HELP: Can't Fill Gas Tank (ITB08-041a)

[dougdude9]

Hello and Thanks In Advance,I have a 2006 M35x I bought October 31st, 2008. A couple of months ago, I noticed when filling up my gas tank, it seemed like it was not filling up all the way. It would put the needle just below the full line or barely on it. If I recall correctly, it seems like when the tank is full, it should be a little above the full line.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago I went to fill up when I was on empty and it wouldn't fill up much past a half tank. No matter what I tried, the pump would shutoff. It was barely above half full. So, I scheduled an appointment with the dealer and took in a printout of ITB08-041a which states a problem with filling the gas tank. They took care of it the same day and I thought it was fixed.

Today I went to fill my tank up when I had around a quarter tank left. Again, it seems like it is not filling up all the way. Now, at least it did go past half a tank, but it is still just below or barely on the full line. So, I'm not convinced it is truly fixed. I called the dealer back and they said they did the work in the ITB. They recommended just to monitor it for now.

My question is where should the needle be when it is full? I ask because I'm not sure my issue is fixed and I'm concerned one day when I go to fill up it will only fill to a half tank again. I'm not certain it should be a little above the full line, but it seems like it was when I first bought the car.

Can anyone with a 2006 M35x go fill up and tell me where the needle falls in regards to the full line?

Also, if anyone knows how to fix this problem, please let me know!

Oh yea, I have tried several different gas stations.

Thanks,Doug

[ArbitrageMan]

Well I have an M45, but these cars have the same gas tank, and the fuel filling problem plagues them both, so Im going to answer.

When I fill up the needle on the gas gauge goes just Above the full line. To bring the needle from the empty line to this point takes about 17 gallons. During which time, the gas pump does not shut off once.

[dougdude9]

That's what I thought... just above the full line. I knew it had a 17gallon or so tank.

Please... if anyone else has any info, please post.

[myellen]

I have a 2006 M35X and I have only experienced this once. I was filling up from empty and it would stop around half full. I tried again and the pump stopped again. I just shrugged it off as a problem with them pump, and I went to another station later and it filled all the way. I have not had the issue since.

My fills all the way up and it goes above F

[YMm45]

i have a 06 m45 and i have the same problems sometimes i do notice that it will stop likes it full but i just wait and let the gas settle in the tank then it will fill all the way up not sure if that helps at all i would just say let the gas settle in the tank sometimes a good shake of the car helps

[dougdude9]

Thanks for all the replies guys! At this point, I guess I will just have to monitor it and hope it doesn't get as bad as that one day I couldn't get above a half tank.

Do you think it is possible after they fixed it with the tech bulletin, the gauge is not accurate... maybe it needs to be calibrated?

Thanks,Doug

[ArbitrageMan]

Thanks for all the replies guys! At this point, I guess I will just have to monitor it and hope it doesn't get as bad as that one day I couldn't get above a half tank.

Do you think it is possible after they fixed it with the tech bulletin, the gauge is not accurate... maybe it needs to be calibrated?Doug

I would ask them what they did to fix the problem. It could be they didnt follow through with fixing it. Definitely let them know its still happening though.

[junkyardmerkur]

My M45 will do the same thing. I think I read something about the Mustang suffering from this problem. Seams like it was an odd shaped tank and one side would fill up first cutting the pump off.

Really an annoying problem.

[jetfxr1]

I had a problem with my 2006 M35X, I told the dealer and found out that there's a recall for the fueling problem. It gets really bad in cold weather. The Dealership installed a new tank fill valve and neck. Problem solved.

As for the indication problem your having, the bulletin fixed any issues I had with the fuel system. Hope this information helps someone.

Bulletin Number: EC -08-004Bulletin Number: IT-B-08-041A

[tonyynguyen]

I also have this problem, does anyone know how much a Nissan dealer would charge to have something like this fixed on a 2008 m35? As I do not have any Infiniti dealers around.

[dvan]

I also have this problem, does anyone know how much a Nissan dealer would charge to have something like this fixed on a 2008 m35? As I do not have any Infiniti dealers around.

Have you tried to see if Infiniti will authorize a Nissan dealership to do warranty work on your M? I know they normally cant do that, but your situation would make it very impractical to get any recalls/TSBs done without paying out of pocket. The closest Infiniti dealership to you is 250 miles away, insane!

[tonyynguyen]

Have you tried to see if Infiniti will authorize a Nissan dealership to do warranty work on your M? I know they normally cant do that, but your situation would make it very impractical to get any recalls/TSBs done without paying out of pocket. The closest Infiniti dealership to you is 250 miles away, insane!

Nope, do you have any advice on how I would go about asking Infiniti to authorize my local Nissan dealer? Would I just call the nearest Infiniti dealer?

[mrb6228]

If it were me, I would start with the Nissan dealership. I'm sure you're not the first Infiniti to need service in your area. Nissan may already have a dialog channel open with Infiniti for stuff like this.

I looked at G37 at a Nissan dealership nearby and they told me that they can service Infiniti as well as Nissan. Warranty shouldn't be that different, imo.

Malcolm

[fiveliterbeater]

i had the same problem as you bud! i wud go crazy cause the pump kept shutting off. took it to the dealer as per the service bulletin and problem has now been solved.

[tonyynguyen]

Looks like I have to pay for it out of my pocket. I called a few Nissan dealers and they basically told me the same story; drive 4 hrs to the infiniti dealer.

[fiveliterbeater]

wait what???? don't you have a warranty bud? i got mine fixed under warranty.

[Bob24]

I took my 2007 M45 in today for the fueling problem, The tank will only go to about half full. This is my second M45 and both have had the issue.

My service advisor isn't a fan of the internet message boards like this. When I told him there was a TSB on the issue, he dismissed me and said that didn't mean anything to me and that TSB were to aid the techs.

He denied the fuel tank issue being a common problem on the M's but stated that the earlier G's had issues.

He stated that he gets people coming in who spend "too much time on the internet" and bring up TSB's. He says he is not concerned about TSB's he is concerns about the actual symptoms that the car is showing.

He also cautioned me that message boards make items appear larger than they really are due to the fact that the only people you hear from are those having issues and those people are actually a very small percentage of car owners.

Oh well, he is a nice guy and I simply told him that I have had two M's and both have had the same issues from the fueling to the seat track to the rattles.

[candymanfb]

I bet the guys at Toyota said the same thing about Toyota forums!Having access to information makes us more knowledgable about our cars.

My service advisor isn't a fan of the internet message boards like this. When I told him there was a TSB on the issue, he dismissed me and said that didn't mean anything to me and that TSB were to aid the techs.

He denied the fuel tank issue being a common problem on the M's but stated that the earlier G's had issues.

He stated that he gets people coming in who spend "too much time on the internet" and bring up TSB's. He says he is not concerned about TSB's he is concerns about the actual symptoms that the car is showing.

He also cautioned me that message boards make items appear larger than they really are due to the fact that the only people you hear from are those having issues and those people are actually a very small percentage of car owners.

[tonyynguyen]

wait what???? don't you have a warranty bud? i got mine fixed under warranty.

Yeah I do, but I only have Nissan dealers around and they wont take my M in for warranty work.

[rsg123]

I am interested to know what exactly they do to solve this problem. My car doesn't suffer from this, but who knows if/when it will.

[Alphax]

Had mine fixed under warranty. Pump would shut off about every 5sec so annoying. They had to remove the back seat and fix some flap they said in the filler neck.

Make sure they did the work. If no other dealers to turn to I would ask for the Service Director and have them show you the part numbers that were done on the work order. Suggest maybe the replacement parts were defective and give them a chance to do it right this time if they didnt really do the job the first time.

[keithwand]

OK here is an easy solution that I do.Insert the gas nozzle all of the way and then pull the nozzle out a ways so vacuum isn't created and fill slower than you would by not holding the handle all of the way.I have had to do this on other cars as well and it works.My car fill just fine. Now about the gas mileage; ouch.Try it and forget going to the dealer.

[tonyynguyen]

if you're not scared to stick your arm into the gas tank, the parts cost about 15 dollars to fix.

[Alphax]

OK here is an easy solution that I do.Insert the gas nozzle all of the way and then pull the nozzle out a ways so vacuum isn't created and fill slower than you would by not holding the handle all of the way.I have had to do this on other cars as well and it works.My car fill just fine. Now about the gas mileage; ouch.Try it and forget going to the dealer.

If the filler flap is actually defective this will not work, however, if its just a fast pump this may help.

I tried that method and it took me 20min to fill up the tank cutting off every 3 to 5 sec. Drove straight to dealer from the gas station and got it fixed.

[Theo]

Add another to the list with the issue.

I had an occasional problem filling the tank in the summer and now it seems to be worse. And the issue seems to be more a problem at certain gas stations. Up here in Canada its an issue at Esso, Costco or some of the off brand stations. While Shell and Sunoco pumps dont produce the issue.

I wont have time to take the car in for at least another couple of weeks, wondering if this is a warranty repair under the extended plan i bought. If its not and depending on the cost of repair I think I can live with the issue, for now anyways. If i fill slowly I can fill the tank.

T.

[Lynchr]

That's what I thought... just above the full line. I knew it had a 17gallon or so tank.

Please... if anyone else has any info, please post.

The gas tank holds 20 gallons, not 17. When the gauge is very near "E", there is still around 3 gallons of gas available. Keeps people from stranding themselves. That is why you can only put it 17. My 06 M35X will travel another 50 miles after the low fuel light comes on.

Hope you get your filling problem resolved. (Mine has never had this issue)

[svard75]

Mine began doing the same recently. I get around it by lifting the nozzle out to release any gas vapor pressure built-up but when you re-activate the pump just squeeze a bit so that a small amount of gas starts to flow and see if you can get past that auto-shutoff.

M

[gms]

I think the TSB only applies when the tank will only fill half way. It used to happen to me in warm weather until the the dealer performed the service described in the bulletin. Apparently the gas tank has two lobes and somehow only one side will fill before the pump automatically shuts off. I believe the fix is a "cutter" that is fitted under the fill tube to split the flow to both sides.

[Theo]

I think the TSB only applies when the tank will only fill half way. .

I've had issues when trying to fill the tank when its already half full.

[SdotSdotS]

I'm glad I'm not crazy. This happened to me a few weeks ago so I just waited until the next time I needed gas and it filled all the way the next time.

I bet the guys at Toyota said the same thing about Toyota forums!Having access to information makes us more knowledgable about our cars.

My service advisor isn't a fan of the internet message boards like this. When I told him there was a TSB on the issue, he dismissed me and said that didn't mean anything to me and that TSB were to aid the techs.

He denied the fuel tank issue being a common problem on the M's but stated that the earlier G's had issues.

He stated that he gets people coming in who spend "too much time on the internet" and bring up TSB's. He says he is not concerned about TSB's he is concerns about the actual symptoms that the car is showing.

He also cautioned me that message boards make items appear larger than they really are due to the fact that the only people you hear from are those having issues and those people are actually a very small percentage of car owners.

The guys at Toyota DO say the same about Toyota forums. I had a few interesting experiences with the transmission/clutch on my X-Runner before I switched to the M35.