mx5 fuel light
Discussion
For reasons out of my control I didnt have chance to fill up the '5 the other day, so did a journey on a 1/4 of a tank which was no probs, although I know I shouldn't really do this...
Anyway,as I neared my destination, the fuel guage had gone onto the last bar of the dial, and had been there for quite sometime, yet no fuel light was on. This got me thinking as to whether or not it actually worked.
Can anyone remember *roughly* how long youve got to have been on the last bar of the fuel dial before the litte light comes on?
Cheers
Anyway,as I neared my destination, the fuel guage had gone onto the last bar of the dial, and had been there for quite sometime, yet no fuel light was on. This got me thinking as to whether or not it actually worked.
Can anyone remember *roughly* how long youve got to have been on the last bar of the fuel dial before the litte light comes on?
Cheers
risotto said:
I had a vague recollection the thing you're referring to was something to do with the hardtop heated rear window.
Anyway, if you fancy a low fuel warning system there's some instructions here
Anyway, if you fancy a low fuel warning system there's some instructions here
Thanks for that, although fitting such a thing is probably above my skills level somewhat!
princeperch said:
I’m rather glad I found that out. Could have been in a rather embarrassing situation otherwise!
What, like having the engine start hesitating coming down into Bergwerk and coasting to a halt at the side of the track on the way up towards Kesselchen, finally realising that you haven't killed the engine, just run out of fuel? 
when you fill it up after you have got the dial down to the last bar of the fuel guage note how much fuel you put in. i bought the car with it just on the last bar and was worried that it might run out but after filling it up i realised it probably had atleast 5 litres left in it.
im fairly sure that the mx5 fuel guage is meant to keep you on the safe side by making it look empty when its not quite.
im fairly sure that the mx5 fuel guage is meant to keep you on the safe side by making it look empty when its not quite.
Mine's like that too - and also it rarely get's above 3/4 indication brimming the tank.
BUT it has got white dials (90's rule!) - so at some point the needles will have been off, and therefore fuel gauges that have been played with could read anywhere!
Best advice is - if the gauge reads less than 1/4 tank think about fuelling up...
BUT it has got white dials (90's rule!) - so at some point the needles will have been off, and therefore fuel gauges that have been played with could read anywhere!
Best advice is - if the gauge reads less than 1/4 tank think about fuelling up...
All good advice.
However with regards to setting the trip when refuelling, this may be of only very general rather than specific use.
There is a lot of difference in how she drinks depending on if i'm giving her a hard time, or just driving normally.
In the good old days of the Saxo (and yes they were good), I knew that if I put in a tenner, I would get 100 miles out of her, regardless of how she is driven..
The MX5 is however, slightly less predictable...
However with regards to setting the trip when refuelling, this may be of only very general rather than specific use.
There is a lot of difference in how she drinks depending on if i'm giving her a hard time, or just driving normally.
In the good old days of the Saxo (and yes they were good), I knew that if I put in a tenner, I would get 100 miles out of her, regardless of how she is driven..
The MX5 is however, slightly less predictable...
I filled mine up last night, and it was running on fumes (according to the gauge).
However, it took 38.45 litres to fill back up to the brim (literally) - therefore there was about 10 litres left in the tank (and approximately 67 miles of distance left).
But I'd never risk it usually. Once the mileometer goes over 400kms that's my cue to fill up.
K
However, it took 38.45 litres to fill back up to the brim (literally) - therefore there was about 10 litres left in the tank (and approximately 67 miles of distance left).
But I'd never risk it usually. Once the mileometer goes over 400kms that's my cue to fill up.
K
Kinky said:
I filled mine up last night, and it was running on fumes (according to the gauge).
However, it took 38.45 litres to fill back up to the brim (literally) - therefore there was about 10 litres left in the tank (and approximately 67 miles of distance left).
But I'd never risk it usually. Once the mileometer goes over 400kms that's my cue to fill up.
K
However, it took 38.45 litres to fill back up to the brim (literally) - therefore there was about 10 litres left in the tank (and approximately 67 miles of distance left).
But I'd never risk it usually. Once the mileometer goes over 400kms that's my cue to fill up.
K
having never filled mine to the brim before, as I normally chuck in £25-30 every so often- thats very useful to know.
I suspect that the tank must be cone shaped as the last 1/4 appeared to go pretty sharpish...
Hope you don't mind me renewing an old post, but last night my girlfriend run out of fuel (for the 2nd time) in her 2001 MX-5, and swore there wasn't a warning light. Having now read this post i might have to apologise to her!!
I don't want to attempt to follow the instuctions attached earlier and try to fit a warning light myself, so has anyone had a Mazda dealer fit one or can anyone recommend a specialist in London/Surrey/Berkshire area?
Many thanks.
Ollie
I don't want to attempt to follow the instuctions attached earlier and try to fit a warning light myself, so has anyone had a Mazda dealer fit one or can anyone recommend a specialist in London/Surrey/Berkshire area?
Many thanks.
Ollie
I think a low fuel warning light is overkill with an MX-5 gauge.
Even in my thirsty supercharged beastie (25mpg is really good), once I get down to the red section I have at least 60 miles before running out of fuel (that is, I have done 60 miles after reaching the red section WITHOUT running out of fuel so that's at least 3 litres - yes I know that isn't recommended but I didn't have a lot of choice) so there really is no excuse for even the blondest of blondes to run out of fuel completely
Just tell her to keep an eye on the fuel gauge and to fill up when it gets near the red section.
Even in my thirsty supercharged beastie (25mpg is really good), once I get down to the red section I have at least 60 miles before running out of fuel (that is, I have done 60 miles after reaching the red section WITHOUT running out of fuel so that's at least 3 litres - yes I know that isn't recommended but I didn't have a lot of choice) so there really is no excuse for even the blondest of blondes to run out of fuel completely
Just tell her to keep an eye on the fuel gauge and to fill up when it gets near the red section.
I didn't think my 2002 had a warning light...until.
On the way to Le Mans with my Dad next to me I say
"We had better get some fuel as the needle is on the bottom of the dial"
Dad says "Well we should be ok as you haven't had a fuel warning light go on"
Me "Oh it doesn't have one"
30 secs later. Above my fuel gauge a fuel light comes on!!!
Only comes on when the needle is off the bottom of the gauge mind.
On the way to Le Mans with my Dad next to me I say
"We had better get some fuel as the needle is on the bottom of the dial"
Dad says "Well we should be ok as you haven't had a fuel warning light go on"
Me "Oh it doesn't have one"
30 secs later. Above my fuel gauge a fuel light comes on!!!
Only comes on when the needle is off the bottom of the gauge mind.
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