Hello everyone,

This is a panicked post at 2am. I was driving on a highway on sunday afternoon, going about 75mph when the engine suddenly lost power and I had to park on the shoulder and call inifiniti roadside assitance. They were very helpful and towed me to a dealership but since it was sunday, the dealership was closed so I left the vehicle there. I do not know what could have happened with it.

I bought this car from a friend, a week before I left for a 3 week vacation out of the country. My friend had told me that there is a problem with the battery and may need to be replaced soon. During the time I was away, I had a friend periodically start the car so that the battery doesn't die. After I got back, I was able to use the car normally for 2 days before this failure on the highway occurred.

I'm a first time vehicle owner and this has happened to me in the second week of driving it (not counting my time away). It is very distressing. I need your advice on what could have happened. Thank you.

 

The update for now is that, I spoke with the dealership, they seem very nice and willing to help. They said that they are looking into it and offered me a loaner without asking.

I will keep posting updates as and when I get any, for the benefit of users who may run into something similar in the future. Mods, is that a policy violation of any sort? Please do let me know and I will refrain from it.

Thank you.
S

 

No. Unless they can prove to you the mod is what's causing the problems.

 

Update of a slightly embarrassing nature but only slightly.

The dealership just called me up and told me, wait for it, it was out of gas!!!
It kept showing me that there was quarter tank gas in it. 319.9 miles on the trip meter with 220 of those on the highway. No fuel warning light. I was waiting for about two and half hours for the tow service to arrive during which time I tried to ignition the vehicle multiple times and the fuel level was still the same and no fuel warning lights. The mechanics at the dealership just tried to ignition it and saw that the fuel warning light was blinking and which time they gassed it up with $15 dollars worth of gas and the thing started up!

Has something like this happened to anyone else before?? Is there a known calibration issue with the fuel indicator? I asked the mechanics and they said they have never heard of anything like this before.

Not to mention, now, I have to pay $140 towards services (includes the $15 gas). Depressing and embarrassing.


EDIT: those 220 highway miles used up less than half a tank of gas. Just so you guys know.

 

I always just reset the trip meter every time I fill up, kind of another indicator for me when I'm getting low on gas (should the sensor ever be faulty)

 

I reset the trip meter to zero every time I fill up too but I never really used it as a way to determine the approximate fuel levels. I have started doing that now. I've decided to fill up at least every 300 miles. Considering that I ran out after 319 miles last time, may not be such a bad idea to refill every 250 miles.

How many miles before you fill up?

 

Normally in the 340-350 mile range. It's still got a couple of gallons left in it at that point however, but I'd rather have gas in it than not.

 

Ive had my fuel tank replaced under warranty for showing inaccurate fuel levels

 

Yep, I've also had my fuel sensor replaced back when my car was virtually new (I think less than a year into ownership). Except my problem was the inverse of yours where it said I didn't have much fuel even though I put in a full tank. I could never get the needle to point to F. Anyway, glad your problem has been resolved.

I've also had battery problems as well. My first battery died on me within the battery warranty period and they replaced it. The second died just outside of that period so I had to pay for it. I've had the third one for a little over a couple years now without any issues. After the second failed, they performed a TSB for the VCV (vent control valve), which they claimed was the cause of my premature battery failure. Might want to have them look into that.

 

Thank you so much for this post, I just had the same situation happen to me on the highway and I was so worried that it was a mechanical or engine issue. Once I read your post I ran to the gas station with my spare tank filled out my car and it started up just fine. This does make sense to me since I had to have the fuel pan pan replaced by a third party auto shop 3 years ago, and it's never read the fuel gauge correctly... I guess it's gotten worse over time, good to know.