Fuel Light? and no check engine on cluster?

[Armstec_S13]

Ok I have two questions about my car, first why doesn't my car have a spot on the gauge cluster for the check engine light? I've seen peoples clusters on nico and I see where it should be but in that area mine is blank, anyone know why? Also lately I have tried to run my fuel low to see if my gas light comes on and it doesn't. I remember in 2001 I have my car parked on a slope in my driveway and it did light up, very faint but it came on, never seen it again, last year I was on my way home from work and I ran out of gas on the damn freeway and still no light, when you guys turn your cars on, does it come on with all the other lights that come on the dash? Know what I mean? Thanks for any help, I know im gonna get flammed, but these are little things I want to know about my car that I have wondered ever since I bought her in 2001.

EDIT: forgot to mention my car is an 89 SOHC with the HUD digital cluster, 5spd.
Modified by Armstec_S13 at 7:20 PM 10/20/2009

[nissans13240sx]

Gas light doesnt turn on with key on. Check that your bulb is good first, just swap a known good one in. If thats ok its something with the fuel level sender that operates the light, possibly fuel temp sensor not sure though.

Does the check engine light still work? I have a cluster that doesnt have the symbol on it as well, I just swapped out the face for one that did because it bothered me too.

[Armstec_S13]

Ah ok, im gonna change the bulb then, see what happens.

That's what I should've said, my cluster doesn't have the check engine symbol, I don't know if a light should light up even if there's no symbol, should it? Also the car was originally from texas and the owner brought it to california where I bought it in 2001, I was told maybe because it wasn't a car produced for cali it was the reason it didn't have one.

[-RJ-]

Yup thats right, I believe the only models that had the check engine light was the models made in cali. My old one didnt have one

[NISSAN240SX12]

Gas light doesnt turn on with key on. Check that your bulb is good first, just swap a known good one in. If thats ok its something with the fuel level sender that operates the light, possibly fuel temp sensor not sure though.

Does the check engine light still work? I have a cluster that doesnt have the symbol on it as well, I just swapped out the face for one that did because it bothered me too.

I didn't realize there was a fuel temp sensor on the 240sx. where is it located? I have the same problem and i just gave up on it..... thanks

[Armstec_S13]

That's true, I didn't know there was something like that, I'd like to know where its at too.

[xX RB Xx]

Yup thats right, I believe the only models that had the check engine light was the models made in cali. My old one didnt have one

WRONG.....!

So the 6 s13's I've owned which all had CEL(s;Check Engine Light) and were purchased in TN; all were California cars? No way.

Gas light doesnt turn on with key on.

Thats wrong too. Mine would come on just under 1/4th a tank and would stay on all the time (unless the car was off) until I put gas in it.

[Armstec_S13]

Whao, simmer down, the first one may be wrong but did you read what I wrote? The light? I was reffering to when you first turn the key on and the oil, check engine, lights come on, you don't have to even start the car turn he key forward all the way but don't actually turn the motor over. You get it? If it does come on please post a pic, we all know it will light up when the fuel is low, but what about that lil system check when you turn the key. that was question.

[nissans13240sx]

I didn't realize there was a fuel temp sensor on the 240sx. where is it located? I have the same problem and i just gave up on it..... thanks

I am not 100% sure if thats how the 240 reads fuel level, but if it has one it will be located on the fuel sending unit. The light might read off of the float too, but I assumed fuel temp sensor since it starts out dim and gets brighter(increases voltage to bulb when fuel is low and keeps increasing till empty).

[fastass]

hey rb where about in tn do you live?

[Wc240]

240s dont have a fuel temp sender, there are two circuits, one for the level, one for the light. one glance at the wiring diagram shows that. mine doesnt come on until after i hit the E mark.

supposebly, only cali model s13s had designated check engine lights. not saying they were made for or in california, but they were made to cali emissions levels. Asian manufacturers were faster at making the "one emissions level" cars. it was cheaper to make all at cali standards instead of on for cali and one for feds. OP, decode your vin, i bet a shiny nickel that its a federal emissions vehicle and not a california one, or check the under hood label(if you still have one, dought it) and it will say

[ILoveMyRHS13]

Your s*** was made in 89, correct? It's OBD0, thats why it doesn't have a check engine.

I have a 1990 which is OBD0 and it doesn't have one either. I actually like not having it. It's obvious when something is going wrong, and if it's on for some stupid reason, it sure as hell won't pass inspection.

[Wc240]

sorry to say, but your very mistaken. 89 was obd1, seeing as how it was mandated in 88. THERE IS NO OBD0, it doesnt exist

[OutToWinPAHC]

I am in the middle of making a custom cluster using all autometer gauges once again. I am using a 1993 HUD cluster frame. It does not have a CEL symbol, but it does have it. Its the blank center one on the bottom bar.

I verified this via the circuit board and FSM. It sounds like abad gas warning bulb.

[ILoveMyRHS13]

sorry to say, but your very mistaken. 89 was obd1, seeing as how it was mandated in 88. THERE IS NO OBD0, it doesnt exist

Right, I was using OBD0 as a slang term. 89 OBD1 s*** is so old it's useless. Plus, most smart people remove emissions s*** anyway.

[Wc240]

smart peaple remove emissoins? good to know not useless, just not as easily interpreted by peaple who dont understand it

[Armstec_S13]

I was always affraid to mess with emissions stuff, cali doesn't joke when it comes to smog, luckily I live in chicago now so anything 1995 and down have no emissions, I was going to do an rb26, but I decided I wanted something different so I now have a LS2 with a 6spd transmission and all wiring and ecu sitting in the garage that's going in this winter, all I need is a drive shaft and to figure out if im still gonna need the key from the donor car.

[nissans13240sx]

240s dont have a fuel temp sender, there are two circuits, one for the level, one for the light. one glance at the wiring diagram shows that. mine doesnt come on until after i hit the E mark.

werd, exactly why I said I wasnt sure.