I first noticed this issue when I bought the car. I filled the gas tank all the way up when I bought the car - it was on about a half a tank - then I found out later that when I filled up the tank it kicked off the check engine light. I had it pulled up on the machine and the code was saying faulty fuel level sensor. I didn't replace the fuel pump sending unit bought Factory OEM at Nissan - it was $481 replaced. It also had to replace the seal which was another $18 and this still did not fix the problem.

If I fill up the gas tank it kicks off the check engine light, and when it gets down to a quarter of a tank, it floats back up to half a tank or 3/4 of a tank. Since I've added the new fuel pump, I'm noticing a difference in the gas gauge. Before I was able to kind of use it by just watching the fuel gauge - once it got to quarter of a tank it would float back up to about a half a tank. I can judge it then.

But now it's being a little bit different so I haven't figured out how to gauge it other than by the mileage. This is very annoying. The other fix solution that was recommended was changing the dash cluster. These are very costly issues - Nissan should definitely put a recall on this and fix it for free.

The fuel pump and fuel sensor are new Nissan parts, and the sensor ohm readings at empty and full are correct. Nissan actually warranted the first new pump and sensor to try and correct the problem. The fuel gauge will not register below a third of a tank and at that level shows 188 miles til empty. I don't have any codes stored in the computer and just tracking the mileage on a full tank now to know when to fill up. I have not been able to find a source that provides the signal route from the fuel level sensor to the gauge to determine what other parts may be the issue.

The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light has been on with the code P0420 which says it's the catalytic converter. I've only had the car a few days and the service light came on shortly after I bought it. The car seemed to be running fine and everything seemed OK.

Yesterday I soon discovered things are not OK as I quickly discovered the fuel gauge has not been giving me an accurate reading. It was showing I had plenty of gas when I didn't! I found out when I was driving and the car suddenly quit and wouldn't start. After fighting with it, a friend suggested I try putting gas in it even though it said it had some. As soon as we did it started right up. This is a serious issue and I'm just glad that my car happened to die next to a gas station in town instead of on the side of the highway in the dark.

I did some searching online and found out other Nissan models and years have similar issues with the fuel gauge not reading correctly, and Nissan has made recalls on several vehicles for this type of problem. But of course, there are no open recalls on my 2006 Nissan Altima so I get the joy of paying for Nissan's mistake.

Thanks Nissan, I hate you. I love my car but I hate these stupid problems that I can't afford, especially right after I buy the stupid thing! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!