3 days after owning the Z it already left me stranded (Kind of my own fault)

Munts · 09-07-2015, 04:43 PM

Soo today I was driving my car and noticed I kept loosing power in 3rd and 2nd gear and the car was jerking forward. I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong.

I pulled into a parking lot and the car died. I could not start it, and it wouldn't turn over. My gas gauge said I still had about a quarter of a tank, I had no idea what was wrong. After some trouble shooting I figured that it was probably just out of gas.

Long story short.. lo and behold.. I had to have someone come save me and bring a gas tank and fill it up because the car was bone dry.

I have done some research and have seen that it is common for the Z's gas gauge to malfunction? Is this something that is covered under a recall?

Would I be fine just taking it to a local mechanic shop to get it fixed or would I have to bring it to a Nissan dealership?

Thanks

KngScottieV · 09-07-2015, 04:55 PM

I'm gonna go ahead and guess you made a right hand turn at a decent speed right before it happened. Right?

Search on the forum for Fuel Starvation.

Basically the gas tank sits over the hump for the drive line, it also has a hump to form fit. The pump is on the right hand side of the tank, so if you make a fast right turn with low fuel all of your gas ends up on the left side of the tank away from the pump.

If you were at a quarter tank, take out your jack and jack up the left rear side as high as you can. This worked for me the first time it happened at an auto-x.

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munts

Soo today I was driving my car and noticed I kept loosing power in 3rd and 2nd gear and the car was jerking forward. I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong.

I pulled into a parking lot and the car died. I could not start it, and it wouldn't turn over. My gas gauge said I still had about a quarter of a tank, I had no idea what was wrong. After some trouble shooting I figured that it was probably just out of gas.

Long story short.. lo and behold.. I had to have someone come save me and bring a gas tank and fill it up because the car was bone dry.

I have done some research and have seen that it is common for the Z's gas gauge to malfunction? Is this something that is covered under a recall?

Would I be fine just taking it to a local mechanic shop to get it fixed or would I have to bring it to a Nissan dealership?

Thanks

Never had this happen & i've ran mine down a couple times to all dot's are gone,,,thus i have noticed the gauge is similar to my Chevy's,,,stay's full a long time & slowly goes down to 1/2 tank & then it moves a bit quicker,,,last tank 500 miles with 1 dot left-usually avg. 27mpg//but when i'm down to 4 dots(1/4 on gauge) i know i'm within 100 miles of needing fuel.

Munts · 09-07-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KngScottieV

I'm gonna go ahead and guess you made a right hand turn at a decent speed right before it happened. Right?

Search on the forum for Fuel Starvation.

Basically the gas tank sits over the hump for the drive line, it also has a hump to form fit. The pump is on the right hand side of the tank, so if you make a fast right turn with low fuel all of your gas ends up on the left side of the tank away from the pump.

If you were at a quarter tank, take out your jack and jack up the left rear side as high as you can. This worked for me the first time it happened at an auto-x.

Thanks for the reply, but no. The car was completely out of gas. I went to fill it up after this happened and it took about 16 and a half gallons, the line of dots just wasn't saying it was empty

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munts

Thanks for the reply, but no. The car was completely out of gas. I went to fill it up after this happened and it took about 16 and a half gallons, the line of dots just wasn't saying it was empty

car has 19gallon tank,,,i've ran mine down to the point of 18+refueling

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:43 PM

Also-i see you said it wouldn't turn over...not a sign of running out of gas-maybe a safety switch,clutch switch,etc....loose battery connection

Memphis370Z · 09-07-2015, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munts

Thanks for the reply, but no. The car was completely out of gas. I went to fill it up after this happened and it took about 16 and a half gallons, the line of dots just wasn't saying it was empty

A normal fill-up for me is 17 gallons or more, so 16 1/2 isn't anything out of the norm.

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:48 PM

I'm about 5miles from gas station.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1441666077.174355.jpg

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jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:54 PM

It burns more when you drive like this.https://vimeo.com/138566162

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DEpointfive0 · 09-07-2015, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchammond

car has 19gallon tank,,,i've ran mine down to the point of 18+refueling

I've filled over 19 gallons, I have proof.

Also, another vote for hard right

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munts

Soo today I was driving my car and noticed I kept loosing power in 3rd and 2nd gear and the car was jerking forward. I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong.

I pulled into a parking lot and the car died. I could not start it, and it wouldn't turn over. My gas gauge said I still had about a quarter of a tank, I had no idea what was wrong. After some trouble shooting I figured that it was probably just out of gas.

Long story short.. lo and behold.. I had to have someone come save me and bring a gas tank and fill it up because the car was bone dry.

I have done some research and have seen that it is common for the Z's gas gauge to malfunction? Is this something that is covered under a recall?

Would I be fine just taking it to a local mechanic shop to get it fixed or would I have to bring it to a Nissan dealership?

Thanks

someone may have been using plain ethanol gas in it & it has gummed or corroded up the fuel sending unit....but the way i figure my gauge is,,,16 dots=1 gallon per dot +2gallons above the dot's & 1 below,,,making up 19gallons,,,easiest way i've checked it,,stays on full till around 75miles or so (pending on how you drive) i ALWAYZ use ETHANOL-FREE 93 in my ~Z~

Munts · 09-07-2015, 06:56 PM

I'm guessing just the issue is that the gas gauge is malfunctioning because after I filled up the car the dots didn't fill up all the way there was one that wasn't lit right after filling up

nismo2evox · 09-07-2015, 08:42 PM

Funny, saw this tread and was wondering about the whole 19 gallon tank spec. Reason being, if I refill my tank after all the lights go out, the car only takes about 16 gallons. Does that mean I still have 3 gallons (roughly 60 miles) left in reserve or is my gauge busted?

Also, my estimated miles till empty usually starts flashing "- - -" once I get below 20 miles or so.

jchammond · 09-07-2015, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munts

I'm guessing just the issue is that the gas gauge is malfunctioning because after I filled up the car the dots didn't fill up all the way there was one that wasn't lit right after filling up

Mine has done this a couple times lately; last dot comes on after driving a bit... That's after really packing tank & these tanks fill fast- so can't pack much afterwards. Good point... I'll have to see if it continues/ just over 60k on an 11'

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jchammond · 09-07-2015, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismo2evox

Funny, saw this tread and was wondering about the whole 19 gallon tank spec. Reason being, if I refill my tank after all the lights go out, the car only takes about 16 gallons. Does that mean I still have 3 gallons (roughly 60 miles) left in reserve or is my gauge busted?

Also, my estimated miles till empty usually starts flashing "- - -" once I get below 20 miles or so.

My light flashes at 2 dots; I know my tank is that big/ put 18.5 in it before,,, probably some in the neck...11' base touring......other models could be different/ but I do get 27mpg. Worst tank ever was 24 -best was 30

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09-07-2015, 04:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Munts Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: St Paul, Minnesota Posts: 101 Drives: 2009 MT Touring Rep Power: 11	3 days after owning the Z it already left me stranded (Kind of my own fault) Soo today I was driving my car and noticed I kept loosing power in 3rd and 2nd gear and the car was jerking forward. I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong. I pulled into a parking lot and the car died. I could not start it, and it wouldn't turn over. My gas gauge said I still had about a quarter of a tank, I had no idea what was wrong. After some trouble shooting I figured that it was probably just out of gas. Long story short.. lo and behold.. I had to have someone come save me and bring a gas tank and fill it up because the car was bone dry. I have done some research and have seen that it is common for the Z's gas gauge to malfunction? Is this something that is covered under a recall? Would I be fine just taking it to a local mechanic shop to get it fixed or would I have to bring it to a Nissan dealership? Thanks

09-07-2015, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
KngScottieV Base Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Age: 40 Posts: 155 Drives: 13 370z MagmaRed M6S Rep Power: 22	I'm gonna go ahead and guess you made a right hand turn at a decent speed right before it happened. Right? Search on the forum for Fuel Starvation. Basically the gas tank sits over the hump for the drive line, it also has a hump to form fit. The pump is on the right hand side of the tank, so if you make a fast right turn with low fuel all of your gas ends up on the left side of the tank away from the pump. If you were at a quarter tank, take out your jack and jack up the left rear side as high as you can. This worked for me the first time it happened at an auto-x. jpkirk, Zbrah and Jimbo370 like this. __________________ 2013 Nissan 370z Magma Red Base w/Sport package 6speed. AAM intakes (S-line for now, still needs tuned), Berk HFC's, ARK DT-S cat-back, CJM baffled oil pan, and FI 34 row oil cooler.

09-07-2015, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
jchammond A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Carolina Age: 57 Posts: 15,204 Drives: 13’ 370Z TS 7A/T Rep Power: 2684394	Also-i see you said it wouldn't turn over...not a sign of running out of gas-maybe a safety switch,clutch switch,etc....loose battery connection __________________ MazWorx built long block \| FI-TT-100 Stage 2.75 \| IPT built 7A/T http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...s-musings.html

09-07-2015, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
jchammond A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Carolina Age: 57 Posts: 15,204 Drives: 13’ 370Z TS 7A/T Rep Power: 2684394	I'm about 5miles from gas station.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1441666077.174355.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk GZ3 likes this. __________________ MazWorx built long block \| FI-TT-100 Stage 2.75 \| IPT built 7A/T http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...s-musings.html

09-07-2015, 05:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
jchammond A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Carolina Age: 57 Posts: 15,204 Drives: 13’ 370Z TS 7A/T Rep Power: 2684394	It burns more when you drive like this.https://vimeo.com/138566162 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ MazWorx built long block \| FI-TT-100 Stage 2.75 \| IPT built 7A/T http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...s-musings.html

09-07-2015, 06:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Munts Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: St Paul, Minnesota Posts: 101 Drives: 2009 MT Touring Rep Power: 11	I'm guessing just the issue is that the gas gauge is malfunctioning because after I filled up the car the dots didn't fill up all the way there was one that wasn't lit right after filling up

09-07-2015, 08:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
nismo2evox Base Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 39 Drives: Evo X Rep Power: 12	Funny, saw this tread and was wondering about the whole 19 gallon tank spec. Reason being, if I refill my tank after all the lights go out, the car only takes about 16 gallons. Does that mean I still have 3 gallons (roughly 60 miles) left in reserve or is my gauge busted? Also, my estimated miles till empty usually starts flashing "- - -" once I get below 20 miles or so.

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