Sudden troubles with fill up

hdrygas · 11-11-2005, 12:45 PM

For the last three fills I have been having trouble filling the tank. I have really had little problems with that since getting the car in August of 04. I have found a few pumps that the cut off switch would not let we put in more than a few ounces at a time but on the whole I did well. I did most of my fills at a Union 76 near my home and always used the same pump. Three tanks it gave me a short fill and I lost 1 bar after driving 50 miles with 57mpg on the MFD. The last two times it cut off and I tried topping it off but no go the amount was near by guess of how much it should take but on the low side. When I got into the car it was not full one bar low. I went to another station and got another gallon or two in a few ounces at a time. Temperature is down but now low and I fill up in the afternoon when it has been in the mid to low 50s. I had no trouble last winter when it was much colder. I guess my biggest problem is that it represents a sudden change. I do not like sudden change with out a clear explanation for it. Any ideas?

**efusco** · 11-11-2005, 01:03 PM

Join the club, things have been status quo for the past year or so since getting the TSB done. Then last month about 2/3rds of the tanks have cut off WAY early....like 3-5 gallons in. Then I play the trickle in the next 4 gallons game hoping I don't over-fill. There seems to be some pump variability for me, but not always.

I thought I was past my gas fill moans and groans, but now I'm getting the 'pleasure' of those frustrations yet again.

Schmika · 11-11-2005, 01:12 PM

I have not yet had a problem here in my '05. Occasionaly it cuts off with, what I suspect, is one gallon short, but; I don't consider that a problem even worrying about. Of course, I am not even concerned with reaching the 500 mile tank.

mikepaul · 11-11-2005, 01:20 PM

I thought I'd filled the tank last time, but if 4 gallons to make the first bar go out is reasonably accurate, I was a gallon short. Not cold at all when I filled up...

hdrygas · 11-11-2005, 09:48 PM

There must be a reason for this. Things don't just happen. My car was built at the time the TSB was released, and I guess that I had it done at the factory. Why would it change like this. All of us in NA are dealing with lower temps, some more than others. OK because of my training I want an explanation. If efusco has noted the same problem I am suspicious.

Wayne · 11-11-2005, 10:20 PM

I have a pretty fresh car, and filling up has always been a problem for me. I attributed it to a tight seal, but who knows what is responsible. Do I think it is a bad design? Absolutely. Do I think it can be overcome? No problem. For the non-anals, just fill slow until the pump cuts off. For the anals (like me!), slowly add gas until ANYTHING appears at the nozzle...

BTW, the gauge will indicate 'full' when up to 4 gallons are missing from the tank, so that's no indication of full...

benighted · 11-11-2005, 11:06 PM

Excuse my ignorance. But what is the TSB?

hdrygas · 11-11-2005, 11:06 PM

Before this recent problem I have never had a fill up that the car did not give me a fill up on the gage. efusco has noted a change in the function. Now I have 3 fills that did not fill the car and I have to add 1.5- 2.2 gallons to get the gage to go to fill. When things like this change there is a reason. If there are enough of us noticing the change then we should try to deduce the reason for this.

Wayne · 11-11-2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benighted@Nov 12 2005, 12:06 AM
Excuse my ignorance. But what is the TSB?
[snapback]154456[/snapback]

"Technical Service Bulletin", usually a change made by Toyota.

Wayne · 11-11-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hdrygas@Nov 12 2005, 12:06 AM
Before this recent problem I have never had a fill up that the car did not give me a fill up on the gauge. efusco has noted a change in the function. Now I have 3 fills that did not fill the car and I have to add 1.5- 2.2 gallons to get the gage to go to fill. When things like this change there is a reason. If there are enough of us noticing the change then we should try to deduce the reason for this.
[snapback]154457[/snapback]

I agree, hdrygas, this is not what I was talking about. I was talking about a 'full' indication when it was not full, you are talking about a 'not full' indication at pump shutoff.

Sorry 'bout that!

Curious though, that the new production runs and the TSB seem to differ...

11-11-2005, 12:45 PM	#1
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	For the last three fills I have been having trouble filling the tank. I have really had little problems with that since getting the car in August of 04. I have found a few pumps that the cut off switch would not let we put in more than a few ounces at a time but on the whole I did well. I did most of my fills at a Union 76 near my home and always used the same pump. Three tanks it gave me a short fill and I lost 1 bar after driving 50 miles with 57mpg on the MFD. The last two times it cut off and I tried topping it off but no go the amount was near by guess of how much it should take but on the low side. When I got into the car it was not full one bar low. I went to another station and got another gallon or two in a few ounces at a time. Temperature is down but now low and I fill up in the afternoon when it has been in the mid to low 50s. I had no trouble last winter when it was much colder. I guess my biggest problem is that it represents a sudden change. I do not like sudden change with out a clear explanation for it. Any ideas? __________________ Belle, a Millennium Silver '04 BC #9 "Becoming one with my Prius, ICE on ICE off" Belle has been passed on to my daughter. I have a new silver Prius 08. No name yet we have just met but not been introduced.

11-11-2005, 10:20 PM	#6
Wayne Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 677 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have a pretty fresh car, and filling up has always been a problem for me. I attributed it to a tight seal, but who knows what is responsible. Do I think it is a bad design? Absolutely. Do I think it can be overcome? No problem. For the non-anals, just fill slow until the pump cuts off. For the anals (like me!), slowly add gas until ANYTHING appears at the nozzle... BTW, the gauge will indicate 'full' when up to 4 gallons are missing from the tank, so that's no indication of full... __________________ 2005 Driftwood Pearl, BC Package #6 ('All options' package) Using a Verizon/Motorola e815 over Bluetooth Uploaded my Verizon phone book via a PDA in post 11460 (link fixed) Tested MPG vs MPH in post 11153 (link fixed)

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11-11-2005, 01:03 PM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	Join the club, things have been status quo for the past year or so since getting the TSB done. Then last month about 2/3rds of the tanks have cut off WAY early....like 3-5 gallons in. Then I play the trickle in the next 4 gallons game hoping I don't over-fill. There seems to be some pump variability for me, but not always. I thought I was past my gas fill moans and groans, but now I'm getting the 'pleasure' of those frustrations yet again.

11-11-2005, 01:12 PM	#3
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have not yet had a problem here in my '05. Occasionaly it cuts off with, what I suspect, is one gallon short, but; I don't consider that a problem even worrying about. Of course, I am not even concerned with reaching the 500 mile tank.

11-11-2005, 01:20 PM	#4
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,742 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I thought I'd filled the tank last time, but if 4 gallons to make the first bar go out is reasonably accurate, I was a gallon short. Not cold at all when I filled up...

11-11-2005, 09:48 PM	#5
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	There must be a reason for this. Things don't just happen. My car was built at the time the TSB was released, and I guess that I had it done at the factory. Why would it change like this. All of us in NA are dealing with lower temps, some more than others. OK because of my training I want an explanation. If efusco has noted the same problem I am suspicious.

11-11-2005, 11:06 PM	#7
benighted Chief thread hijacker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westport, WA Posts: 530 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Excuse my ignorance. But what is the TSB?