78 Low Fuel Warning Lamp Bulb
10-17-2009, 11:54 PM
#21
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Finally!
PS: to "really" test it, I took a long drive today to get the tank low and then went on a roundabout to displace the fuel to the other side of the tank..and voila! lights up ....it must have look weird, after 3 or 4 laps to it... but I tested that board and now I am sure it works just as it did in the old days.
Thanks to all again
10-22-2009, 07:57 PM
#22
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Hello, recent posts on the Low Fuel Warning Module, were a great help. My '79 C3 coupe is missing the module alltogether and there's no hope of sourcing one over here (Athens-Greece). But IF ANYONE could tell me the values of the individual electronic components (3 resistors, 1 capacitor, 1 diode & 2 transistors-assumed to be ECG159or NTE159 ) then it is very easy for me to construct this simple module and FINALLY get a working indicator!
If you're not familiar with electronics ,then a simple accurate description of colors on the resistors and lettering on the other components will do, and/or some close-up photos of the components would be most welcome ! The Willcox photo is superb and helpd me trace the circuit lines, but as much as I tried to Photoshop it, I can't be sure of resistor colors etc. Thank you all in advance !
Dimitris,
added below is the previously submitted very helpful photo of an original Low Fuel Warning Module.
If you're not familiar with electronics ,then a simple accurate description of colors on the resistors and lettering on the other components will do, and/or some close-up photos of the components would be most welcome ! The Willcox photo is superb and helpd me trace the circuit lines, but as much as I tried to Photoshop it, I can't be sure of resistor colors etc. Thank you all in advance !
Dimitris,
added below is the previously submitted very helpful photo of an original Low Fuel Warning Module.
Last edited by DiCorv; 12-22-2009 at 12:48 AM.
10-23-2009, 02:40 PM
#23
Instructor
Hello, recent posts on the Low Fuel Warning Module, were a great help. My '79 C3 coupe is missing the module alltogether and there's no hope of sourcing one over here (Athens-Greece). But IF ANYONE could tell me the values of the individual electronic components (3 resistors, 1 capacitor, 1 diode & 2 transistors-assumed to be ECG159or NTE159 ) then it is very easy for me to construct this simple module and FINALLY get a working indicator!
If you're not familiar with electronics ,then a simple accurate description of colors on the resistors and lettering on the other components will do, and/or some close-up photos of the components would be most welcome ! The Willcox photo is superb and helpd me trace the circuit lines, but as much as I tried to Photoshop it, I can't be sure of resistor colors etc. Thank you all in advance !
Dimitris, dhadj@tee.gr
If you're not familiar with electronics ,then a simple accurate description of colors on the resistors and lettering on the other components will do, and/or some close-up photos of the components would be most welcome ! The Willcox photo is superb and helpd me trace the circuit lines, but as much as I tried to Photoshop it, I can't be sure of resistor colors etc. Thank you all in advance !
Dimitris, dhadj@tee.gr
10-25-2009, 09:20 AM
#24
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thanks
Last edited by DiCorv; 10-29-2009 at 08:17 PM.
10-29-2009, 07:07 PM
#26
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Update on Low Fuel Indicator Module for my 79 Corv:
Since getting no more data input, for the time being
, on the unknown circuit details, I decided to construct a Module after having carefully studied the Wilcox foto, Forum discussion and info given, as well as researching transistor data in the internet, then finding 2 similar general purpose switching transistors and making guesses 
on the capacitor and resistors, then modified a standard 2-pin Lamp socket to include a third pin ,used a 12-volt Led in place of the incadecent standard Lamp ,and...voila ! 
Still , I need to adjust some components to make it work in conjuction to the Corvette Gauge and Fuel Tank Sender, so these photos are just a temporary situation...
Dimitris
update: FINAL WORKING version is posted in my Nov. 11 post !
Since getting no more data input, for the time being
, on the unknown circuit details, I decided to construct a Module after having carefully studied the Wilcox foto, Forum discussion and info given, as well as researching transistor data in the internet, then finding 2 similar general purpose switching transistors and making guesses on the capacitor and resistors, then modified a standard 2-pin Lamp socket to include a third pin ,used a 12-volt Led in place of the incadecent standard Lamp ,and...voila ! Still , I need to adjust some components to make it work in conjuction to the Corvette Gauge and Fuel Tank Sender, so these photos are just a temporary situation... Dimitris
update: FINAL WORKING version is posted in my Nov. 11 post !
Last edited by DiCorv; 11-10-2009 at 09:00 PM. Reason: Photos uploaded on next post
10-30-2009, 02:37 PM
#28
Instructor
Also, when you turn to the left hard, the fuel goes to the right of the car and that will cause the module to light up if you are low enough on fuel.
10-30-2009, 05:16 PM
#29
GM Cert Corvette Tech
Pro Mechanic
These These are the abovementioned photos-had to upload them to this site to use as attachments here
10-30-2009, 06:08 PM
#30
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not an underside pic at hand yet, and it seems I'm making changes
to the resistors in order that it responds sharply to the low fuel level. But I cannot connect it to the car right now since all console instruments and Steering Wheel Electrics are temporarily removed and sorted out, so I'm trying to simulate Gauge and Fuel Tank Sender resistance values and their influence in the circuit ,which as shown is in temporary state (just made it yesterday!
)... When finished I'll surely post final pics.
to the resistors in order that it responds sharply to the low fuel level. But I cannot connect it to the car right now since all console instruments and Steering Wheel Electrics are temporarily removed and sorted out, so I'm trying to simulate Gauge and Fuel Tank Sender resistance values and their influence in the circuit ,which as shown is in temporary state (just made it yesterday!)... When finished I'll surely post final pics.
10-31-2009, 03:59 PM
#32
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My construction of a 3-Pin Lamp Socket for a Low Fuel Indicator Module at the back of C3 Corvette Instrument Cluster. Just scetched it for any C3-lover/home-restorer
that might be interested in constructing this often missing and difficult to find Module. I still wish I had the exact values (or fotos) of resistors & capacitor to finish my self-constructed circuit board-picured in prev. post...Dimitris, Athens-Greece
Last edited by DiCorv; 12-21-2009 at 11:52 PM.
10-31-2009, 06:23 PM
#33
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just found a post in http://forums.corvetteforum.com/C3-t...ight-82-a.html by member 72-454 with a valuable side photo of the Module which shows that the 2 Transistors are DIFFERENT to each other, while I had the impression from this Forum string that they were identical...The left one: 218/6681 seems to be the equivelant of ECG159 or NTE159, the other I must look it up...Also there's a mention of resistors and capacitor values- I'll set off correctly completing my construction of the ''home-made'' Low Fuel Indicator Module !
Last edited by DiCorv; 10-31-2009 at 06:29 PM.
11-02-2009, 04:58 PM
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Thanx for your kind comment, mds. I've been home-restoring my cars & motorcycles for quite some years now, 60's Jaguars and 50's Land Rover(s),as well as a number of pre WWII motorcycles ( BMW-Zundapp-MotoGuzzi) and have been a very keen Radio Amateur during my student days at the Polytechnic school of Architecture ,nowadays playing with computers & gadjets.
Allways strugling to device some construction or repair or faithfully copy an original part, borrowed from a friend if rare and no more available, mostly on '30s- '40s motorcycles that is.
(preparing castings of bronze or aluminum parts, or fabricating fiberglass or rubber parts as for instance 30's motorcycle petrol tank kneegrips etc.)
But an electronic substitute of e.g. an unreliable mechanical voltage stabilizer or using a current limiter to protect a fuel tank sender from possible overload and subsequent explosion, have also been ways to intervene to my Mark2 and MarkX Jags, etc etc....
Now, my recently acquired Corvette is my ,lets say ,very sexy American girlfriend with whom I cheat on all the others !!! I've spent 100s of hours studying the car and my Corvette books, manuals and web sites to get accustomed to its internals-especially the electric parts -otherwise she's quite o.k.(see the album pics)-what worries me is that there's no source of USA car parts over here, especially on 70's Corvettes and although I 've got all C3 Parts-Catalogs-like Zip-Ecklers-Corvette America- and the prices in USD seem very cool for us-due to the Euro-value- I cannot readilly order whatever I wish since shiping charges are huge, and anything more than about 45.00 USD, entering our country is subject to heavy taxes * sigh * , in contrary to countries within Europe, where imports are tax-free and rather economical to ship. Anyway ,maybe I'll try some Nederland or German firms that use e.g. Corvette America, or other USA firm Catalog who say they will charge about 1.5 times the listed price...any ideas???
I've also heard of a USA(?) int/nal shipping(?) firm ( don't know any details), that buys your stuff within the USA and then sends it tax-free to another country (can'nt figure out how? -maybe imports it to a European country that does not charge tax, and then sends it to me as if it were of European origin..?. )
If ANYONE knows of any tested way to overcome USA-to-Europe import charges is VERY WELCOME to comment or PM me, thank you,
Dimitris, Athens-Greece
Allways strugling to device some construction or repair or faithfully copy an original part, borrowed from a friend if rare and no more available, mostly on '30s- '40s motorcycles that is.
(preparing castings of bronze or aluminum parts, or fabricating fiberglass or rubber parts as for instance 30's motorcycle petrol tank kneegrips etc.)
But an electronic substitute of e.g. an unreliable mechanical voltage stabilizer or using a current limiter to protect a fuel tank sender from possible overload and subsequent explosion, have also been ways to intervene to my Mark2 and MarkX Jags, etc etc....
Now, my recently acquired Corvette is my ,lets say ,very sexy American girlfriend with whom I cheat on all the others !!! I've spent 100s of hours studying the car and my Corvette books, manuals and web sites to get accustomed to its internals-especially the electric parts -otherwise she's quite o.k.(see the album pics)-what worries me is that there's no source of USA car parts over here, especially on 70's Corvettes and although I 've got all C3 Parts-Catalogs-like Zip-Ecklers-Corvette America- and the prices in USD seem very cool for us-due to the Euro-value- I cannot readilly order whatever I wish since shiping charges are huge, and anything more than about 45.00 USD, entering our country is subject to heavy taxes * sigh * , in contrary to countries within Europe, where imports are tax-free and rather economical to ship. Anyway ,maybe I'll try some Nederland or German firms that use e.g. Corvette America, or other USA firm Catalog who say they will charge about 1.5 times the listed price...any ideas???
I've also heard of a USA(?) int/nal shipping(?) firm ( don't know any details), that buys your stuff within the USA and then sends it tax-free to another country (can'nt figure out how? -maybe imports it to a European country that does not charge tax, and then sends it to me as if it were of European origin..?. )
If ANYONE knows of any tested way to overcome USA-to-Europe import charges is VERY WELCOME to comment or PM me, thank you,
Dimitris, Athens-Greece
11-10-2009, 08:11 PM
#36
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My Working Low Fuel Indicator Module & Diagram
Low Fuel Indicator Module, constructed and working, 9 Nov. 2009
Low Fuel Indicator Module, view of Transistors I used and of added third contact.
Last edited by DiCorv; 12-21-2009 at 11:58 PM. Reason: a correction at wiring diagram test measurements
11-10-2009, 08:38 PM
#37
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Low Fuel Indicator Module being tested, connected to Fuel Gauge and a calibrated 100-OHM variable resistor, used as a substitute to the tank Fuel Sender. Lamp is a 12-Volt LED.
My Low Fuel Indicator Module finaly in place and Gauges Cluster ready for reinstallation. Green wire to the right lights a LED warning light in a previously vacant socket that indicates ''Reverse-Gear''. Wire is connected to ''Back-Up'' switch at gear lever .
('79-C3 Corvette-350ci-Auto)
Dimitris 9 Nov. 2009
Last edited by DiCorv; 12-21-2009 at 11:50 PM.
11-11-2009, 12:36 AM
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Rio,
It's us! We have the module on the drawing board, but we're having issues finding the bulb socket. I'm not sure where Bobby is at on this, the tach boards were the main banana for the past four months.
Roger, you have to admire his work...
He might just be the next forum guru for electrical problems and we'll have to ad him to the tenacious club while we are at it! Nice Job DiCorv!
Willcox
It's us! We have the module on the drawing board, but we're having issues finding the bulb socket. I'm not sure where Bobby is at on this, the tach boards were the main banana for the past four months.
Roger, you have to admire his work...
He might just be the next forum guru for electrical problems and we'll have to ad him to the tenacious club while we are at it! Nice Job DiCorv!
Willcox