When I fill my tank fully, the needle goes above the highest mark on the fuel gauge. The needle also drops slow until the half-tank point and once I'm below half a tank on the gauge, the needle moves down faster as fuel is consumed.

Does anybody know how to fix this? It really annoys me. It might be something as simple as a gas cap, but I thought I'd ask you guys for suggestions. Thanks

 

I was always under the impression that this was normal, as all of the cars I've owned have done the same thing. Minus the VW that didn't have a functioning gas gauge.

 

Yeah I've had a few cars like that but also some that weren't...and my Maxima didn't do this like 6 months ago.

 

I have noticed the same thing. The last 1/4 goes down fast. Its just how the guage operates. Observe your milage per each quarter. I usallaly get about the same in each segment.

 

Mine's been doing this since I bought it six years ago. It takes a while to get down to half but once it reaches that point it starts to plummet, but I usually get around 350-400 miles per tank anyways. I think it has something to do with the gauge in the tank, but I could be mistaken.

 

That's normal.

 

Normal, but annoying. Even moreso that you still have like 4 gallons left once it gets to "E".

 

Another thing i noticed was when the fuel light comes on, they say you have like 20 or so miles before you're empty. my experience was about 10 miles and then i sputtered to the side of the road...

 

it happens to me as well. But I talked to my friend who works at Nissan and he said it's normal. It happens to most of the maximas

 

I had a problem when new....3 sender units under warranty. After fill-up, the needle would be over F, then drop to 7/8.

Funny how all this is moot in this day and age...my other car has a mpg computer so it's as if I don't really watch the needle that closely.

 

Its simple, the fuel level gauge is designed to be conservative. In order to get an accurate reading you'd have to bypass the gauge and just have it display the resistance/voltage of the sender. The FSM shows what it should read when empty and full.

 

My fuel light comes on when the needle is slightly below "E" and then I can drive at least 5 miles without a problem. I didn't want to get stuck so I filled up after that.