1500 FUEL RESERVE Switch.

[testpilot]

It's amazing what's in the world's least read book... the Owner Guide! But then again, it's good to know real life experiences.

[chief]

Mine will flicker to start, then come on, but may go off again depending upon the terrain. Apparently, this switch depends upon being submerged in fuel. It makes sense if the fuel is moving around and the level is low, it will impact the switch... so it may come on then go off again, etc.

As others have indicated the amount of fuel left is a bit more than a gallon when the light first comes on and stays on. How many miles you can get out of that gallon will depend upon all the things which normally impact MPG.
I think knowing how the thing works is useful. This may also help to explain why folks routinely report never being able to get more than 3.5+ gallons when on empty --

[aclone]

I have been tracking how much fuel  is left and when the light comes on for about 2 years Riding single it's right around a gallon. Riding two up its seems to be a little less than a gallon. And  with two and fully loaded for touring a little over 3/4 of a gallon.  A Gallon gets me just about 42 miles  if the lite goes on when we are touring I start looking  for my next stop.  Farest on one tank was 186 miles  had about 1/2 gallon left.  But I dont like to let it get that low.

Happy T-day
Mark

[Troll]

Mine comes on, goes out, comes on again, and then will sometimes flicker, especially when going up hill. Usually comes on about the 1/4 tank range, and then I can still go about another 40 miles, at least. Since I've been tuning the injection, I've been able to go 180 miles on a tank using the gauge, from full to empty, and still have about a gallon left. I've mainly been ignoring the light, since it seems to be more random than precise, starting at the 1/4 tank level...

[49Reo]

For the longest time, when my fuel was getting low, mine would glow feebly and slowly brighten to a bright glow as the fuel level went down; never flickered, and now it is either off or on bright. Not sure which is correct method of operation, but I have gotten better than 50 miles after the light started to glow.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[chief]

I am doing some research and found a "fuel reserve switch" on the in-tank fuel pump for 1500 Drifters (2001 and later anyway).

This puzzled me so I dug a bit deeper. From what I can gather, this switch is a thermistor that is off when immersed in fuel, and ON when dry. Apparently, this is the switch that illuminates the Low Fuel Light... need to look at the wiring diagram to confirm.
I have no idea at what level the thermistor sits. When the low fuel light starts flickering that means that thermistor is partially submerged - on/off. I also suspect there is actually a little over a gallon of fuel left in the tank at that time... though I can't confirm it.
If anyone else knows anything about this, please let us know.