**A Long read- any help will be greatly appreciated

I have been going back and fourth with Nissan over the past couple of months trying to resolve this "erratic gas gauge" issue. When filling up, the gauge never goes to full- and when empty (light on, dotted lines on the OBC) I can put a maximum of 14.5 gallons. Nissan first moved to replace the fuel sender unit, which had no effect. Second, the instrument cluster was replaced to rule out the “faulty gauge.” Neither worked, so I dropped the vehicle off a third time this past week. Supposedly they checked out the vehicle (topped off the car with gas) and found no faults with the system. Today, I filled up the vehicle to the max (gas spitting out) the gauge is right under full. Driving down the turnpike at 70m.p.h. and averaging 25.4 miles per gallon (according to the OBC) 65 miles later I am at a quarter tank.

According to the owners manual- there is a 20 gallon tank. I generously account for a 4 gallon reserve- therefore leaving 16 gallons. 16/4= 4 gallons per quarter tank. Given my generous reserve, 4 gallons per quarter tank times the 25.4 miles per gallon I averaged…. I should have covered 101.6 miles in a quarter of the tank.

I understand a margin of error- but, my 65 miles for a quarter tank compared to the 100 I should have got leaves me puzzled.

Also, when I drive the wifey’s 350z, the same commute leaves her gauge a hair under the full mark- So fellow Z’drivers…. What’s the remedy???

 

Just drive it and know your car . The most i have ever put in mine was 18.5 gallons with DTE --- flashing for over 100 miles. After that my low fuel light started coming on at 15.4 gallons instead of 14.5.

 

Its not the sender, it is the places your getting gas. Lots of people have experienced this, some auto shut off pumps stop before its full. Mine works fine at my local Shell, sucks at 76. I think it is a poor fuel filler or vent hose but who knows.

As for the fuel remaining, most people also report that while it is screaming empty, they still have 3 or so gallons left. It seems that if you run it down, it will reset it expectations but it also seems like over time it will slowly work its way back up to 3 or 4 gallons.

I am surprised the dealership did anything.

Not that there are any real answers, but this has come up many times, so at least you know your not alone:
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/24770-anyone-else-have-trouble-filling-up-with-gas.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/182482-can-t-ever-get-a-full-tank-reading.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/104932-cant-fill-my-tank-up.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/84777-trouble-pumping-gas.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/122716-anyone-have-trouble-filling-up.html

Chris

 

?

 

so your center console guage also reads faulty?? Like your DTE?

 

Fuel gagues are NOT linear. You cannot calculate/estimate fuel usage based on gauge readings. The gauge will fall more slowly when the tank is near full, and fall more quickly as the actual level drops.


When you put in the 14.5 gallons, how many MILES have you driven since the last fill

bill

 

one week this past year i had a problem to where the gauge wasnt working. .i left it alone and didnt worry since i own a gas station on the shops lot. .the obvious reason was my float was probably stuck in one POS since i hardly drove the car. .im assuming your's is doing the same thing. .and your Float's faulty or sticking inside the tank. .telling the comp what to read as far as guages and DTE's go. .your probably getting the normal amounts of drive . .just the comps not showing up. .my theory would be stop going to the SHITTY DEALER's. .and take it to a REAL TROUBLESHOOTING MECHANIC!!!!. .because as you can see the dealer's are PARTS CHANGER's. .not TROUBLESHOOTERS!!

 

Well how do you expect a tech to fix your car if all he has to go by is what you say? Half the time customers dont know what the **** they are talking about anyway(not you nor op just observation from exp). Most of the time they are doing YOU the customer a favor by replacing parts that are most likely to cause the problem because there is nothing else to do.

This is one of those things where a dealer cant really verify the problem. I mean would you want your baby to be driven that much by someone who does not really care about it? No. They wouldn't do that anyway most of the time.

Your only remedy Bell, is to keep going back. and a quick question. IF you fill up and drive that 65miles then try to fill it up all the way how much gas fits in the tank?

 

i had a similar issue with my armada, nissan tech had to drop the fuel tank and replaced the fuel sensor(inside gas tank) under warranty. Problem solved.

 

Your logic is screwed up. Im an IT Consultant. 10/10 people have no ****ing clue how to explain the problems there having. Does that mean i don't fix it? No i have to TROUBLESHOOT.

You don't get a pin point accurate description of the problem and you cant work?

 

Have you checked for any fuel leaks, like from the lines.

 

IT consultant? why are you even posting here this inst your field and i doubt you know what you are talking about. How can you troubleshoot something that is working to spec? What problem can you possibly expect to find when there is none?

If you are a consultant you should know that its up to you to ask right questions to find out what those people are really having problems with, where/when and circumstances under which they happen. When all that fails and tech/writer still don't see a problem only thing to do to keep customer happy is replace parts. Service writer with ***** will send the customer out the door to return when problem is actually happening. Rest will have tech throw parts at it.

 

WTF? That made no sense. You just completely flipped your mark.

You started by saying "How is a tech suppose to fix something when he doesnt know the problem"

to

"Its upto the consultant/tech to ask the right questions in diagnosing the problems.

Good job buddy.

And because im an IT Consultant i know nothing? haha. 99% of the guys on here arent mechanics. I bet they all know nothing too.

 

No i did not flip at all. You just need to read what people say and actually think about it. Yes, i said "Its up to the consultant/tech to ask the right questions in diagnosing the problems."
Thats the first step. If there is no info to go by, parts may be thrown at this problem. Therefore don't expect the tech to fix your car right the first time or at all. That pretty much explains my second quote when i asked "How is tech suppose to fix something when he doesn't know/can duplicate the problem".
If you want to continue the pisssing contest get with me on aim we've polluted this mans thread enough.

 

I'm having the same problem, seems like it's getting worse now. I get fuel at two places, shell and sam's club. The pump's at sam's are real sensitive and shut off when not full and I started just using what I got and not forcing it full. I fill up every other day, usually 12 - 13 gallons and the needle is on a 1/4 tank. I basically know what my fuel consumption is and base remaining fuel on miles driven, but is is pitiful the way the gauge performs and the fill vent/flapper setup is garbage too.