Fuel Sending Unit Problem???

I was just reading some posts at the VOY Forum on the fuel sending unit problem on the East Coast...

...I am on the East Coast... :(

Can anyone describe this problem to me, and/or perhaps direct me to any posts, articles, pics of the connector or unit itself that the salt/corrosion (or whatever) affects???

Thankyouverymuch!... :D

There used to be a picture of the corroded sending unit in the voy thread. Is it goine now?

It's all there on the Voy board already...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/projected2002/fuel%20sending%20unit%20plugs%202E.jpg

http://www.nissanoffroad.net/images/image_host/sending_unit/sending_unit_corrosion.JPG

Threads for each time a new one was started, in order:

http://voy.com/14174/5/20360.html
http://voy.com/14174/5/20447.html
http://voy.com/14174/4/20663.html
http://voy.com/14174/2/21122.html
http://voy.com/14174/2/21123.html
http://voy.com/14174/2/21153.html
http://voy.com/14174/21353.html
http://voy.com/14174/21387.html

And the XOC thread:
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=45;t=001250


Brent

Originally posted by OffroadX
It's all there on the Voy board already...


Brent

Thanks, Brent!

I had found the one showing the interior connections; I missed the exterior connections pics.

Thanks to both you & Schlud!!! :D

Update:

I opened the two panels under the rear seat, and sure enough, there's more salt in there than under the fenders...

Too wet to do much about it right now, but when it gets more Spring-like, I'll pull the harnesses off, clean the terminals, and see what I can do to insulate the connections...

I'm kind of leaning to the liquid rubber that they sell to coat pliars handles with...It pours on thick, handens to a flexible rubberery coating...Cuts off easily; can be built up in layers; cures pretty quickly...

There's a product called "liquid electrical tape" that ought to be just the thing. A friend used it recently and was quite pleased.

Brent

Hey Brent, who's photo's are those? I can only get a comcast URL. I would like to put them on my web page with a description of the problem, but want to get permission from the owner.

It seems to me that what's happening is salt and water are getting in through the connection there and the corroding the metal connector prong lead. The corrosion builds up and eventually breaks through the plastic to the outside and at about the same cuts the prong lead in half. I say this because a few people thought that the plastic was being attacked from the outside and I don't believe that to be the case.

So, if you can seal up the connections somehow where the plugs attach you should be good to go. For good measure it may not be a bad idea to get under there and spray water over the area to clean up external buildup. Anyone exposed to road salt should be doing this on a regular basis anyway tot he complete underside of their vehicle.

BTW, I have seen one report of a West coast truck with this problem, but I still think it's a road salt issue and more than likely this person was a skiier or such and more exposed than most to road salt. Strangely, I haven't heard of any Hawaii (just from air obviously) or Alaska trucks with this problem though.

Originally posted by ChuckH
For good measure it may not be a bad idea to get under there and spray water over the area to clean up external buildup.

It was warm enough today to spray the hose in between the frame rail and the inner fender; I can see the top of the tank, so I may have got it. To be sure, I'll take it to a car wash with the long spray nozzles and give it some spray on the "wash" cycle...

Otherwise I'll have to wait until an above-freezing day to pull the panels out again and spray it down with an old dishwashing detergent bottle...I don't want it freezing afterward; that'd do the same as the corrosion bursting the connector... :(

One of the pix is from NOR (I think it was ODG's unit), the other was posted by XmtbX00 on XOC.

Brent

I just got off the phone with the Nissan dealer parts man - he says the sending unit is on national back-order... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by boodie
I just got off the phone with the Nissan dealer parts man - he says the sending unit is on national back-order... :rolleyes:

Well that will be a bitch when it happens and your truck is sitting idle for a month or so while they make some more.

I better start hitting the junkyards and getting a backup. :rolleyes:

Or find some obscure dealer somewhere that might have it in stock?

Originally posted by Schludwiller
I better start hitting the junkyards and getting a backup. :rolleyes:

I'd rather have a new one...Anything around here would have salt corrosion anyway...

And here *is* my new fuel tank sending unit <holds it up to monitor so Forum people can see>...With O-ring, just received from Jay at Academy Nissan, CO...For peace of mind... :D

http://www.nissan-auto-parts-dealer.com

...Another satisfied customer!... :p

Mine Maxima Fuel gauge was not correct and i bring to the dealer they said it Needed Fuel Unit.
Could u describe it and tell me where to buy it online please?
thanks

Mine Maxima Fuel gauge was not correct and i bring to the dealer they said it Needed Fuel Unit.
Could u describe it and tell me where to buy it online please?
thanks

Uh, the Maxima is a car? Maybe it uses the SOHC V-6 like the Xterra???

Anyway, the fuel sending unit would be on the top (or maybe the side) of the gas tank. If you don't have an access panel over the gas tank, you'll have to drop it out to get at the sending unit.

The Xterra unit is pretty grotesque looking...The outside part (that you can see on the tank) is about 6" in dia; white plastic; two elect connections, two fuel line fittings. 6 screws holding the unit to the tank; there's a long lattice-like structure going about 12" into the tank. You'll probably have to twist it about to get it out without damaging anything. There's a low fuel level sender on the end of the lattice-thingy, plus the swinging arm for the guage. (I'm not sure if the fuel pump attaches to this lattice or not...Anyone???)

My information from those here is that the electrical connections corrode and throw everything off. Plus strand you just when you most want to impress someone...

I got mine from the URL in my post above this one. There's several dealers that cater to the Forum members; a search should turn them up...