My gas needle has been acting up lately. I noticed that while the needle goes all the way down the light that goes on to let you know that you have a few gallons left doesnt come on.

Is this light hooked up to a seperate sensor? Any way to test it to see if it works?

Also the needle will go down about 1/4 a tank when the car is off for a while and will slowly go back up once the car starts back up.

 

I've never seen a faulty light, but it is just a light so it is possible. It's all off the same sensor in the tank.

Stock needles will generally not move TOO MUCH . They do but it is not always noticeable. Aftermarket needles do not stay stationary, so that would be normal. Stepper motors attempt to stay in place when turned off, but aftermarket needles are build on a different concept so they bias the motor when there is no power going to it.

You can perform a resistance test on the sensor, but you'll need to search around for the proper readings and procedure. I've seen them here before.

 

If they work off the same sensor wouldn't that mean the light should come on if its on E? I'm tempted to run my car to see if the light will come on or not...

I did do the 12volt mod, would the fuel ECU have anything to do with the sensor readings going back to the cluster at all? I'm going to check the TFSM when I get some time to see.

My main concern is making sure the light does work...

 

The problem is that the contacts on the cluster are so ratty and the filament in the bulb is so old, if you take the bulb out to test it and it tests good, when you stick it back in...... it might not work. Same reason why people have to beat the dash to get their backlight to come on. Filament is just too old to fire sometimes, contacts in the mainboard and on the socket the bulb sits in are bronze and tarnished. bucket of worms right there......

 

One time after I went out to sea (was for a little over 2 months), and came back, my sending unit stuck. I filled it up with fresh gas and it stuck at 1/4, then I drove it hard and it unstuck I guess from gas sloshing around and everything is normal now. Nothing is impossible