Warranty letter from Infiniti: Evaporative emission vapor vent tube

[mpgmusic]

Hi everyone,
I just received YET another letter from Infiniti stating that they are extending the Infiniti warranty policy for the emissions coverage to 15 years or 150,000 miles due to a "software issue that may not be able to accurately pinpoint the issue" related to the emissions system. Have any of you also received this letter? This is what the main paragraph states:

"In the rare circumstance that a clog were to develop in this evaporative emission vapor vent tube, your vehicle has software that may not be able to accurately pinpoint the issue. Therefore, emission warranty coverage for this evaporative emission vapor vent tube has been enhanced to 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first, if the tube is found to be clogged. All other warranty terms, limitations, and conditions remain unchanged. Please note that a hard-to-fill condition is a symptom that may indicated a clog in this evaporative emission vapor vent tube. If you experience this symptom, your infiniti technician will be able to accurately diagnose the issue and make any necessary repairs".

My main question is: what the heck do they mean by a "hard-to-fill" condition. Does that mean that it is difficult to fill up the car with gas (ie: it backs up or the pump acts as if it's full and shuts off when filling?)

Very strange letter indeed and poorly written.
Any help is appreciated.
Mike
2006 M45

[ArmedAviator]

I just got it yesterday.

They do mean hard-to-fill the gas tank. For example, if you have to barely have gasoline flow or else it will trip the auto-shutoff feature on the pump way too soon.

[Q451990]

Got the letter for our recently departed G35 today... we had the "hard to fill" issue that would trip the gas pump long before the tank was full. It'll behave just like the tank is full, but maybe you only put a few gallons into an empty tank. I could fill it very slowly for a while, and gradually ramp up the speed and get it to work.

[dback]

Got this letter yesterday. My car is going in next week for the airbag fix. They will also be looking at this. I have had the hard to fill issue off and on since I have owned my M45.

[kmiles]

I haven't seen the letter - maybe it is only for the M45's. I've had the problem and had it do the dealer to fix it about 4 years ago. I still get it occasionally and just add a can of SeaFoam and it is gone by the next time I fill the tank.

[Ilya]

Nope, my 2011 M56 just got the letter.

I had this condition on my old 07 M35x which the dealer fixed under warranty. Guess they've finally had enough people have it happen across all models that they've issued a legitimate warranty extension (basically a recall as few people will have their car for 15 years).

[Costee]

A TSB (ITB17-026) has only been recently issued for this. Except for the I35, it's a cheap fix requiring the replacement of a clogged vent tube or hose (as the case may be) connecting the fuel tank to the EVAP canister. For the I35, the fuel tank would have to be replaced as the vent line is an integral part of the tank.

[airmanhoward]

Got my letter in the mail yesterday also

[bicsintegra]

just got mine today I will add it to the other recall notice.

[gavnator]

Received my letter from Infiniti yesterday.

[AceExplorer]

Got my letter a week ago, and what bugs me is that I've previously asked the dealer about my fuel filling problem (AND about a Technical Service Bulletin) a few times and they didn't see a need to look into it. Each time they blamed the pumps at the gas stations, and not the vehicle itself, so they didn't even look at this part of my car to determine if there actually was a problem. I crossed the 150,000 mile mark in January so I'm not covered by this warranty extension despite having a history of asking about this problem. I have replaced the fuel filler cap recently, but that did not make the code go away.

My goal is to learn where this vent tube is located, and to see if I can remove it, or just figure out a way to clean it, and then put it back. Dunno if it requires replacement, maybe just cleaning is possible? I'm afraid that I'm not going to get any free or warranty help from Infiniti or from the dealer. And if they were to find the tube is not clogged, I'd be required to pay for the service from them, so it's worth digging deeper to see if this is something I can do myself.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated from the Infiniti owner community. This is my first post here, I've been a reader/lurker for a few years now. Cheers from sunny Florida!

[ArmedAviator]

If the dealer noted your discrepancy in any sort of customer complaint in your documentation, you can use that as proof and it will be covered or you can take them to small claims and you'll win. Unfortunately, it's unlikely they noted it. If I ever used a dealer for work, I'd atleast have them note any issues I have in documentation so if it ever came to it, such as this warranty extension, I'd be covered even if I'm past it.

[DMO13247]

This makes sense now. I would often be seen cursing at what I thought where s*** gas pumps. "Why the F does it say full when the tank is not full!" Another trip to the service station for a recall in order...

[WillV]

Yeah when I'm completely empty, my car will take 1/2 gallon before auto stopping. So I end up having to pump 16 gallons with the handle sideways because apparently that seems to deactivate the auto stop. Happens at every gas station I frequent.

[dback]

I had my car in last week for the passenger airbag fix. The airbag fix went smooth luckily. They did a good job in it. I also had them look at this venting issue. I have had hard to fill issues since I have owned the car - about 3 years. They told me it didn't pass the 'smoke test' and didn't fix anything. Guess they put smoke in the tube and if they see smoke venting from somewhere then it is considered good. That is my understanding anyway.

[Ilya]

I had my car in last week for the passenger airbag fix. The airbag fix went smooth luckily. They did a good job in it. I also had them look at this venting issue. I have had hard to fill issues since I have owned the car - about 3 years. They told me it didn't pass the 'smoke test' and didn't fix anything. Guess they put smoke in the tube and if they see smoke venting from somewhere then it is considered good. That is my understanding anyway.

I'd be on the phone with corporate right bout now.

[cjstringer920]

Diggin up an old thread, but has anyone found an out-of-warranty fix for this other than just filling it with the nozzle sideways? I'd like to get it fixed myself. Not a big fan of Stealership prices.