Fuel Gauge: Description
A fuel gauge is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This gauge is located in the lower left corner of the instrument cluster, to the left of the speedometer. This gauge consists of a movable gauge needle or pointer controlled by the instrument cluster circuitry and a fixed 90 degree scale on the cluster overlay that reads left-to-right from "E" (or Empty) to "F" (or Full). An International Control and Display Symbol icon for "Fuel" is located on the cluster overlay, in the center of the gauge directly above the hub of the gauge needle. See Fig 1. An arrowhead pointed to the left side of the vehicle is imprinted on the cluster overlay next to the "Fuel" icon in the fuel gauge to provide the driver with a reminder as to the location of the fuel filler access.
The fuel gauge text and graphics are white against a black field, while the major and minor scale increments are black against a silver field, except for a pair of red zone increments at the far left (Empty) end of the gauge scale. All text, graphics and increments are clearly visible within the instrument cluster in daylight. When illuminated from behind by the panel lamps dimmer controlled cluster illumination lighting with the exterior lamps turned On, the white text and graphics and the major black increments appear blue-green, while the major red increments still appear red. The minor increments are not illuminated. The red gauge needle is internally illuminated.
Gauge illumination is provided by replaceable incandescent bulb and bulb holder units located on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. The fuel gauge is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.