Fuel Gauge Calibration Instructions

[efusco]

I thought I had a copy of these on my computer but can't find them and a quick search didn't turn them up here either. Was one of my plans today now I can't get it done.

[galaxee]

from rick57 over on the old site:

Ok everybody,sorry this has taken to long. Been busy with a lot of things going on and I forgot, Embarassed . I had a new 2G Prius in for PDI and decided to give it a try. And guess what,I found out what we were doing wrong! Just one little step messes up everything. Here is the steps from the TSB and only applies to the 2G.

1. Park the vehicle so as it is level,front to back and side to side.
2. IgOn and make sure that "Trip A " is showing on the odo ( this is where we made a mistake Embarassed ).
3. Power down.
4. Keep your foot off the brake.
5. Push in and hold down the Odo/Trip button.
6. Push the Power button twice to IgOn ( not Ready mode ).
7. Turn the Odo/Trip off then On 3 times in 5 seconds.
8. Continue holding the Odo/Trip button until a 6 digit code appears.
9. Release,then push again the Odo/Trip button for another 5 seconds. The 6 digit code will change to a 5 digit code.
10. After the middle digit,of the 5 digit code,changes to "1" release the Odo/Trip button and the odometer will return to normal reading.

Hope this clarifies the steps.

_________________
Rick Angles
Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician
Toyota Hybrid Technician
Germain Toyota
Columbus, Ohio

[joelparks]

...and why would one need to do this?

[galaxee]

if your gas gauge reads really wacky (read: even more wacky than normal.)

the inclinometer is used to set a baseline for how level the car is to interpret the reading of the gauge in the tank into the bars you see on the display.

for example, if you continually run out of gas with 3 bars left, you need this reset. it's not something the average driver should do on a routine basis. they do it at the dealer- this site just happens to have some techs with access to this info...

[rohlrogge]

Originally posted by galaxee@Feb 2 2006, 10:39 PM
if your gas gauge reads really wacky (read: even more wacky than normal.)

Just out of curiosity would this also make any sort of correction to the opposite condition where I get the blinking single bar and I still have 3 gallons of gas remaining in the tank? According to my dealer he indicates that this is normal!!

[efusco]

Originally posted by rohlrogge@Feb 3 2006, 05:19 AM
Just out of curiosity would this also make any sort of correction to the opposite condition where I get the blinking single bar and I still have 3 gallons of gas remaining in the tank?  According to my dealer he indicates that this is normal!!

[snapback]203086[/snapback]

It will only make a correction if it's out of calibration, not if that's how the car is programmed.

This car's fuel guage is just plain odd. I've been monitoring my dash fuel guage simultaneously with the fuel tank % on the CAN-View.

After fill up (and probably topped off way too much but no blow-back) showed 97% and all 10 bars.

First bar dropped off at ~90%

Second bar hasn't yet dropped and I'm at 67%

I figured I'd try a recalibration...it can't make my fueling issues any worse. <_<

[galaxee]

Originally posted by rohlrogge@Feb 3 2006, 06:19 AM
Just out of curiosity would this also make any sort of correction to the opposite condition where I get the blinking single bar and I still have 3 gallons of gas remaining in the tank?  According to my dealer he indicates that this is normal!!

[snapback]203086[/snapback]

that IS normal.

if you're not sure, don't do it. it's not meant for the driver to do anyway.

[galaxee]

Originally posted by efusco@Feb 3 2006, 06:54 AM
After fill up (and probably topped off way too much but no blow-back) showed 97% and all 10 bars.

First bar dropped off at ~90%

Second bar hasn't yet dropped and I'm at 67%

I figured I'd try a recalibration...it can't make my fueling issues any worse. <_<

[snapback]203089[/snapback]

did you park the car on an incline when you fueled up? that's what usually does it.

i'd maybe watch it and see how it behaves over the next couple of days- then recalibrate. since you know how much gas you have in there, running the tank dry isn't an issue. how many tanks have you observed on the CanView?

of course that's MHO and not a direct order

[efusco]

I've been toying with the idea of doing a recal for a while...I always need to try something new to spice up my prius life!

I didn't mean to imply that this tank has behaved any different than, say, the last 50-60 tanks, just that it's always weird. I've never, in 37k+ miles of driving, gotten more than 9.3 gallons in the tank...not once and despite driving 50+ miles after the last bar started flashing and having the old fuel tank TSB done and all.

I figure, what harm can I do by trying a recalibration. I'm going to wait until I have a day off (next week) so I can have time to redo it if I mess up, but I'm going to do it just to say I did it and to see if there's any positive change in the fuel guage readings.

I think this is my 3rd tank since getting CAN-View, but I didn't watch the fuel tank & much on the second, at all on the first, but have watched it continuously on this tank.

[galaxee]

Originally posted by efusco@Feb 3 2006, 05:33 PM
I've been toying with the idea of doing a recal for a while...I always need to try something new to spice up my prius life!

ahh, so you're one of THOSE. at least you know the car and you have a pretty good grasp on how it works.

I didn't mean to imply that this tank has behaved any different than, say, the last 50-60 tanks, just that it's always weird.  I've never, in 37k+ miles of driving, gotten more than 9.3 gallons in the tank...not once and despite driving 50+ miles after the last bar started flashing and having the old fuel tank TSB done and all.

i got in 10... once... after running it so near empty i scared myself. otherwise i'm in the same boat, minus the TSB.

I figure, what harm can I do by trying a recalibration.  I'm going to wait until I have a day off (next week) so I can have time to redo it if I mess up, but I'm going to do it just to say I did it and to see if there's any positive change in the fuel guage readings.

I think this is my 3rd tank since getting CAN-View, but I didn't watch the fuel tank & much on the second, at all on the first, but have watched it continuously on this tank.

[snapback]203362[/snapback]

well, a recal can't hurt if you're on a level surface. it would be interesting to compare CanView vs fuel gauge before and after recal- in case the cal was off some at first. well let us know how it goes then.