I've run out of gas and had to find a gas can twice because of this problem. The needle never goes below about 1/4 tank, and as a result, the gas light never comes on. What's the point of having a 16 gallon tank if you have to refill it every 12 gallons?
Does anybody know if this is fixable? Is it just a simple take-it-to-Nissan-and-pay-them-$20? And where IS the problem? Is it in the tank itself, or is it the actual needle or something.
Thanks. =) Oh, on a related note... According to resources I've found, a '92 240SX like mine should get about 350 miles to the tank. I used to get about 300-350 I guess, but last tank only went 260 miles. I certainly wasn't driving it that much harder. Could this be a fuel filter? (The mechanic suggested I get that replaced last time I got the oil changed).
Fuel gauge never goes below 1/4
The needle problem is probably the indicator riser. It's in teh fuel tank and I think can be removed when you do the fuel pump. I'd say it's almost surely that, and if you're in there do the fuel pump to, hell, put in a Walbro 255lph, it's only $100. Do the fuel filter, it's $13. Yes, an S13 should get about 350 miles to the tank, I got 375 from full to the light turning on. Also, use the SEARCH function and search for "gas mileage" and you'll find a ton of results, I recently posted a list of everything it coudl possibly be.
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yellow_jacket
- Posts: 1355
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2003 4:43 pm
- Car: 95 240sx
Check and see how many gallons you are filling it up with when you run out of gas. If you are filling it with 12 and it is a 16 gallon tank it is probably the tube that supplies the fuel pump with fuel(lousy way to describe it, but the fuel pump sits in a small bowl that is fed by a tube). If it is that you can drop the tank and a radiator shop can usually fix it.
Its a good possibility that the fuel level float in your gas tank has worn out. I had a similar problem and replaced the float with a junkyard part. The float (which works just like the float in your toilet) is attached to a metal arm. The arm has a variable resistor on it that is controlled by a metal piece sliding across the surface of the resistor. The contact surface of that resistor wears out, causing the resistor to not function properly. Its an easy fix...just visit your junkyard and buy a used fuel pump. Then pull the old one and swap the float parts. You'll have to de-solder the wire connection at the top of the fuel pump to swap the floats, or just drop in the used pump. OR, you could buy the new parts.