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-   -   Fuel gauge light on W116 300SD. (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/102060-fuel-gauge-light-w116-300sd.html)

ericnguyen 08-23-2004 10:27 PM

Fuel gauge light on W116 300SD.
 
Dear friends:

The fuel gauge light on my friend's W116 300SD (1980) comes up frequently even if the fuel tank is full. The fuel gauge needle does correctly show the remaining fuel in the tank, but the light is on most of the time. It seems that the fuel light has something to do with the seat belt circuit because yanking the driver seat belt may cause the fuel light to be on or off sometimes. What's the most common cause for this problem? Thanks.

Best regards,

Eric

TonyFromWestOz 08-24-2004 09:28 AM

I am not familiar with this model MB, but it sounds like the seatbelt light in the instrument panel has been put into the wrong hole in the cluster (the fuel low position)
IIRC, the low fuel li a contact in the tank sender which can only close the circuit if the float gets to a low fuel level.
Please educate me if I am in error.

ericnguyen 08-24-2004 09:30 PM

Dear Tony,

No, the problem only happens recently. The seat belt thing is only my random observation of the problem.

Eric

jdblann 08-24-2004 09:53 PM

My 1980 SD's light has been on for the last few days. Havn't had a chance to chase it down yet, but will report what I find when I do.

boneheaddoctor 08-25-2004 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericnguyen
Dear friends:

The fuel gauge light on my friend's W116 300SD (1980) comes up frequently even if the fuel tank is full. The fuel gauge needle does correctly show the remaining fuel in the tank, but the light is on most of the time. It seems that the fuel light has something to do with the seat belt circuit because yanking the driver seat belt may cause the fuel light to be on or off sometimes. What's the most common cause for this problem? Thanks.

Best regards,

Eric

Must be a uniquely 1980 300SD thing, my 1979 300SD has no low fuel light on it.

Tymbrymi 08-25-2004 07:17 PM

Sounds like you're having an intermittant short to ground somewhere... could be in the fuel sender, could be anywhere else. Don't know what to tell you to troubleshot... good luck with it!!!

BHDR... both of my '79 300SD's have low fuel lights. You must have a special one ;)

John
'79 300SD

ericnguyen 08-25-2004 08:41 PM

Thanks to all for your suggestion.

Dear jdblann: if you find out the problem, please post it here. I've been too busy lately and don't have time to mess around with cars. Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Eric

boneheaddoctor 08-25-2004 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tymbrymi
Sounds like you're having an intermittant short to ground somewhere... could be in the fuel sender, could be anywhere else. Don't know what to tell you to troubleshot... good luck with it!!!

BHDR... both of my '79 300SD's have low fuel lights. You must have a special one ;)

John
'79 300SD

Can't think its special at all, but I will look at it again tomorrow, been driving this for about 17 months now and never noticed it before. But then I never ran it very close to empty before either.

TonyFromWestOz 08-26-2004 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor
Can't think its special at all, but I will look at it again tomorrow, been driving this for about 17 months now and never noticed it before. But then I never ran it very close to empty before either.

The low fuel light is in the gauge of my 300D, shows as a triangle in amber when the "ignition" key (don't flame me please) is turned on, before the engine is running.
Yours may have a blown globe or broken wire.

boneheaddoctor 08-27-2004 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyFromWestOz
The low fuel light is in the gauge of my 300D, shows as a triangle in amber when the "ignition" key (don't flame me please) is turned on, before the engine is running.
Yours may have a blown globe or broken wire.

You kown what, I found it. Year and a half with this car and I never noticed it before. A small triangle on the left of the fuel guage, I need to pull the cluster and check the bulb, it has never come on with the key. And I never ran the car low enough on fuel for it to come on that way.

phantoms 08-27-2004 08:19 PM

Chances are that if it doesn't come on with the key before start, that it won't come on when fuel is low ;) . Most likely it's just a blown bulb or some corrosion on it's contacts.


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