Odd fuel system problem

[Bob24]

I got my M45 a month ago with a full tank of gas. The first 3 or 4 times I filled up the tank ran up to full.

Then I was on empty a few days ago but the tank would only accept 9 gallons and the needle went to half. I tried putting more in but the nozzle would keep clicking off. HMMM?

Today I go to a different gas station (same name brand) and the tank is again on E. It only takes about 9 gallons and stops. Again I try to put more in and just get the nozzle clicking off in my hand.

I drive towards home and stop at a station by my house (a different brand). The tank takes an additional 5 gallons of fuel and then stops. I wait about 10-15 seconds between each try of putting more fuel in and the nozzle keeps clicking.

I now have a tank that is 3/4ths full. What is happening? Any guesses? I am going to have to see the dealer about this one.

[M4T5]

Bob??? Hello?? Did you forget to take out the stashed drugs out of the gas tank from your recent drug bust?? That's probably your problem!! Bob, quit using drugs already!

J

[jedgington]

I had a similar issue, but I could fill the tank fully if I had the fuel filler set to about half instead of full-blast. There is a TSB to fix this, and it fixed the problem on my car. See this thread zer...b-for

Good luck!

[M4T5]

It sounds like the fuel filler neck may have kink in it not allowing the fuel flow. Therefore, this is creating a back up to the fuel nozzle. That is just my theory, but it sounds logical. For it to all of a sudden happen, the only other thing would be something that came loose in the gas tank and is bobbing up towards the filler tube inlet. Or my first guess.Thoughts?

J

[mmm..good]

Not a problem with you fuel tank per se. I have the same issue with my 06 M35X. Certain pumps are set too fast and the fuel will "backup" in the neck and kick off the pump because it thinks the tank is full. I usually get gas at the same station week to week - and there is one pump that causes this to happen - all the others at this particular station work fine as well as others I have used around town.

[Bob24]

I had a similar issue, but I could fill the tank fully if I had the fuel filler set to about half instead of full-blast. There is a TSB to fix this, and it fixed the problem on my car. See this thread zer...b-for

Good luck!

Very good information! I am glad there is a TSB on it so they don't think I am crazy.

[striz923]

I have also read on here that if you hold the nozzle rotated at about 20-30 degrees you can fill at full blast.

[M4T5]

Not a problem with you fuel tank per se. I have the same issue with my 06 M35X. Certain pumps are set too fast and the fuel will "backup" in the neck and kick off the pump because it thinks the tank is full. I usually get gas at the same station week to week - and there is one pump that causes this to happen - all the others at this particular station work fine as well as others I have used around town.

The problem is still the car. The pumps work fine. I have never had a vehicle do that due to a gas pump flowing too fast.I guarantee there is a problem with the filler neck.

J

[jonlex99]

The problem is still the car. The pumps work fine. I have never had a vehicle do that due to a gas pump flowing too fast.I guarantee there is a problem with the filler neck.

J

Guys the Nissan has a fix to this problem. Call your local Infiniti dealer.... I had my fix under warranty. It works.

[Bob24]

Well, I brought it in and they ordered up the part(s) to fix the problem. A couple of days later I realize that my gas gauge has been going down slower than normal and has been at around a quarter of a tank for a little while.

I fueled up yesterday morning and it gulped up 18 and a half gallons. After I climbed back into the car, the gas gauge only climbed up to just under 3 quarters of a tank.

It also affects the distance to empty on my nav screen. After pouring in the 18+ gallons it says I had 206 miles to go.

Looks like the "fix" done screwed up my gauges! Back to the dealer. They will be getting a dressing down from me in the service department that is for sure. I had to give the front of the house people a good tounge lashing the last time I was there over the complimentary pastries and cookies. If called them day old it would be charitable! All they could mutter is that they weren't baked in house.

[Bob24]

Okay, they 'fixed" my fuel gauge problem last week. Today, my car is close to getting on empty so I take it to the station and it gulps up 19 fricken gallons! After that the needle only goes to a little over half full and the distance to empty only goes to 177.

I drove about 100 MPH to the dealer and demanded to speak with the tech that "fixed" my car. I was ready to do whatever it took to get my point across. Well, they said the tech had the day off. Probably a lie to save him from having me come to a service bay and get in his grill.

They apologized and gave me a loaner and said they will fix it. He talked about the fuel charge for the loaner and I laughed in his face and told him the loaner was going to be on the house.

I can't believe this. If these guys don't get their shiznit together I am going to set up a stand handing out free lemons in front of the dealer. I will tote a huge sign that says "you can get your lemons from me for free or go to the Infiniti dealer and pay through the nose for your lemon".

[Sammyg96]

I have an 03 M45.... just started having fuel level problems, when i knew i had run out half a tank the gage said i still have 3/4 of a tank, if you research it on here, its a KNOWN Infiniti problems and the fix cost, $ 917 bucks...... they have to remove and recalibrate your dash instruments......... unless someone finds a cheaper fix, I'll run mine by the trip meter from her on out........ it also seems to affect the recorded milages on the car too.......... any responses appreciated.......... good luck

[menlund19]

Okay, they 'fixed" my fuel gauge problem last week. Today, my car is close to getting on empty so I take it to the station and it gulps up 19 fricken gallons! After that the needle only goes to a little over half full and the distance to empty only goes to 177.

I drove about 100 MPH to the dealer and demanded to speak with the tech that "fixed" my car. I was ready to do whatever it took to get my point across. Well, they said the tech had the day off. Probably a lie to save him from having me come to a service bay and get in his grill.

They apologized and gave me a loaner and said they will fix it. He talked about the fuel charge for the loaner and I laughed in his face and told him the loaner was going to be on the house.

I can't believe this. If these guys don't get their shiznit together I am going to set up a stand handing out free lemons in front of the dealer. I will tote a huge sign that says "you can get your lemons from me for free or go to the Infiniti dealer and pay through the nose for your lemon".

Hey. What dealer did you go to? Golden Valley? Bloomington? I have heard very bad things about the GV dealership. Their sales team is horrible, their service department is bad, and their parts department is sloppy. Hell, I stopped and bought an air filter for my M35 and when I got home and went to replace it I realized they gave me the wrong one. How the hell can you get an incorrect filter from the dealership? They are paid to know the difference.

[Indy Golfer]

My car has been to the dealership twice in the last month for the same issue. I haven't put gas in it yet since I picked it up late last week.

[ATSELLAB]

So many problems with this M ..... I have yet to see any but nice to know it could be in my near future.... nice.

[Q45tech]

Changes in the chemicals in gasoline often react with fuel sending unit changing it's accuracy...........especially high levels of mercapotens and other organo-sulfur compounds.

[SteveTheTech]

Okay, they 'fixed" my fuel gauge problem last week. Today, my car is close to getting on empty so I take it to the station and it gulps up 19 fricken gallons! After that the needle only goes to a little over half full and the distance to empty only goes to 177.

I drove about 100 MPH to the dealer and demanded to speak with the tech that "fixed" my car. I was ready to do whatever it took to get my point across. Well, they said the tech had the day off. Probably a lie to save him from having me come to a service bay and get in his grill.

They apologized and gave me a loaner and said they will fix it. He talked about the fuel charge for the loaner and I laughed in his face and told him the loaner was going to be on the house.

I can't believe this. If these guys don't get their shiznit together I am going to set up a stand handing out free lemons in front of the dealer. I will tote a huge sign that says "you can get your lemons from me for free or go to the Infiniti dealer and pay through the nose for your lemon".

That's the mature way to deal with any kind of customer service situation. Throwing a fit and "getting in there face" is comical I would have told you to either talk to me like an adult or I'm leaving, no one deserves to be insulted like that. Do you even understand how this is diagnosed? The only way to test the operation of the system is to actually remove the gasoline from the tank. Although the price of premium has dropped I will do everything I can to not waste peoples gas and pulling the senders out and testing them isn't a real world test. There is no magic TSB that will save any tech from diagnosing the car.

Everyone here should note that the issues with the combination meters in the 03-04 M45 did not carry over to the 06+ models. There are several electrical differences between the cars. I have not experienced any ORVR issues on the M, sounds interesting.

[ghstudio]

I had this same problem of the gas pump turning off early on my 06M35...haven't experienced it yet on my 08M35 (I do 2 year leases). I did find that if I pumped gas a little slower and turned the nozzle a bit the problem happened less. It definately is tied to the speed of the pump....slow pumps never caused a problem.

Having said this, if the problem had really bothered me, I would certainly take the loaner and leave the car until it's fixed....and that includes having a fuel gauge that showed full and empty correctly. Running out of gas is a safety problem.

As far as paying for the gas in the loaner....why would you expect the dealer to pay for your gas. If you were driving your own car you would pay for the gas so why wouldn't I pay for the gas in the loaner car. Of course when I picked up my car, I would expect the gas level in my car to be roughly the same as when I left the car for repairs.

[SteveTheTech]

The ORVR (Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery) system is a federally mandated emission control system that captures the vapor displaced by the refueling process and it is surprisingly complex although since flaws are not common there are only a few replaceable components. I'll see if I can find any more in depth information if you guys want.

I know I have dealt with a few refueling complaints, mainly erratic gauge reading. The thing I have learned and try to express to anyone who is unfortunate enough to encounter something like this is. This might take some time to resolve, and your patience is needed to have to have the dealer run a tank of gas through your car, as that is the only want to verify they system is operating. Refueling equipment varies from station to station and the very small amount of negative pressure that the system operates on has a tendency to vary and cause issues and we can only fix the cars not the other half of the equation.The whole evaporative emissions system operates at <1psi so any drop or increase in pressure will trip a system fault. I cannot speak for other shops/techs and do not take my words for corporate representation, I'm just voicing what my opinion is as an Infiniti fan.