GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I normally don't run the car to a low fuel light. But lately I've been stretching it. I noticed that about 5 or 10 minutes after the low fuel light comes on it goes off. I've driven a good 10 miles after it went off and it never comes back on. Has anybody else had this happen? It doesn't really bother me, I was just curious.

You mean the light does not come back on before you refuel. Keep driving and it will come on again.
The light comes on when the float goes below a certain level. This can happen in a curve, or on an incline.

I'm like you. Drive it a good 40-60 miles more till it's bone dry Well maybe not that far BUT on highway driving it's been done a few times. That's when I got over 400 miles to a tank. Never had the light go off though once it came on. That's NOT a good think if it happens all the time, especially if you were to have multiple drivers sharing the same vehicle.

It is extremely bad for the fuel pump/sending device that can only be kept cool by gasoline in the tank. Don't routinely run your car down till the light comes on and don't fill your tank past the point when the pump handle clicks off. Ignoring this will cause unnecessary repair bills.

If you were driving in a hilly area, the gas can slosh around a bit and make it come on temporarily then go off.

Well, at least you know you're running low...

And FYI: This is a modern fuel pump. The excess fuel pumped fills the bowl so that, even if you're on fumes, the pump will remain completely submerged. You won't cook your pump.

We've experienced this once or twice with both our Vibes.

You can pick up rust, varnish, sediments and other contaminants that lie at the bottom of your tank, though, by driving under low fuel conditions. That can shorten (or even compromise) the service life of your fuel filter.

PonchoGT wrote:You can pick up rust, varnish, sediments and other contaminants that lie at the bottom of your tank, though, by driving under low fuel conditions. That can shorten (or even compromise) the service life of your fuel filter.

I don't think that's really true anymore. The pumps pick up from the bottom all the time, and constantly circulate fuel to and from the engine.

Typically when my fuel light comes on it will go on and off for awhile. At that point there is usually at least 2.5 gal in the tank.
When it comes on I usually get gas at my earliest convenience. Running out of gas is no fun. I am 73 and I do not remember ever running out of gas - or even telling a girlfriend that I'd run out of gas.