Ran out of Gas, Now Prius won't start...

[kraziewilly]

Ok, I have a 2004 Prius, while driving I ran out of gas, limped down the highway on the battery maybe a mile before it died in the breakdown lane with the big red triangle lit in the display, 1/2 mile from the gas station. After walking back and forth 4 times and filling the tank with about 7 gallons the car would not start, nor would the gas indicator register the gas I put in, fuel gauge remained flashing with one bar showing. I had the car picked up by a flat bed and delivered to my house. At one point I think the whole electrical system died, no respones with key pod in and pushing the power button, nothing on the dash board, no lights, I've tried jumping the car with a charged 12 volt battery and jumper cables on the rear booster battery and have display lights on the dash board and the fuel gauge registers the gas I put in and the red triangle is not lit. I have tried the re-boot by pushing the brake and holding down the power button for 45 seconds several times, no start but the shifter will indicate moving from Park to Neutral but will not indicate shifting to Drive or Reverse, also when i push the power button to start the car I get 5 beeps. The Display Screen indicates only one band running across the bottom of the battery when I check Energy on the Display Screen. Short of going to the bank and getting a loan so I can pay the dealer to fix this thing what can I try to avoid giving the dealer enough money to make a couple of his yacht payments???

[galaxee]

try this:

disconnect the 12v battery- the negative side.
let it sit a minute
reconnect
go to IG-ON and watch the fuel gauge. once it stops flashing and registers a level, start it up.

this should cause the level point of the gas gauge to reset. for future reference, add three gallons before trying to start the car at all. some cars require this- not sure if it's just the 04s or what.

[dmckinstry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jun 5 2007, 07:16 PM) [snapback]456221[/snapback]</div>

try this:

disconnect the 12v battery- the negative side.
let it sit a minute
reconnect
go to IG-ON and watch the fuel gauge. once it stops flashing and registers a level, start it up.

this should cause the level point of the gas gauge to reset. for future reference, add three gallons before trying to start the car at all. some cars require this- not sure if it's just the 04s or what.
[/b]

If the three gallons is always the case (for some cars), it must have changed some time in '05. The time I ran out of gas it restarted after adding only a gallon. Could that have been changed with the recall for the ICE shutting off at (I guess) highway speeds? My car wasn't a part of that recall.

Dave M.

[Tripod137]

So it's NOT bad to still drive the car AFTER the gas runs out (just going on electric until it dies)?

[Michgal007]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tripod137 @ Jun 6 2007, 06:42 AM) [snapback]456413[/snapback]</div>

So it's NOT bad to still drive the car AFTER the gas runs out (just going on electric until it dies)?
[/b]

I think the car is not desiged to run without gas. So, it is not advisable, but duable in an emergency.

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ Jun 5 2007, 09:29 PM) [snapback]456230[/snapback]</div>

If the three gallons is always the case (for some cars), it must have changed some time in '05. The time I ran out of gas it restarted after adding only a gallon. Could that have been changed with the recall for the ICE shutting off at (I guess) highway speeds? My car wasn't a part of that recall.

Dave M.
[/b]

My understanding is that it depends on how empty the bladder is. All reports (that I remember) where every last drop was pumped out and the battery run down possibly to the point of damage required at least 3 gallons for the car to recognize gas was added. If one doesn't try to push it and stops when "out of gas" 1 gallon probably works all the time. Personally I'm not going to explore this type of performance.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tripod137 @ Jun 6 2007, 05:42 AM) [snapback]456413[/snapback]</div>

So it's NOT bad to still drive the car AFTER the gas runs out (just going on electric until it dies)?
[/b]

If you run the traction battery down too far you will cause permanent damage not covered by warranty. I'm not the tech so I can't say how low is too low but if you pushed the car until you actually have to push the car to keep it moving then you found "too low".

[pingman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Jun 6 2007, 07:59 AM) [snapback]456453[/snapback]</div>

I think the car is not desiged to run without gas. So, it is not advisable, but duable in an emergency.
[/b]

Just dont mess with the flashing PIP GEEZ

[acdii]

So at what point does it flash? On my trip to IA last week I was down to two bars, and getting nervous that I couldn't find a station and the miles were exceeding my normal add fuel point. When I finally did find a station, there were still two bars, but I had added 10.3 gallons of gas. FWIU this tank holds 11 gallons. I am currently down to 1 bar, and it isn't flashing, so I am a bit concerned that the add fuel thing is broke. I am battery distance from the gas station, so I am not concerned at the moment that it will run out, but in the future, if 2 bars are still showing with less than a gallon of gas in the tank, that could be a real problem.

[kraziewilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACD @ Jun 8 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]457968[/snapback]</div>

So at what point does it flash? On my trip to IA last week I was down to two bars, and getting nervous that I couldn't find a station and the miles were exceeding my normal add fuel point. When I finally did find a station, there were still two bars, but I had added 10.3 gallons of gas. FWIU this tank holds 11 gallons. I am currently down to 1 bar, and it isn't flashing, so I am a bit concerned that the add fuel thing is broke. I am battery distance from the gas station, so I am not concerned at the moment that it will run out, but in the future, if 2 bars are still showing with less than a gallon of gas in the tank, that could be a real problem.
[/b]

my gauge seems to start flashing when there is about 3 gallons left... I read somewhere the car will shut down automatically 50 miles after the flashing starts...

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kraziewilly @ Jun 8 2007, 12:25 PM) [snapback]458128[/snapback]</div>

my gauge seems to start flashing when there is about 3 gallons left... I read somewhere the car will shut down automatically 50 miles after the flashing starts...
[/b]

There is a reason it is called the GUESS gauge. At some point in time the last pip will start to flash and there will be 1 beep (which always startles me). The distance members have been able to go on the flashing pip range from 5 to 50 (maybe more) miles. You may experience 50 miles the 1st time then be VERY surprised when you can only get 5 miles the 2nd time. The car will shut down automatically when it can't pump any more gas from the bladder.

ACD, I commend you for handling the situation rationally. I prefer not to experience the anxiety of the flashing pip in unfamiliar territory in the middle of nowhere (again).

While driving in familiar territory or commuting

Shop for gas at 2 pips.
Buy gas at 1 pip