Electrical Gremlins…? (1 Viewer)

[084runnerltd]

During a 2hr drive home from the airport in an ice storm, I determined that the rear defrost isn’t working. (The LX is normally parked in a heated garage, so the defrost isn’t used a lot).

I also had the front heated wipers turned on. TBH, I don’t know if they worked or not, there was no noticeable difference with the switch on.

The indicators on the center stack illuminate the rear defrost and the heated wipers as normal.

My wife (she is primary driver) informed me today that the low-fuel warning light doesn’t come on.

For most in this forum, we would likely never know if our low fuel warning light was broken, especially if you lived in North Dakota in winter. For me, a 1/2 tank means it’s time to get gas….I guess my wife ignores all indications of fuel level until the light turns on .

Any ideas?

I looked through the fuse boxes and found a relay for the rear defrost, but not 100% sure on how to check it…I am guessing to swap it with another, however, I don’t know how to confirm that it works with the new relay, unless I am in the middle of an ice storm….

It also seems strange that low fuel indicator would be in any way connected to the rear defrost….

Yes, it’s under warranty, but the closest dealership is 8 hours away.

Besides some aesthetic changes, and a JB4 tune, the LX is stock. Rear window was not worked on by the window tint shop….

 

[Docyota]

During a 2hr drive home from the airport in an ice storm, I determined that the rear defrost isn’t working. (The LX is normally parked in a heated garage, so the defrost isn’t used a lot).

I also had the front heated wipers turned on. TBH, I don’t know if they worked or not, there was no noticeable difference with the switch on.

The indicators on the center stack illuminate the rear defrost and the heated wipers as normal.

My wife (she is primary driver) informed me today that the low-fuel warning light doesn’t come on.

For most in this forum, we would likely never know if our low fuel warning light was broken, especially if you lived in North Dakota in winter. For me, a 1/2 tank means it’s time to get gas….I guess my wife ignores all indications of fuel level until the light turns on .

Any ideas?

I looked through the fuse boxes and found a relay for the rear defrost, but not 100% sure on how to check it…I am guessing to swap it with another, however, I don’t know how to confirm that it works with the new relay, unless I am in the middle of an ice storm….

It also seems strange that low fuel indicator would be in any way connected to the rear defrost….

Yes, it’s under warranty, but the closest dealership is 8 hours away.

Besides some aesthetic changes, and a JB4 tune, the LX is stock. Rear window was not worked on by the window tint shop…

No lines of attempted rear defrosting at all? I have had vehicles that would have a hard time with a sweaty-fresh-from-work-out dude fogging up the entire inside and only 1-2mm on either side of the rear defrost wires would work.

As far as the gas issue, haven't had that problem, but now that you say it, will drive it for the next tank to almost empty and see if it turns on.

 

[stonepa]

No lines of attempted rear defrosting at all? I have had vehicles that would have a hard time with a sweaty-fresh-from-work-out dude fogging up the entire inside and only 1-2mm on either side of the rear defrost wires would work.

As far as the gas issue, haven't had that problem, but now that you say it, will drive it for the next tank to almost empty and see if it turns on.

Regarding the fuel light- my experience has been these vehicles have a lot of reserve fuel capacity remaining even when the range indicator says ‘zero’ and the fuel gauge says E. Because of that, my fuel light usually comes on when it tells me I have 20 miles of range. In my LC 200, that really meant I had 6 more gallons of fuel.

All that being said, i never let my vehicles get below an indicated 1/4 tank remaining if I can at all help it.

 

[084runnerltd]

No lines of attempted rear defrosting at all? I have had vehicles that would have a hard time with a sweaty-fresh-from-work-out dude fogging up the entire inside and only 1-2mm on either side of the rear defrost wires would work.

As far as the gas issue, haven't had that problem, but now that you say it, will drive it for the next tank to almost empty and see if it turns on.

No lines at all in a 2 hour drive.

Thanks for sacrificing to run the tank down and check on the light. My wife said when she noticed how low she was on fuel, the “range” indicated 12 miles.

I am not proud of her for not noticing until it was that low, but I was proud when she told me she checked out the owners manual to see if the low fuel indicator was somehow turned off or if it has one.

Again, I am not sure how some people are so obvious to fuel levels, but not much I can do about the marriage now.

Regarding the fuel light- my experience has been these vehicles have a lot of reserve fuel capacity remaining even when the range indicator says ‘zero’ and the fuel gauge says E. Because of that, my fuel light usually comes on when it tells me I have 20 miles of range. In my LC 200, that really meant I had 6 more gallons of fuel.

All that being said, i never let my vehicles get below an indicated 1/4 tank remaining if I can at all help it.

Maybe that is the case, like I mentioned she was at 12 miles of range and still no light. That is dangerous in parts of ND as you can go many miles without a gas station nearby.

We had a X5M prior to this, on that I was actually able to set at what point the warning light would come on. It was helpful too, as that is a thirsty engine as well.

 

[stonepa]

No lines at all in a 2 hour drive.

Thanks for sacrificing to run the tank down and check on the light. My wife said when she noticed how low she was on fuel, the “range” indicated 12 miles.

I am not proud of her for not noticing until it was that low, but I was proud when she told me she checked out the owners manual to see if the low fuel indicator was somehow turned off or if it has one.

Again, I am not sure how some people are so obvious to fuel levels, but not much I can do about the marriage now.


Maybe that is the case, like I mentioned she was at 12 miles of range and still no light. That is dangerous in parts of ND as you can go many miles without a gas station nearby.

We had a X5M prior to this, on that I was actually able to set at what point the warning light would come on. It was helpful too, as that is a thirsty engine as well.

I almost spent a night at a rural gas station just off I94 in ND after showing up 15 minutes after it closed. At 9:15pm. In the summer. Anyways, bedded down for the night thinking i would be there until the next morning. A few hours later the teenage son of the owner showed up to raid his dad’s beer cooler and was all too glad to take my $20 to fill up my FJ60. I fill up often along that stretch of 94.

 

[084runnerltd]

I almost spent a night at a rural gas station just off I94 in ND after showing up 15 minutes after it closed. At 9:15pm. In the summer. Anyways, bedded down for the night thinking i would be there until the next morning. A few hours later the teenage son of the owner showed up to raid his dad’s beer cooler and was all too glad to take my $20 to fill up my FJ60. I fill up often along that stretch of 94.

Beer saved you from spending the night in the parking lot. The answer to your problem was beer.

Yes, it’s not like other stretches of the interstate with gas stations at every exit. Glad to hear you didn’t have to spend the night.