No gas?

Billy02987 · 02-09-2011, 10:33 AM

Hey guys, last night on my way home from work my car shut down on me as I was about to merge on the highway. I didn't lose power but my engine shut down on me. I was just above a quarter tank when this happened. Once I pulled over I turned the car off then went to restart it and the gas gauge was empty. This happen to anyone else at all? I've had the car for a year and half now with no problems. Thanks for the help.

GZ3 · 02-09-2011, 10:53 AM

this is the first I 've heard of this?? anyone else chime in? Either way...dealership TIME!

toxik · 02-09-2011, 10:57 AM

I know that the Z can choke and turn off on you when making a sharp right turn on a Quarter tank. This is a known issue, dunno if it applies here.

Billy02987 · 02-09-2011, 11:00 AM

That's exactly what happened. The entrance ramp has a sharp right turn and as I went to power out it shut off on me.

kenchan · 02-09-2011, 11:01 AM

have the dealer look at it. ive not read about this either, so isolated issue.

flashburn · 02-09-2011, 11:02 AM

Yeah, it's been talked about greatly on the forums, search for "fuel starvation". The thing that throws me is that the gauge went from 1/4 of a tank to empty after restarting the car. I haven't heard any reports of that. How far did you drive before fill up, and how much did it take to fill the tank?

toxik · 02-09-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Yeah, it's been talked about greatly on the forums, search for "fuel starvation". The thing that throws me is that the gauge went from 1/4 of a tank to empty after restarting the car. I haven't heard any reports of that. How far did you drive before fill up, and how much did it take to fill the tank?

yep, here's a quick link: Fuel starvation, who else?

SPOHN · 02-09-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

I know that the Z can choke and turn off on you when making a sharp right turn on a Quarter tank. This is a known issue, dunno if it applies here.

I believe there's a term for this. I remember it happing alot with 350's that where doing alot of tracking. Something to do with the pickup. The only thing they made sure of was to keep it above a quarter of a tank. Trying to recall who knows alot on this. I want to say a member named Phunk does. Maybe I'm wrong there.

flashburn · 02-09-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

yep, here's a quick link: Fuel starvation, who else?

Yeah, and actually in Mike's first post he mentions how it showed empty as well. I guess that makes sense since the sensor is probably near the fuel outlet. Stupid U shaped tank.

Billy02987 · 02-09-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Yeah, it's been talked about greatly on the forums, search for "fuel starvation". The thing that throws me is that the gauge went from 1/4 of a tank to empty after restarting the car. I haven't heard any reports of that. How far did you drive before fill up, and how much did it take to fill the tank?

The gas my friend brought me put me at a quarter tank again and I drove about 13 miles before filling up. It took 15 gallons to fill up at the gas station.

christian370z · 02-09-2011, 12:23 PM

I have never had fuel starvation issues but there have been a couple weird occurrences with the fuel gauge that surprised me. Twice, I have had a 1/4 tank or more indicated with the LEDs and a posed range of 70+ miles. I would then do a WOT throttle pull through a couple gears and then magically, 3 or 4 of the fuel gauge dots would instantly disappear and the low fuel warning would come on and stay that way. This is purely accelerating in a straight line.

PapoZalsa · 02-09-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

I know that the Z can choke and turn off on you when making a sharp right turn on a Quarter tank. This is a known issue, dunno if it applies here.

This is a known issue but not with that much gas marking on the Fuel Gauge...

flashburn · 02-09-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa

This is a known issue but not with that much gas marking on the Fuel Gauge...

Plenty of us have seen fuel starvation at that level. Granted the only time I've seen it was on a track, but it was at 1/4 of a tank at the time.

SPOHN · 02-09-2011, 01:08 PM

So where does the problem actually take place. I wouldn't think it's the float in the tank. Maybe there's a relay/ sensor that goes to the actual visual gauge.

ChrisSlicks · 02-09-2011, 05:21 PM

It happened to me at 1/4 tank. Right hand turn followed by hard up-hill acceleration = stalled car. On track it happens to me with 3/4 tank.

I think the gas gauge drops to zero because the sender is in the same spot as the pickup. No fuel in the pickup means the sender wont register anything either. The ECU averages out the voltages coming from the sender so it takes a couple of start attempts before you see it drop to zero. There is fuel in the tank but it can't use it.

02-09-2011, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Billy02987 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 975 Drives: 2010 GT-R Rep Power: 18	No gas? Hey guys, last night on my way home from work my car shut down on me as I was about to merge on the highway. I didn't lose power but my engine shut down on me. I was just above a quarter tank when this happened. Once I pulled over I turned the car off then went to restart it and the gas gauge was empty. This happen to anyone else at all? I've had the car for a year and half now with no problems. Thanks for the help. __________________ 2010 GT-R 2009 GTM TT 370Z-SOLD

02-09-2011, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
GZ3 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 3,296 Drives: Z Rep Power: 21	this is the first I 've heard of this?? anyone else chime in? Either way...dealership TIME! __________________ 09 GT-R 12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN 12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

02-09-2011, 11:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Billy02987 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 975 Drives: 2010 GT-R Rep Power: 18	That's exactly what happened. The entrance ramp has a sharp right turn and as I went to power out it shut off on me. __________________ 2010 GT-R 2009 GTM TT 370Z-SOLD

02-09-2011, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	Yeah, it's been talked about greatly on the forums, search for "fuel starvation". The thing that throws me is that the gauge went from 1/4 of a tank to empty after restarting the car. I haven't heard any reports of that. How far did you drive before fill up, and how much did it take to fill the tank? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

02-09-2011, 12:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 431	I have never had fuel starvation issues but there have been a couple weird occurrences with the fuel gauge that surprised me. Twice, I have had a 1/4 tank or more indicated with the LEDs and a posed range of 70+ miles. I would then do a WOT throttle pull through a couple gears and then magically, 3 or 4 of the fuel gauge dots would instantly disappear and the low fuel warning would come on and stay that way. This is purely accelerating in a straight line. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

02-09-2011, 11:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	have the dealer look at it. ive not read about this either, so isolated issue.

02-09-2011, 01:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	So where does the problem actually take place. I wouldn't think it's the float in the tank. Maybe there's a relay/ sensor that goes to the actual visual gauge. __________________

02-09-2011, 05:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	It happened to me at 1/4 tank. Right hand turn followed by hard up-hill acceleration = stalled car. On track it happens to me with 3/4 tank. I think the gas gauge drops to zero because the sender is in the same spot as the pickup. No fuel in the pickup means the sender wont register anything either. The ECU averages out the voltages coming from the sender so it takes a couple of start attempts before you see it drop to zero. There is fuel in the tank but it can't use it. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms