fuel warning light?

[LilYoda]

Hello all

I have a 1998 Maxda MX3 (french version)

It works fine, except that I have no warning lights anywhere on the dashboard when I am low on fuel. The fuel gauge is working fine.

I'm wondering if this is normal, if I have a light bulb burnt, if maybe a connector is cut somewhere, etc... I don't have the owner manual, so I'm wondering where on the dashboard it should light up? Anyone as a diagram, picture, schematics that could be helpful?

Thanks in advance

Brgrds

[Ryan]

Your screen name...

We have(had) a member named Yoda who knew almost everything about the universe, as these cars go.

Anyway, take a look in here

http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The light should be a little orange light that slowly comes on, as the gas level drops. There is a bulb in the back of the cluster for it.

None of the dash lights work? ANY? including the HVAC panel, and all?

Try checking your ROOM fuse, and all the rest while you're at it.

[umcamara]

Not all the clusters have the cutout for the light. My '96 RS doesn't, but a '94 RS cluster from the junkyard does. So does my '95 GS cluster.

[Miguelitto]

My 97 doens't have this light also!!!

[LilYoda]

We have(had) a member named Yoda who knew almost everything about the universe, as these cars go.

Not me, I don't know ****

Anyway, take a look in here
http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't have the same cluster...
For exemple on the right side, the warning light at the top of the stack or 4 is a warning light about level of windshield washer fluid.

The light should be a little orange light that slowly comes on, as the gas level drops. There is a bulb in the back of the cluster for it.

If I look at the manual, I see this

I'm assuming the circle drawn below the fuel gauge is the orange light you mention. I don't see anything there on my cluster. Actually I don't even have a cut on that area of the cluster that would suggest there's a light hidden there...
I'll try to get a picture of that area on mine.

None of the dash lights work? ANY? including the HVAC panel, and all?

Everything works, except that I have no clue if the warning light for when you're low on fuel even exists on my model.

I see others mention some models don't have this. I find it surprising. If that's the case for me, could I just replace that part in the instrument cluster with one from the junkyard? Or am I going to run into issues like the fuel gauge doesn't work anymore because they changed the wiring, or the resistance, etc...

[edger0587]

Wow. I wish I had a 98. My mx3 does the opposite. it stops marking gas on the gauge when I have less than 1/4 of a tank, but my light comes on just fine when I'm about to run out (~24 miles or so before_)

[Mike Wakeham]

Hi All,

European versions don't have the low fuel warning light. Don't know why that's just how it is!

If you were to fit one, you'd need the low level sensor in the tank and associated wiring, and a new cluster. The low level light doesn't work from the guage reading there is a little sensor attached to the sender in the tank.

Too much hastle to fit one but that's just me!

In answer to edger above. The guage stops reading due to the sender being knackerd. It is basicly a coil of high resistance wire with a slider attached to a float. Similar to a scalextric throttle gun. The float sits ontop of the gas and as the level changes the slider moves along the coil of wire changing in voltage, this gives the reading on your guage. Over time the coil wears out and splits, once the slider reaches the split it'll stop reading on the guage. Just replace the sensor from pretty much any Mazda from the same year from a junk yard, they're all the same. When mine broke I got one from a 323.

[LilYoda]

If you were to fit one, you'd need the low level sensor in the tank and associated wiring, and a new cluster. The low level light doesn't work from the guage reading there is a little sensor attached to the sender in the tank.

Might be faster to build a new car!

OK guys, thanks for the info. I'll look if I have the *%@! sensor, but I'm suspecting you're right and they didn't put neither the wire nor the sensor. Now why would that not be standard in a car built in 98 is beyond me!

[lowbaylighting]

Hi all,
I don't have a fuel light for my car. I am hearing this here first time.
It would be thankful, if anybody suggest me how to fix this for my car.
Thanks in advance

[Mooneggs]

If you were to fit one, you'd need the low level sensor in the tank and associated wiring, and a new cluster. The low level light doesn't work from the guage reading there is a little sensor attached to the sender in the tank.

that's what is involved...

I'm finding it very interesting there is no fuel light for euro mx-3's... I wonder why that is?!

[Ryan]

I think its kinda redundant anyway. When you get near the bottom line, you're running out of fuel....

[umcamara]

If you were to fit one, you'd need the low level sensor in the tank and associated wiring, and a new cluster. The low level light doesn't work from the guage reading there is a little sensor attached to the sender in the tank.

that's what is involved...

I'm finding it very interesting there is no fuel light for euro mx-3's... I wonder why that is?!

Mine's not euro, and I've got no light...

[Ryan]

Also, most aftermarket guages cover the light.

[Mad Cow]

I think its kinda redundant anyway. When you get near the bottom line, you're running out of fuel....

Well in my case my fuel level sender was broken for a while and I had to rely on the light to tell me my fuel level, it's pretty useful as a failsafe measure.

[jmdearras]

Well in my case my fuel level sender was broken for a while and I had to rely on the light to tell me my fuel level, it's pretty useful as a failsafe measure.

I rely on it on road trips. I sometimes do not notice a slowly dropping fuel guage, but the light gets my attention!