Replacing a low-fuel light bulb?

[RDE]

I noticed my fuel needle was getting underneath the 'E' marking and the light was not forthcoming to prompt me to spend a small fortune on another tank. When I turn the ignition key and all the lights on the instrument panel come on, I can't see a low-fuel symbol, so i'm assuming the bulb has blown.

Has anyone done this, and is a a pain in the arse, or a straight-forward job? It isn't a massive issue as the gauge itself still works, but it would be nice to get it working again for completeness sake.

The car's an '02 NB 1.8 by the way.

Cheers

Edited by RDE on Friday 12th November 18:14

[rfn]

Fairly certain that it doesn't actually have a low fuel light bulb!

Don't think they were fitted until the Mk2.5 facelift in 2003 - though I may be wrong!

[RDE]

Oh!

I could have sworn i'd seen it lit once, but maybe i'm getting it confused with something else i've driven recently.

I'll get out the manual and double-check next time it stops raining, which, as i'm in Wales, will probably be around the Olympics.

Edited by RDE on Friday 12th November 18:16

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mine is a 2001 Mk2.5 and it doesn't have a low fuel light.
There are a few things that were introduced in the life of the Mk2.5 that mine doesn't have such as:

• Low fuel light
• Heated mirrors
• Boot light
• Silver faced modular stereo (mine is black)

I don't know when each of these were introduced.

You say though that you do see a low fuel light when you switch the ignition on?

[B3njamin]

Out of interest, do the mk1 Eunos imports have a low petrol warning light?

I've never fancied trying it out.

On a side note, I'm getting 28mpg out of it, fun times...

[RDE]

MX-5 Lazza said:

You say though that you do see a low fuel light when you switch the ignition on?

No, I was looking for it in all the warning lights that come on when you first turn the key, but didn't see one.

I blithely assumed all cars of this age had one. As I say, the gauge works, so I only need a light if i'm being unobservant.

[MX-5 Lazza]

The needle can go well below the E mark before it's anywhere near empty. Fill a Mk2.5 at E and you will probably only get 40-42L in and they have a 50L tank

[Mellow Matt]

B3njamin said:

Out of interest, do the mk1 Eunos imports have a low petrol warning light?

I've never fancied trying it out.

On a side note, I'm getting 28mpg out of it, fun times...

I think the little light above the fuel guage is actually a heated rear window light. I don't have a heated rear window so I can't test it though!

[LukeBird]

MX-5 Lazza said:

There are a few things that were introduced in the life of the Mk2.5 that mine doesn't have such as:

• Low fuel light
• Heated mirrors
• Boot light
• Silver faced modular stereo (mine is black)

I don't know when each of these were introduced.

My 2003 has the first 3, but a black stereo as well.

MX-5 Lazza said:

The needle can go well below the E mark before it's anywhere near empty. Fill a Mk2.5 at E and you will probably only get 40-42L in and they have a 50L tank

I've played fuel light bingo a few times, but I've only managed to squeeze 46 or so litres in the tank and it was showing well below nothing in the tank!

[The Tea Boy]

B3njamin said:

Out of interest, do the mk1 Eunos imports have a low petrol warning light?

I've never fancied trying it out.

Nope, ive taken the car to belw the E line ad got no lights at all!

[Jonny671]

LukeBird said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

There are a few things that were introduced in the life of the Mk2.5 that mine doesn't have such as:

• Low fuel light
• Heated mirrors
• Boot light
• Silver faced modular stereo (mine is black)

I don't know when each of these were introduced.

My 2003 has the first 3, but a black stereo as well.

MX-5 Lazza said:

The needle can go well below the E mark before it's anywhere near empty. Fill a Mk2.5 at E and you will probably only get 40-42L in and they have a 50L tank

I've played fuel light bingo a few times, but I've only managed to squeeze 46 or so litres in the tank and it was showing well below nothing in the tank!

This weekend in Wales Lazza got 48 litres

[MX-5 Lazza]

Yep, and I drove about 50 miles after the gauge went to empty and still managed to just about keep up with the general hoonage - though driving those roads in 5th & 6th did take away some of the excitement

[LukeBird]

Surely 48L is a winner then Laz?! Getting to 46/47 was low enough for me!

[rfn]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Yep, and I drove about 50 miles after the gauge went to empty and still managed to just about keep up with the general hoonage - though driving those roads in 5th & 6th did take away some of the excitement

My Mk3 apparently has a 50l fuel tank. The fuel light came on yesterday while I was on my way home, and I did a further 50 miles. I've done about 10 miles this morning (including 5 minutes sitting waiting for the car to defrost) and yet I've still only managed to put in 43 litres!

[Jonny671]

LukeBird said:

Surely 48L is a winner then Laz?! Getting to 46/47 was low enough for me!

We found a petrol station, no Super fuel.. So had to find another, Lazza was on E already and Russ on low too, Russ put in a tenner of horrible fuel but Lazza didn't so was in 5th and 6th gear not coming out of 2k revs

[MX-5 Lazza]

You can imagine how happy I was to see those really steep uphill roads and 2nd gear hairpin bends when I was in "fuel-save mode"