Damn thing is SO OFF. Mpg is off by 5, and thats the start. It tells me tonight I had 20 miles til empty, so I was going to get gas. 2 miles later it was flashing all DASHES so I had ZERO! I was like OH CRAP. I made it to the gas station, light was on E for a while too, I put in 15.5 gallons, tank holds 18.5. Ummm, I think I had like 50 miles left and it was on E, gas light on, and computer said I had ZERO left...damn thats sad.

 

How do you know the MPG is off? Someone earlier was comparing the MPG with their gas receipts, and the deviation was not more than .5 MPG each time ???

And as for the DTE function, I would much rather it err on the side of caution. The tank sensor is only so accurate, dependent on a lot of factors, including the angle of the car, the gas sloshing around, etc. So it probably has a built in margin for error just in case, to keep idiots like you from driving until it says 1 Mile until Empty, and then it happens to be off by one mile and you sue Nissan for millions of dollars because you have nightmares about running out of gas in the 'hood.

 

lol you tell him!

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

you don't want the fuel tank to run completely dry.... you will fry your fuel pump... that is probably why the computer is 'cautious' abuot those readings.

 

Trip computers are designed to show DTE as zero when there are 2 gallons left in the tank, this is for most cars that have the feature. It keeps you from actually running empty.

 

 

DTE= Data Terminating Equipment? Oh, uhm wait Distance Til Empty. Maybe DUE would be a better name for that gizmo.

You guys are rough on the new cats.

Zam

 

They also might "tweak" it to read a little high and assume that most people wouldn't even check it out, or that they don't even know HOW to calculate mileage manually ( ) and then give them the false impression that they're getting some kick-@ss mileage

I've heard the Altima ppl complaining that their mileage readings are way the heck high too, though... Along with their speedometers reading unusually fast (70 when they're really going 60??)

 

You would rather have it off by 60 miles? Who's the idiot?
If the thing says empty, and the tank fill is off by 3 gallons, he's got at least that much left...I don't think Nissan really gives a damn who runs out of gas, and for that matter,

GIVE ME AN ACCURATE GAUGE EVERY DAMN TIME AND LET ME MAKE THAT DECISION.

My DTE is also quite off; I allegedly am getting 23mpg, have gone 230 miles so far, and the thing is telling me I have 75 miles till empty. You do the math

 

Yeeeep. I've said it once, twice, three times a lady... err. I mean, several times. The trip computer doesn't work very well. Especially the MPG.

After 3700 miles of computing gas mileage the old way using the same exact pump in the same exact gas station i've averaged only 18.1 MPG to date.

The trip computer still insists i'm doing 23 MPG. Given my usual 14 gallon fill-up won't yield me anything beyond 260 miles before my next fill-up that's proof enough for me that it doesn't work.

So now, i just keep the trip computer on the temperature setting.

 

guages should be as accurate as possible, unfortunately most stock guages are pretty crappy. As far as those trip computers go, hell those things have always been junk, they are pretty close to a dummy guage.

 

When the light comes on and the tank reads empty you have approx. 3.0 gallons in the tank. The 2K1 are the same way. I have never had to fill more than 15.5 gallons in my tank. I think it's done to avoid you running completely dry and messing up the fuel pump.

 

My point here is that is SHOULD be more accurate, I had a 1999 M3 before this and the computer was RIGHT ON, the way it should be. It said I had 10 miles left, and I did. I tested this once. But the light went on, it said 30 miles left here so went out and then went to get gas, and I had 3 GALLONS left! I drove 20 miles or so with the light on. It comes on at 1/4 tank it appears when the dial reads E. Thats 50 miles or so and the light should not go on this early if thats the case. Not good.

The MPG said 24.5 on the computer, and I got 18.5 when I did with my receipts. off by 6 is a waste, why even have the computer then.

 

SE_Racer,

Relax...I wasn't flaming you, I was after 2K2SE6spd

I'm agreeing with you

 

Read your owner's manual, it states quite clearly that when the dte flashes ---- there is still gas left in the tank, so there was no need for surprise.

 

Note:

As most fuel pumps are cooled by the gas around the pump, running the tank dry is not good for the pump. You might also run into priming problems when you actually put gas back in.

Since someone says I'm rude, have a nice day guys!

 

Owner's manual??? These things come with an owner's manual???

 

I know...i was replying to his post...settle!

 

ToYLeT902

That's my

ADMAN

 

My fuel gauge on my AE has a similar issue with remaining fuel. I see 1/4 tank to go and then after 10-20 miles I am suddently sitting on empty, practically. Just Nissan making sure you don't run out of gas.

 

the DTE is prolly a LIVE reading meaning that whatever MPG you are getting right then and there is what it reads to you based on leaving 2 gallons left. if we all know there are two gallons left when the light comes on work off that. they are helping you out and saving fuel pumps. deal with it baby.

 

With 850 miles on the 2K2, I brought the car to the dealer. I had a couple of issues, one was the trip computer giving incorrect average fuel usage. The tech working on the car explained that the computer does not take into effect the added fuel needed for cold starts or idling and that this would cause the computer to show a higher reading on the MPG than it should. My speedometer was also tested for accuracy and the speedometer itself exactly matched what the computer showed at its speed sensor (apparently the new Altima has some issues with this). I was also told that Nissan may be aware of the issues with the AVG MPG readings and could be developing a fix for it, but the service department didn't know if this was happening or not.

In conclusion, I guess we just need to adjust in our minds for the AVG MPG. If the computer says 20 MPG, it's really like 16 or 17. If the computer says 28, then it's really like 25.

Just a thought: No one here has yet reported any where near 28 MPG in a 2K2, maybe the "faulty" trip computer is not accident and instead is the way Nissan was able to show that the car rates at 21/28 MPG on the sticker.

 

you also have to remeber that th 21/28 is for ***** footed drivers. i'm sure none of use are driving the way nissan intended.

 

While browsing the FAQ section, I came across this thread: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=54826

Apparently keeping the climate control on Auto keeps the AC compressor running. Maybe the trip computer doesn't know how to adjust for this added drain on the engine. I am going to start using the Econ mode all the time unless I need AC or Defrost to see if it makes any difference on fuel economy. If it helps fuel economy then it may also bring the trip computer into line - we'll see!