1999 E300 TD What's the indicator below the fuel guage needle?

[pcman_jh]

What's the amber looking light that's inset into the instrument cluster just below the fuel guage needle. It doesn't light up during switch on, nor any other time (yet!), or is it an option for another model of the E class that doens't apply to mine?

I can't seem to find any reference to it in the owner's manual.

Just curious!

 

[C220GJS]

Low fuel indicator light, comes on when you have about a gallon left in the tank, i take it you've never had it that low before .

 

[bundy]

Low fuel indicator light, comes on when you have about a gallon left in the tank, i take it you've never had it that low before .

it should still light up when you switch ign on & go off when she starts!! faulty bulb perhaps.

 

[pcman_jh]

Amber indicator - not the low fuel one thought

No - it's not the low fuel light, it's between this indicator and the centre of the fuel level needle.

I've attached a photo with the light circled in Red.

 

[jberks]

I always wondered what that was too!!
Never figured it out. My mums old 3 series used to have a '3' just visible through a hole on the tacho. Never figured out what that was either!
I agree though, its not the low fuel light. In fact I'm not convinced its a light at all, I certainly never saw it light up. Perhaps its a test light used during the manufacturing process. It certainly doesn't serve any purpose I could fathom.

 

[JonWill]

Anybody actually run out of fuel? I'e been assuming that it is a "really low on fuel" light - rather than the "quite low on fuel" amber light. Or at least that's what I've been hoping, what with not having a "miles to empty" readout anymore (switching from Saab top Merc)

j

 

[jberks]

No its certainly not that. I've never run out, thugh gone pretty low on occasion, but knowing Merc they would say that if you ignore the big amber light under the needle, another smaller one isn't going to help!

The light isn't referenced in the manual which tells me that it isn't there for the driver. Possibly something to do with manufacture.

Television - do you have the docs on this? Perhaps you could shed some light!

 

[television]

Right now i'm having a bad day, will look it up later

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Threadjacking, but the other day I drove from Stoke to Manchester, around 50 miles, with the yellow light on all the way.

When I got home and filled up, the meter stopped at 55 litres! The needle was well below the yellow light. How much leeway is there?

 

[bundy]

methinks it may be somthing to do with the auto dim option for the interior lights??? some kind of light sensor perhaps!

 

[television]

As far as I can see there used to be a reserve lamp this has been deleted and blanked. this was done so they could save one wire

Malcolm

 

[guydewdney]

what about a light for the jap market - the 55mph light or 110 mph or whatever it is? (motorbikes have it...)

Incidently, my CL has it as well... I think my old C220CDi had it as well...

 

[PINBALL]

Just a thought, but could it be something to do with "Glow Plugs warm up" for when temp drops below 'Derv Freezing point'.

Would have thought if it were something to do with speed, then it would be part or attached to speedo.

 

[Ian Brown]

Just had a look @ the W210 owners handbook on braingears.com
And it lists this

Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement warning lamps might be worth checking

 

[MercTech]

Phototransistor

The thingy you can see is the Phototransistor, its senses the light level inside the vehicle for the instrument cluster illumination system. The little "3" on the 3 series that jberks refers to is the tip of the coding plug, this stores the model information and mileage.