Stupid question.....

[qx4girl]

I have only had my 97 qx4 for about a month or so. I have let my gas go to the bottom of the "E" line, and I have not seen the gas light come on.
I am assuming the bulb is burnt out or there's no light? If it does have a light, I will tear into it to try and get it replaced. I tried shining a light over the dash to see if I could see the gas light spot. But no luck.
It does have one right? My owner's manual says "if applicable". If it indeed does, can you guys tell me what it's next to, so I can replace the bulb.

thanks for putting up with my stupid question.

[Innovazn]

It should be located under the fuel gauge and to the right abit I believe.... Thats where its located on my 02.

[Densetsu]

http://www.infiniti-techinfo.com/refgh0 ... ti-qx4.pdf

According to page 1-11, there is indeed a low fuel light that should be coming on. It'd be odd that your owners manual says it's optional. As to the exact position of the light, I can't speak for that since I have a Pathfinder and believe the dash is laid out differently.

How much gas do you put in when you fill it up? The '97 has a 21 gallon gas tank. In the 2001-04 models, the low fuel light comes on when there's around 2.5 gallons of gas left; I would assume the '97 has a similar amount of "reserve gas".

[Towncivilian]

Open up the instrument cluster by unscrewing two screws at the top of the cluster, and pull the black surround out by prying from the bottom and pivoting the surround bottom toward you and out; then 4 screws to unscrew the cluster, and check the bulb by removing its twist base; replace if necessary. There is a test procedure in the FSM to verify operation of the gas light circuit, but it's rather involved. It's easy to check the bulb as a starting point.

[qx4girl]

The link Densetsu sent me says it's somewhere within the top left with other indicator lights. But it does not say which one it is. I am assuming it's burnt out then. I guess I will just have to plug and play til I figure out which one it is. The light should be on right now, since I am at the bottom of the E line.

I have yet to fill it yet. Waiting on money. I did though, get 3/4 of a tank, and that was about 14 gallons.

[qx4girl]

Thank you, Towncivilian!! you always have what I need. I am indeed a picture person! I now know where it's supposed to be at. I will most definitely check into the bulb tomorrow.

Thanks again, everyone!

[qx4girl]

So I decided I didn't want to wait til the am to look into it. There indeed was a bulb there, I looked around and saw that the battery bulb was the same, (which I know works since it's a light that always turns on once it's keyed on) and switched them. The battery light came on, meaning the fuel light works. But still no fuel light. I didn't bother switching them back since I know they both are good.

Any ideas as to what to do that's quick and simple? before trying to figure out how to test the whole system. The gauge itself works and all the other lights work as well.

[Towncivilian]

In case of gas gauge inaccuracy, you may want to try running a concentrated fuel injector cleaner such as Techron which may clear things up a bit - even if it doesn't it won't hurt anything.

There is a test procedure in the FSM, but it's quite vague and probably useless:



The procedure for my 2001.5 Pathfinder is more thoroughly detailed:



I am not sure whether it'd be applicable to your 97 QX4, though.

I dunno what the next logical step would be short of trying to run even lower (of course with some spare fuel in the trunk) to see if it lights, if you're comfortable with attempting that.

[qx4girl]

I'll try that to see if it does anything. You're right, it wont hurt anything.

I did look up the FSM procedure, and I am beyond lost. So was hoping there was something else.

I have AAA so if I randomly decide to attempt it and don't have gas, then I should be ok. I worry about running it outta gas because I heard it's bad for the car. No, I won't try and re start or keep driving once it's about to die, but I still worry.

I will try and see if I can find someone with a test light, and that knows what they're doing to see if they understand that diagram.

[Towncivilian]

I don't think it'll be bad to run out of gas once (unless you're driving a diesel which you're not). I do believe the fuel pump is lubricated by gasoline, so obviously you shouldn't make a habit of running until empty.

Also, I mistakenly posted the wrong test diagram that's applicable for my vehicle. I've fixed that in my previous post - you can try that and see if it works for your vehicle. An 80 ohm resistor should be cheap and easily found at your local Radio Shack. You will also be looking for harness B12 if I read the wiring diagram correctly (page EL-93).

[ARKQX33V6]

That 97 gas light comes on in increments, with about 50 Km left to drive it will light up then go off. Not bright. As you drive it will come on brighter then off, at some point it will come on at full brilliance and stay on, at which point fuel is a must.

Carry a spare tank of gas with you and drive until the vehicle stops. Does the light come on? Fill the tank with the fuel you are carrying.

No light? Investigate the reason and repair

Light comes on, now you know, maybe the light comes on with little advance notice.