Fuel gauge reserve light

[carl888]

In the W123 and W126, if you turn on the ignition to position two without starting the car, the reserve light illuminates irrepsective of the tank level.  As soon as the car is started, the light extinguishes (Assuming it's not really on reserve!!).

In the W116, this does not occur, can someone tell me if the reserve light is supposed to come on with the ignition energised?  I am trying to avoid removing the intruments (Again!!) unless I have to!

Thanks and regards,

Carl.

[arman]

I don't think it does this on a W116, at least not mine which is built 1973. But it is a smart feature just to check if the lamp itself still works! Typical 80's I would say...

[carl888]

Thanks Arman,

Can anyone else confirm or do I just drive around until it either stops or the light comes on 

Regards,

Carl

[pompy]

Hi Carl,

I had to go out and check - negative - and mine's a '79.

Cheers

[gregdeklerk]

I can confirm that. The reserve light will not come on if the ignition is on.

[Martin 280s]

I don't get the light on in the W116 like in the W124 when the ignition is turned on.

[Andrew280SEL]

Same, no light on ignition. Pretty normal me thinks.

I'd say just drive it around Carl until you see it, just to make sure it works anyway 

I've found that the red light is usually a pretty reliable thing, even if your fuel gauge needle is a bit funny.

Once that light flashes, to the service station I go...

[arman]

Mine is the same: needle dances with temp differences (it seems), curve taking and a sort of random movement on top of this. But I can always rely on my fuel reserve light telling me there are about 14 liters left (I don't really know that though, I just calculate backwards: full tank 96 liter - 82 = 14).
But the light always comes up a bit early, because everytime I'm hoping I've driven a bit more economical since the last time I filled the tank up. It is really the needle which is causing the disappointments by not being accurate.... I should stop bother about fuel economy.

[editjunk]

I concur. The fuel light in the old 116 only went on at the end of the tank. In the 126, the fuel light goes on at ignition.

[carl888]

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen!

ATB,

Carl.

[carl888]

Joy of joys, look what happened last night 






Regards,

Carl.

[oscar]

   Congratulations Carl. 

Reserve fuel light - Check!

Now, did you hear the one about - How many dollars does it take to turn the reserve light off??

With this thread in mind I ran mine down before the planned Melboune trip which didn't eventuate.  I hadn't seen my light in a long time and I wanted to see where abouts it came on.  Anyway, it did come on and I'm not sure where on the scale but I did notice some flickering as certain corners were taken intially until the level dropped some more.  In the end I only did about 26km after the light came on until I filled up.  84.59 litres it took so I should've still had about 11 litres left.  Plenty of warning me thinks.

Oh, and the answer to the riddle for me was $122

[johnnyw116]

did you also noticed that the fuel gauge reserve light in the W116 is not always orange of color , mine is red , mayby a litlle detail of differences in the W116 type's                 

regards : johnny  .                         

[s class]

I think the warning light is red on early cars, orange on later cars

[OzBenzHead]

I think the warning light is red on early cars, orange on later cars

That's also my understanding; ran parallel to the change from green to amber lamp in the headlamp switch.