Wherein I nearly fail to be able to gas up a rental car

[fma_fanatic]

So I had to take my car in a couple of weeks ago for work - head gasket and while they were in there, a new timing chain (the car is at 105k miles, 2002 Nissan Altima).

I got it back last Friday and it's been running fine. Until I leave work Thursday night and the Service Engine Soon light comes on.

I just make it to the dealership so they can look at as they close and they give me a rental car. I got a sweet 2012 Altima the last time, and got a 2012 Rogue this time.

I can't find things on this rental and although it is a nice crossover, it's not for me. I'm still enteraining an exchange should it ever come down to it for the 2012 Altima, it was just that sweet.

So long story short, it's possibly a coil for my car as one of cylinders is misfiring and if the light comes on again, they'll take care of it. They also didn't charge us for the diagnostics, I suspect because it's within 30 days of any repairs.

So I have to return the Rogue with a full tank of gas and go to the closest gas station that has a full service carwash. I spend a few minutes looking for the latch to pop the gas tank - can't find it. I look and look and I'm obvously confused as one of the workers comes to ask me if I'm okay. I tell him I can't find the latch for the gas tank. Another worker comes over and says "You don't need one, the cover just opens."



Thank you, Nissan for at least making the seat belt extender universal. I wish they'd make everything else in the car universal too.

[iPanda]

Oh god, that happened to my brother for when he had to go fill up his gas for the first time in his shiny new car. It was a Lexus and he and I looked everywhere for it... My brother eventually figured it out but if it were me, I probably would never figure it out and end up using the users manual LOL

Look on the bright side, at least someone helped you out and instead of just watch you pine around for it for hours

[sms001]

And while we're on the topic, why in Dog's name don't they put them ALL on the driver's side!!!

Thanks for the chuckle. Hope your Altima gives you another 100k.

[csquared]

And while we're on the topic, why in Dog's name don't they put them ALL on the driver's side!!!

Thanks for the chuckle. Hope your Altima gives you another 100k.

Because people like The Wife insist that they should be on the passenger side. She also votes for the "other" political party, but I still love her.

[wolfie]

And while we're on the topic, why in Dog's name don't they put them ALL on the driver's side!!!

A recent ad for the Beetle boasts about VW putting their fuel caps on the passenger side so that if you run out of fuel (with proper planning, that won't happen) you won't have to be standing on the "traffic rushing by" side of your car while pouring from a jerrycan. I'm with you about putting them on the driver's side - instead of designing them for an event that shouldn't happen, design them for a normal event - so you can see when you're properly lined up with the pump.

BTW, on the original Mini, some were on the driver's side and some were on the passenger side - it's related to the gauges being in the middle of the dash rather than on the driver's side. It seems that Austin wanted to minimize asymmetry in order to make it cheaper to build both right- and left-hand drive models.

[bhskittykatt]

Because people like The Wife insist that they should be on the passenger side.

The Wife is correct. No further discussion is needed.

[dalesys]

The Wife is correct. No further discussion is needed.

Even, and especially, when she is wrong.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I just got a new car and the gas cap is on the opposite side of the old car. I didn’t have worry about such things with my first car. The gas cap was in the middle of the rear end, under the license plate.

[RealUnimportant]

BTW, on the original Mini, some were on the driver's side and some were on the passenger side - it's related to the gauges being in the middle of the dash rather than on the driver's side. It seems that Austin wanted to minimize asymmetry in order to make it cheaper to build both right- and left-hand drive models.

They didn't change them for left & right hand drive markets though; the only Minis with right-hand filler caps were those fitted with twin-tanks, which was an original Cooper option and a common aftermarket adaptation as the original gas tanks were so small.

A good rule of thumb is to look at the gas pump symbol within the gauge; 99% of the time the hose will be leaving the pump on the side where your filler cap is placed.

[katzklaw]

some of the newer cars that i've seen have an arrow under the gas gauge pointing toward the side the tank fill is on.




like that. would be on the driver's side in this car.

[Andara Bledin]

Am I weird that I tend to actually look for the gas door before I even start driving the car?

Also, when finding said gas door, if it has a bump to let a finger in, then there's no latch. Though I have been known to fail to notice the lack of said bump and had to climb back into the car to open it up. >_>

^-.-^

[RealUnimportant]

My old Audi would have driven you to distraction then - no bump, you had to push on one side to make the other side pop out.

[dalesys]

Just sprinkle the gas on, and see where it sucks in...
[/Cosby]

[Andara Bledin]

My old Audi would have driven you to distraction then - no bump, you had to push on one side to make the other side pop out.

Ooooh. I hate those.

I've run into exactly one of them, and thankfully, I'm not the one that had to figure out how the hell it opened. >_<

^-.-^

[Shalom]

Never seen one of these in real life, but the weirdest place I've ever heard of the gas filler being is on the mid-50s Chevrolets (and some Peugeots, from what I've heard):



I'd never have thought to look there in a million years.

Now go show me the ignition switch on a late-80s SAAB...