Very innacurate gas gauge

[The Road Warrior]

Hello all! I recently purchased a 2000 ZX2 5-speed. I got it for $1100 with 119K mi on the odometer. It's in good shape, needs a few things but is drivable and livable till I get around to doing them. I do a ton of highway driving and I basically bought it to rack up miles and give me good mpg. So far I have been very impressed with the mileage, usually getting high 20's around town and as much as 35-36 with mixed highway and city driving. I think I could probably get that number to the high 30's with highway only driving.

My only gripe so far is that the gas gauge sucks. It seems to float like crazy, more than any other car I have owned (this is number 12 or 13 for me!...I get around, lol). Whenever I fill up, I always wait till the low fuel light comes on and I always leave the pump fill the car all the way till it stops but I never put more than about 10 gal in. Lately it's been about 9.5 gal. I know the manual for the car says it has a 12.9 gallon tank. Why would it warn you when you have 3 gallons of fuel left???

Once I tried to live on the edge in a highway trip and ran the tank down till the gauge was almost past "E". I filled up 10.4 gal. What the heck?

[2000zx2chik]

Sounds just like a problem im having..

Heres my thread, dont know if it shelps.
http://www.teamzx2.com/showthread.php?t=5896

[The Road Warrior]

Yeah, sounds pretty similar. I think the gauges are just poorly done on these cars. I could see if the light came on with 1.5-2gal left in the tank but not three. That's easily another 75 miles of driving.

[2000zx2chik]

Yea mine is still way out of whack my light finally came on for the first time and i only put in like 8-9 gallons or something. The gauges are inaccurate but there could be a reason for yours. sorry i cant really give ya any advice about it.

[iceracer]

Yes they are. They give you an idea as to how much fuel is in the tank. For those who run their tanks to the low light comes on, that is exactly what it is for. Sort of like a reserve. It leaves you with enough gas to get to the next station. Even the light can be erratic at times. Running the tank too low can be detrimental to the fuel pump.
Except on special occasions, I never run my tank below 1/4.

[mechtech]

All cars have extra gas when the warning light comes on. It is a warning, not telling you you are screwed and all the gas is gone.
But primarily is is because the mfrs don't want fuel pump problems from running dry, and having misfires that would puke the cat in short order.

[The Road Warrior]

I understand, I just think that 3 gallons left when the light comes on is a little much, that's all.

[MindSpinZX2]

I understand, I just think that 3 gallons left when the light comes on is a little much, that's all.

I always thought that too, but at least it's not the other way around. My car does exactly the same thing, so it's not just you.