Anyone have a Fuel Gauge Issue?

Modshack · 06-16-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_you_Later

Aren't these guys supposed to be professionals? You really think they'll mess up my ride to fix a simple issue like this? I tried ignoring it and hoping it would fix itself but that became wishful thinking ...

Assuming your average dealer tech is a professional may be a bit of a stretch from many reports here. They're going to have to dissasemble part of your interior to get to the fuel gauge senders as they are mounted in the fuel tank on both sides of the car (guys that have probably never taken a 370 apart before). It's not THAT simple. Personally I'd run a few bottles of Techron through your next few tanks of gas before I'd go that route. Techron has great success in scrubbing Fuel senders clean and bringing them back to full operation..It's worked for me and a bunch of my friends in the past,,

BTW, Senders are just simple rheostat type devices with a contact that moves up and down to make connections with the multiple contact strips and transmit electrical signals to the gauge and cause it to read from empty to full depending on the fuel level. Being submerged in fuel they tend to gunk up and stop reading correctly if good gas isn't used. The look like this:

IMWEZL · 12-18-2009, 05:09 PM

Yeah mines has been hit or miss these past 7 months. Most of the time it fills up to the last dot. Other times it looks just like your picture.

AK370Z · 12-18-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMWEZL

Yeah mines has been hit or miss these past 7 months. Most of the time it fills up to the last dot. Other times it looks just like your picture.

yup.. six miles driving into it, the last LED lit up

Modshack · 12-19-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

I have just filled up my gas tank to the brim and my last fuel dot is not lit up. This happened to me last two times too. After driving lets say 30-40 miles, the last led becomes visible again (sometimes). Weird

Good info DIGItonium. Your statement makes sense because sometimes the last dot did lit up after driving for a little while. Not sure what's the cause of this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMWEZL

Yeah mines has been hit or miss these past 7 months. Most of the time it fills up to the last dot. Other times it looks just like your picture.

The reason for this is that the last contact on the sender spends more time uncovered by fuel then any of the others. This gives corrosion a chance to build up. When you fill up, the connection for the last light is not made because of this. As you drive a bit the sloshing fuel moves the contact arm up and down over that last connection. The corrosion is scrubbed off anf the light illuminates. Again, a bottle of Techron concentrate at your next fill-up will go a long way toward keeping these contacts clean..

ArtVandaleigh · 12-19-2009, 11:01 AM

Same exact thing with me too guys... full fillup and the last light is not on. I'll drive around for a few miles and or shut the car off for a bit, turn back on and the last light is now illuminated. Not a big deal, but annoying.

JonnieN · 12-22-2009, 05:24 PM

I have the same issue. The light have been out for about 2 months. I dont know whats going on. Its annoying at first but im use to it now.

AK370Z · 12-22-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

The reason for this is that the last contact on the sender spends more time uncovered by fuel then any of the others. This gives corrosion a chance to build up. When you fill up, the connection for the last light is not made because of this. As you drive a bit the sloshing fuel moves the contact arm up and down over that last connection. The corrosion is scrubbed off anf the light illuminates. Again, a bottle of Techron concentrate at your next fill-up will go a long way toward keeping these contacts clean..

WILL DO! thanks MS

kevr6 · 12-18-2009, 11:26 PM

I've had this happen last three fill ups! Tonight I decided to add another dollar and a half after the pump click off to see if it was a sensitivity thing! Well it worked!! The last light did light up!

I only run Chevron w/ Techron in my cars anyway, but I did try the Techron concentrate bottle two fill ups ago (what Modshack mentioned). Not sure if it did much.

>135I · 01-02-2010, 10:27 AM

I have this issue, it is caused by the sensors that hook into my test pipe. I noticed it about a week after I installed them. The SES came on then I filled my tank the very last LED would not light up no matter how much I put in the tank. I used the non-fouler method to fix the SES and filled the tank again and surpise surpise the last LED came on. So my guess would be check your sensors with the Cats. Make sure they are not loose.

Pharmacist · 01-02-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by >135I

I have this issue, it is caused by the sensors that hook into my test pipe. I noticed it about a week after I installed them. The SES came on then I filled my tank the very last LED would not light up no matter how much I put in the tank. I used the non-fouler method to fix the SES and filled the tank again and surpise surpise the last LED came on. So my guess would be check your sensors with the Cats. Make sure they are not loose.

not very clear what you mean. do you mean the oxygen sensors? well, i don't have a check engine light, never had one, nor did i do any mods or upgrades to the car. also, why and how would the fuel level gauge be affected by something like an oxygen sensor?

PapoZalsa · 01-02-2010, 03:11 PM

All I got to say is that those 2 gauges are dificult to read. Another Nissan great...

>135I · 01-02-2010, 06:29 PM

Yes I mean the O2 sensor. I'm not sure myself how they correlate. My ses light came back on and that last light stopped working again but I bet when I check the O2 sensor and retighten it and then reset the ses light I bet the gauge will work correctly again.

Modshack · 01-02-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by >135I

I have this issue, it is caused by the sensors that hook into my test pipe. I noticed it about a week after I installed them. The SES came on then I filled my tank the very last LED would not light up no matter how much I put in the tank. I used the non-fouler method to fix the SES and filled the tank again and surpise surpise the last LED came on. So my guess would be check your sensors with the Cats. Make sure they are not loose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by >135I

Yes I mean the O2 sensor. I'm not sure myself how they correlate. My ses light came back on and that last light stopped working again but I bet when I check the O2 sensor and retighten it and then reset the ses light I bet the gauge will work correctly again.

I'm sorry, but those two things have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with each other......What you're experiencing is purely coincidental.....

>135I · 01-02-2010, 09:55 PM

Yes you are right by all means they should not effect each other but for some reason they are. I think if they do have anything to do with each other it might be that both of them connect to the main ECU??

Pharmacist · 01-24-2010, 09:36 AM

so i checked the service manual. taking out the fuel sensor doesn't seem too complicated. if i take out the sensor and clean the contacts with some fuel system cleaner or even brake cleaning fluid, would that solve the problem? or should i just take it to the stealership (who may end up doing more harm than good anyway)? and where can i get that techron stuff anyway? it's not even on ebay

12-18-2009, 11:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
kevr6 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N.W. Atlanta Posts: 1,515 Drives: '09 Graphite 370Z 6M Rep Power: 667	I've had this happen last three fill ups! Tonight I decided to add another dollar and a half after the pump click off to see if it was a sensitivity thing! Well it worked!! The last light did light up! I only run Chevron w/ Techron in my cars anyway, but I did try the Techron concentrate bottle two fill ups ago (what Modshack mentioned). Not sure if it did much. __________________ *Beware...* Daily Sliding In My ZLED!

01-02-2010, 10:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
>135I Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Radcliff, KY Age: 43 Posts: 409 Drives: 2003 Cobra Rep Power: 17	I have this issue, it is caused by the sensors that hook into my test pipe. I noticed it about a week after I installed them. The SES came on then I filled my tank the very last LED would not light up no matter how much I put in the tank. I used the non-fouler method to fix the SES and filled the tank again and surpise surpise the last LED came on. So my guess would be check your sensors with the Cats. Make sure they are not loose. __________________ I will miss my Z. I hope she goes to a good home. Last edited by >135I; 01-02-2010 at 10:42 AM.

01-02-2010, 03:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4500	All I got to say is that those 2 gauges are dificult to read. Another Nissan great... __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

01-02-2010, 06:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
>135I Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Radcliff, KY Age: 43 Posts: 409 Drives: 2003 Cobra Rep Power: 17	Yes I mean the O2 sensor. I'm not sure myself how they correlate. My ses light came back on and that last light stopped working again but I bet when I check the O2 sensor and retighten it and then reset the ses light I bet the gauge will work correctly again. __________________ I will miss my Z. I hope she goes to a good home.

01-02-2010, 09:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
>135I Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Radcliff, KY Age: 43 Posts: 409 Drives: 2003 Cobra Rep Power: 17	Yes you are right by all means they should not effect each other but for some reason they are. I think if they do have anything to do with each other it might be that both of them connect to the main ECU?? __________________ I will miss my Z. I hope she goes to a good home.

12-18-2009, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
IMWEZL Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HNL Posts: 603 Drives: 370Z/MKVII GTI Rep Power: 18	Yeah mines has been hit or miss these past 7 months. Most of the time it fills up to the last dot. Other times it looks just like your picture.

12-19-2009, 11:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
ArtVandaleigh Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 227 Drives: 09 PW 370Z Rep Power: 676	Same exact thing with me too guys... full fillup and the last light is not on. I'll drive around for a few miles and or shut the car off for a bit, turn back on and the last light is now illuminated. Not a big deal, but annoying.

12-22-2009, 05:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
JonnieN Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 153 Drives: 370z PW 6MT Rep Power: 17	I have the same issue. The light have been out for about 2 months. I dont know whats going on. Its annoying at first but im use to it now.

01-24-2010, 09:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
Pharmacist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,249 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 19	so i checked the service manual. taking out the fuel sensor doesn't seem too complicated. if i take out the sensor and clean the contacts with some fuel system cleaner or even brake cleaning fluid, would that solve the problem? or should i just take it to the stealership (who may end up doing more harm than good anyway)? and where can i get that techron stuff anyway? it's not even on ebay

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