at the time. I started to go, the light went out. Never came back on the rest of the night, but yet the gas gauge didnt go up at all. The next day I put gas in it. I figured it hit one of those spots where it isn't too accurate as far as the light goes. Fast forward to tonight. After spending all my money from my paycheck on books for college, I don't have money for gas. The needle is all the way on the "E" bar now. No gas light. I pulled the gauge cluster out and switched the bulb, the bulb works. My question is... what tells the light to turn on? The sending unit? The ECM?

How do you get to school with no car?

[nehonda]

To answer your question, the low fuel light is controlled by the sending unit, but neither the gage or light are precision instruments. You obviously watch your gage closely anyway, so keep the tank full and dont fret over the low fuel light operation.
I dont even know if the light on my 2000 SE even works since I fill it up when it hits the 1/2 mark. Doesnt cost any more

[DJR]

I was just curious as to what made the light come on. Thanks!

And as for having no money, I'm working two jobs averaging 8.50/hr and about 30hrs a week at both. I'm making money, I just spent it all on books and first semesters tuition.

[MusicMan374]

I have the same thing where the light will come on and go off, I think because gas moves around in the tank when you accelerate. Eventually if I let it go too low though the light stays solid. Mine starts coming on ridiculously early though, like 5 tick marks above the empty line.

[DJR]

Mine didn't come on the first time until it was on the very last bar. now it doesn't come on even when its on "Empty"

[d_himan]

my low light flashes intermittently (5 sec glow - 10 sec gap - 5 sec glow - so on) for a while and goes away. If I continue ignoring it and drive around, it'll then start to do it again. Ignore it again and after a while, it'll stay on.

[jenga70]

Running the tank to complete empty can cost you more than just a walk to a gas station.

Your fuel pump motor relies on the gas in the tank to keep it cool. Run the tank dry and you risk overheating the fuel pump motor.

[DJR]

Yeah, I know it's bad. but I can't really help it when I have to be at work and have no money for gas.

[G Stone]

Originally Posted by DJR

Yeah, I know it's bad. but I can't really help it when I have to be at work and have no money for gas.

Hit up Amazon Marketplace for your books. You may save some money that way and be able to fill up with gas.

[MusicMan374]

Originally Posted by jenga70

Running the tank to complete empty can cost you more than just a walk to a gas station.

Your fuel pump motor relies on the gas in the tank to keep it cool. Run the tank dry and you risk overheating the fuel pump motor.

This really isn't as much of a problem on newer cars with better designed and more efficient pumps. Yeah, if you run your tank completely dry it's bad for it, but running to the empty line shouldn't really hurt it fatally. I run mine below the fuel light all the time, rarely below the empty line though. No problems.

[Dtownbomber]

I have the same problem on my 00 accord coupe, the fuel light works intermittenly but I also have a problem with the odometer always screwing up and showing some funky numbers but I all i have to do is tap the plastic in front of it to get it back to normal. I also have had random lights go out, like the one on the cruise control button, but hey its an older car don't want to really lose sleep over something so small.

[mr500cm]

Im in the club too, I've never seen my light come on. On dead "E" my car takes about 14 gals of fuel, the tank hold 17.12 gals so that could very well be the issue.

[DJR]

On full E, it took 13.4 gallons. I think they do this to make sure you don't actually run out of gas.

[MusicMan374]

Well yeah, that and if you get below a certain level in your tank, you could find yourself stalling on a hill, depending on the shape of the tank. So thats also probably part of the reason.