Gas light/ Coolant gauge

[Glliw]

Hey guys, I was just wondering, is there a fuel light thats supposed to come on when on "E"? I don't believe a saw a little circle for it, but maybe I'm just blind? I've been on E for about 20 or so miles and have had no ill effects. Does anyone know of a rough estimate of when E is said to be E?

My second trouble is my coolant gauge. My coolant gauge sits on the cool side whenever i take it out but my logger is telling me that I'm getting like 200+ sitting in traffic and 180ish on highway. What could be causing this to malfunction?

Thanks, Will

 

[240kid]

replace the sensor

 

[streetlegends]

Hey guys, I was just wondering, is there a fuel light thats supposed to come on when on "E"? I don't believe a saw a little circle for it, but maybe I'm just blind? I've been on E for about 20 or so miles and have had no ill effects. Does anyone know of a rough estimate of when E is said to be E?

My second trouble is my coolant gauge. My coolant gauge sits on the cool side whenever i take it out but my logger is telling me that I'm getting like 200+ sitting in traffic and 180ish on highway. What could be causing this to malfunction?

Thanks, Will

Yes you do have a gas light that comes when you reach about an eighth of a tank which is just a LITTLE above the "empty" line. If your temp gauge is not working check the sensor and if the the sensor is good the gauge itself might be bad.

 

[Glliw]

Ok, cool. whereabout is the sensor? are these cheap? Also, if the sensor was dead, wouldn't I not be able to get the coolant temps from my datalogger?

 

[Talesin]

No, the temp gauge and the ECU coolant temp sensor are two different sensors. Might also look and make sure your gauge cluster wire is on solid... it seems to get 'tugged' partway off sometimes.

Both sensors are located on the thermostat housing. Yes, they're pretty inexpensive, but a little messy to change out.

As to the 'empty' issue, check how much capacity your gas tank is supposed to have. Incorrectly reading gauges are common... go based on miles-per-gallon and your trip odometer, or toss a five-gallon jerrycan in the back and drive until you run out of gas. What I'm going to have to do, as 1G GSXes are supposed to have 16 gallon tanks, but I only ever get about 12 at any given fill, even riding it on the E line, with the 'low gas warning' light glowing.

 

[Ravenous]

I was just reading the vfaq about the gas tank capacities and I rarely hit 13 gallons and that is riding on E for 50 miles. Is there any way to make the gauge more accurate or buy a more accurate sending unit?

 

[GSntncT]

Has it always been like this? Have you ever changed the speedo gauges, or took out the gauge cluster for any reason? before I go off the deep and and start calling things bad, I would first take out the entire cluster, for the coolant temp, ensure that the piece that looks like a plastic needle is sitting in it's groove properly. If it isn't, you'll never get any kind of reading. Secondly, completely fill your tank with gas, move the gas needle to F(if its not there after filling up)and then monitor it when it comes close to empty and see if the light comes on.

If it doesn't, you can either replace that light(or whatever is responsible for sending that signal to the light) Or you can just remember that it doesn't work, and refill when you have like 1/4 tank left.

 

[president95]

I've read a couple threads about this, and I too have the mysterious 16.9 gallon tank that only fills up 12 or so gallons when the gauge reads empty. Go by what Talesin said, but I'm not sure running it out of gas is the best idead unless you really want to know how far you can really go. As for the temp. thing, just rely on your logger.