Hi all. So I have an 03 G35 coupe that has a gas tank filling problem where it doesn't want to fill all the way and it will shut off on me while at the pump. I can get 10 gallons barely sometimes and that's if I am baying it. On top of that the fuel gauge doesn't read the amount of gas in the tank correctly. This has gotten really annoying.

I called Infiniti in my area for any recalls on the car but given its age there were none. So its all going to be out of pocket for me including the dealership diagnostic. He was saying it could cost me a couple thousand to get fixed. Either the cluster needs to be changed or the sending unit for the fuel gauge problem. And for the filling problem it could be a flap or something preventing it from filling all the way.

I was thinking about converting the gas tank into a fuel cell I heard they were legal if done right, but I imagine I would still need to fix the filling problem since I would need to fill my converted fuel cell the same way.

What are your ideas?

Or if I don't go the fuel cell route which is probably in the thousands to get installed, does anyone any specialty shops in the area that would do the work for alot cheaper than the dealer?

 

The tank not filling all the way is probably the EVAP vent tube clogged up between the EVAP canister and the fuel tank. There is a nissan TSB about it but I'm not surprised if the service manager didn't search for it though because it is a fairly old car at this point and most folks aren't bringing them back to the dealership for repairs since they are incredibly costly compared to independent reputable mechanics.

With the fuel tank NEARLY EMPTY you can just disconnect the hose and fish something through it or blow compressed air or something to try to dislodge the debris. Be sure to also run something up the metal stem on the gas tank.
Here's that TSB

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...52502-9999.pdf

As for the gas gauge, several threads on this already, test the resistance output of the main and sub fuel level floats to see if they're functioning. Here is a link to a post in the main gas gauge problem thread where I detail testing the pump and sub for the proper signal.

https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sed...ml#post7207804

 

Thank you for the feedback. I think im going have my local mechanic take a look. Shouldn't Nissan/infiniti honor the TSB even if its out this late?? I guess not. Yeah they're totally charging me alot and id be better off with an independent mechanic. theres a good dude in my area.

Well about fuel cells?? Anyonne try installing those on the G??

 

A TSB is not a recall, it's just the factory troubleshooting steps for various issues that arise that weren't specifically covered in the factory service manual.

As for a fuel cell, unless this is a track-use racecar I would NEVER consider putting a fuel cell into a G35. It's too hard to make use of the factory fill neck, replumbing the supply line for use with a pump in a different location, same with the pump wiring, plus you aren't going to fit a 20 gallon cell anywhere except the trunk, so then you are putting in a hard partition/firewall between the trunk and the cabin.

Fuel cells are for racecar only, or limited use in very old cars that you can't get quality factory fuel tanks for. Definitely not for your daily driver street car.

 

I was browsing through that TSB out of curiosity and found it interesting that up until recently you might have still been able to get this fixed under the emissions warranty:

 

Yeah now that you mention it I remember a few years back people were still getting those repairs done for free.

 

I can try calling the dealership back again and see if they'll still work with me. But its an '03 model so that plus 15 is 2018 and unfortunately fall outside the time limit. That sucks. I bought the car used in 2019 so I guess I was outside warranty when I bought it???

 

Yeah sorry, I didn't specifically mean you when I typed "you". Yours being an '03 and possibly being purchased in '02 would have had to have this work done by 2017 or 2018 as you pointed out. Cleric for example has an '07 so assuming he was under 150k miles and met the other criteria, could still have had this work performed up until 2020 or maybe even 2021 depending when the vehicle was originally purchased.

 

But the only way to have it fixed was to have the problem of _complete_ blockage, which you would certainly have known about since you couldn't refill the gas tank. But it gets balky before it's completely blocked, so folks would have gotten it fixed before eligible for the extended warranty. I'll bet Infiniti didn't pay out many of these warranty repairs.... Another case of "looking consumer friendly" at very low cost.

 

Oh wow so the blockage is yet to get worse! I better get this thing corrected before Im stranded somewhere and would have to get my car towed home. What a bummer dude. Lets see what the local mechanic says about this, hopefully the cost will be bearable.

 

Mine seems to sporadically exhibit this behavior as well. I'll have to look at it once it comes out of hibernation in May.

 

Well, it's not quite that dire. You can still get little dribs and drabs in at the pump. But the nozzle will keep shutting off right quick. Takes a lot of patience and time to get a decent fill. Meanwhile, all those people in the line behind you at Costco are boring holes into the back of your head with their angry eyes....

 

It also helps if you don't fully seat the gas nozzle into the fill neck.

 

i have definitely gotten used to the annoyed ambience at costco by now lol, i just stand their doing my thing. And yes that is exactly what I mean by babying it, squeezing the handle ever so slightly and keep the nozzle as outside as possible, otherwise if its too far out the pump wont release gas.

Its just annoying damn it. And then I have to count miles because my fuel gauge doesnt work. I love the car alot so I will put up with it until I can get it fixed.