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Topic: Low Fuel Light

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems


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Low Fuel Light (1/9)
 1/15/13 12:16am
Babyblue 78
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Vette(s):
1978 Corvette Light Blue Pulled from the swamps of Miami! Its a driver and back on the road!


Joined: 12/3/2007
Posts: 280

I recently replaced my dash. And as the center gage cluster was out I replaced all bulbs....I did not realize that I had put a bulb in what must have been an empty socket behind the low fuel light. So now the low fuel light is on all the time(not bad enough for me to pull out the center cluster again just to remove the bulb) This past year at the Carlisle show I noticed several center clusters had a bulb in the low fuel socket and it appeared to be attached to a small circuit board. It did not appear to have any place to attach anything (wiring) to it. So my question is for those cars with this option,which I guess I do not have, how. Is the fuel quantity read or measured to turn on the light? There must be a connection to the circuit board connected to the bulb from a sending unit? I imagine it cannot be added unless from the factory.. Just a I want to know question, whileI am busy removing the door glass and new window hardware and greasing the tracks. Hope I can get the glass back in? Thanks BB

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Re: Low Fuel Light (2/9)
 1/15/13 12:56am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
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http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairandinstallhelp.php?hID=211


Well to start, your going to need this module if you don't have one on there already. Click on the link above.
The light should start to glow dimly once your fuel starts to get low. When it's at retina burning brightness your better get fuel fast.


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Re: Low Fuel Light (3/9)
 1/16/13 4:52pm
rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

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1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion


Joined: 10/14/2003
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If you need more info I can email you the circuit diagram for this module and how to test it, the resistance from the sender going to the guage is measured by the modual to turn on light.
 
It is easy to trouble shoot. Take the board out of the dash. There are three terminals on the bulb socket. With the board sitting on table bulb side up, angled side to the right. The terminal at 9 o clock is +12v, 6 o'clock is from the sending unit (0-90 ohms), 3 o'clock is ground.
Apply power and ground to the bulb terminals. The bulb should not light.

If that worked right:

Now also ground the sending unit terminal.
This simulates the fuel tank being low.
The bulb should light after about 10 seconds.

If it dosn't work right it may have bad transistors.
Replace both with a NTE159 transistor.  
Re: Low Fuel Light (4/9)
 1/16/13 8:18pm
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

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1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


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Now if you do not have a circuit card and want to check for a used one.  Send an email to vettsteve@aol.com and ask if he has one.
Re: Low Fuel Light (5/9)
 1/16/13 9:16pm
Babyblue 78
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Vette(s):
1978 Corvette Light Blue Pulled from the swamps of Miami! Its a driver and back on the road!


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Ok thanks for the responses!  I understand the light and circuit board, but how do I know I have the sending unit if it was not an ordered option and I do not see any wiring or connection behind the dash for the sender to connect with the circuit board if I get a circuit board.But no use doing that is there is not a sender in the tank....I figure if it was not on the order sheet like the rear defroster that I do not have on the car, maybe I cannot add it???
 
Thanks BB


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Re: Low Fuel Light (6/9)
 1/17/13 12:03am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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The fuel tank sending unit is the same, regardless of if the car has the light or not. I would say, if you know you do not have the circuit board con the cluster, then your car doesn't have that option, and perhaps you put a bulb socket in a spot that didn't have a bulb in it before.
The low fuel indicator is part of the "Convenience Group", option ZX2, which included the interior light delay timer, a headlight on warning buzzer, underhood light, intermittent wipers, vanity mirror on the pass side visor, and I think some floor mats. If you do not have any of these other items, then you wouldn't have the low fuel light, either. Thumbs Up


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Re: Low Fuel Light (7/9)
 1/18/13 12:31pm
Babyblue 78
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Vette(s):
1978 Corvette Light Blue Pulled from the swamps of Miami! Its a driver and back on the road!


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Posts: 280

Thanks that is what I was looking for. I have the timer delay and the under hood light but non of the other items.  I just need to get the bulb out and after putting in a new dash, might not want to mess wiht that right now.  I was just wondering  about it after I saw the circuit boards with bulbs at the car show, I knew I would need more than a circuit board and a bulb but did not see what was connecting it to the sensor in the tank.(wires)...
 
Good now I can get back to trying to get my door glass re-installed in the door and working properly....can't just leave things alone got to get them right!
 
Thanks for everyone's input!  BB78


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Re: Low Fuel Light (8/9)
 1/18/13 2:02pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Black tape is your friend....it will cover that pesky light right up....Wink
LOL


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Re: Low Fuel Light (9/9)
 1/18/13 7:21pm
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041

I had a friend with smaller hands than I have reach up and reseat my circuit card.  I forgot to put it in one time and felt like you I just did not want to take the gage cluster out again.  So if you have someone with small hands it is possible. 
 
 
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