Little problem with gas light

[Hayes90]

Since i have bought my truck i havent had a gas light. and it never bothered me untill i ran out of gas today.. I have no idea why it doesnt work. a blown fuse? a bad light? any one have any ideas??

[Pwnin O'Brien]

My guess would be the gas light bulb is blown. It's a fairly simple fix and only takes about ten minutes. It's the same process as replacing the other cluster bulbs.

[Densetsu]

As long as the fuel gauge is working properly, then it's most likely that the low fuel bulb is burnt out.

If it were a fuse, then you would have many (or all) of your cluster lights out.

If it were the control module, then your gauges wouldn't be working (speed, tach, gas, temp).

[QX4Marsh]

I also have a problem with my gas light. It worked perfect when i bought the vehicle and now only works when it wants to, so im thinking its not the bulb itself, maybe its element that triggers it to come on??? Weird

[Chuck Tribolet]

And what is the gas GAUGE saying?????

[alexf20c]

the gas gauge is probably below E, but they're waiting for the light to turn on...

[Hayes90]

well since the truck was new to me, and the light was never coming on. i wanted to see if it ever would lol

[nismokidd98]

i also have a problem with my gas light, once and a while while sitting at idle it will come on, but when drivin and gas is actualy on E it does not turn on, replaced bulb and it is good, fuel sending unit is working cause it goes all the way below E. what could be the issue?

[ARKQX33V6]

From the 97 QX4 manual the fuel gauge warning light is powered from a 10 A fuse from the ignition switch and turned on by a relay that is N.O. and closes by virtue of a variable resistance and that variable resistance then is put in series with the light bulb.

The light bulb then turns on but the on brightness is variable as to the resistance.

So when the warning first comes on the light bulb is dim, as you ignore getting more gasoline, the resistance tied into the float mechanism gets less and less causing the warning bulb to get brighter and brighter.

If the bulb doesn't light up on the dash: It could be the fuse but other gauges stop working, or the variable resistor is open. If this resistor is open although the switch from the relay portion is closed the open or busted resistor will prevent the light turning on. Also a burned out bulb could be the cause or loss of positive and /or negative terminals will stop the light from working.

If your light originally worked but was not variable in brightness, everything above could apply but the variable resistance.

If there are 2 scenarios, variable and fixed, the variable resistor in 1 and the contact in 2.

I do not know what Pathfinders have for dimming the light or even know that they do dim. Info is taken from the manual.