Car stopped on highway because of fuel bladder

pwbrown · 06-13-2005, 05:17 PM

I was driving to work in heavy, highway, and city traffic. Car dies with RED triangle. Have car towed to dealer. The diagnostic service determined that the fuel bladder is breaking apart and pieces of the actual bladder are clogging the fuel line. 500.00 [you]I was driving to work in heavy, highway, city traffic. Car dies with RED triangle. Have car towed to dealer. The diagnostic service determined that the fuel bladder is breaking apart and pieces of the actual bladder are clogging the fuel line.
Details of my car: 2003, 55K miles. Bladder not covered under warranty. $500.00 for part. 2+ weeks to wait for part.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

IsrAmeriPrius · 06-13-2005, 05:53 PM

What kind of fuel have you been using?

popoff · 06-13-2005, 06:30 PM

Have you been using any fuel additives?
Where are you located?

**efusco** · 06-13-2005, 06:46 PM

Very odd, this just doesn't sound right to me. And this is a 1st (or second for the purists) generation Prius, not an '04/'05 model year, correct?

And how, exactly, have they determined that the bladder is disinegrating? Did they just find black junk in the fuel filter and suppose that it was the bladder or have they taken out the bladder and examined it to determine this.

I just have to think that this would be a much better known problem with all the 1st gen Prii on the road for much longer than 55k miles and 2 years.

longjohn931 · 06-13-2005, 07:03 PM

"If" and I do say "if", I was from MO. once too, the fuel bladder is the problem, I would certainly scream bloody murder to Toyota. The fuel bladder is warranted for 36 months or 36,000 miles and is obviously not a mileage sensitive part but any failure would be due to time or external damage and you should be still within the 36 month time frame. Even if not I would assume Toyota would be very interested in investigating this problem.
Has anyone else heard of a similar problem on this Forum?

My gut feeling is that some additive was introduced that caused this, (remember the old sugar in the gas tank trick)

galaxee · 06-13-2005, 07:06 PM

(note to self: purchase extended warranty)

I have never heard of the gas bladder falling apart either! I have a feeling it is probably related to some kind of additive. But yikes! I would also scream bloody murder and try to strike at least SOME kind of deal with Toyota.

paprius4030 · 06-13-2005, 07:40 PM

PW where r u located?

Tempus · 06-13-2005, 07:45 PM

Isn't the Bladder part of the Emissions Control System?

DieselConvert · 06-13-2005, 08:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pwbrown\";p=\"98064)</div>

Quote:

The diagnostic service determined that the fuel bladder is breaking apart and pieces of the actual bladder are clogging the fuel line.
[/b]

Several years ago I had a Cessna airplane with a "rubberized" fuel bladder. It was qualified for automotive fuel, and I used auto gas to save $. First, the "o" rings on fuel drain valves deteriorated, dripping fuel; then the 15-year-old bladder started leaking when flying in turbulent air. My maintenance shop said the auto fuel in California at that time had been diluted with alcohol, to comply with some EPA ruling, and the alcohol would "eat" rubber parts throughout the plane.

I have seen notices on fuel pumps recently, announcing that alcohol has been added.

For what it is worth.

DanMan32 · 06-13-2005, 08:27 PM

I didn't think the classic had a bladder.

That's a good point, it could be considered part of the emissions. We wouldn't have it otherwise.

06-13-2005, 05:17 PM	#1
pwbrown Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 14 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Car stopped on highway because of fuel bladder I was driving to work in heavy, highway, and city traffic. Car dies with RED triangle. Have car towed to dealer. The diagnostic service determined that the fuel bladder is breaking apart and pieces of the actual bladder are clogging the fuel line. 500.00 [you]I was driving to work in heavy, highway, city traffic. Car dies with RED triangle. Have car towed to dealer. The diagnostic service determined that the fuel bladder is breaking apart and pieces of the actual bladder are clogging the fuel line. Details of my car: 2003, 55K miles. Bladder not covered under warranty. $500.00 for part. 2+ weeks to wait for part. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

06-13-2005, 06:46 PM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,255 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 50 Thanked 263 Times in 158 Posts Friends: 37	Very odd, this just doesn't sound right to me. And this is a 1st (or second for the purists) generation Prius, not an '04/'05 model year, correct? And how, exactly, have they determined that the bladder is disinegrating? Did they just find black junk in the fuel filter and suppose that it was the bladder or have they taken out the bladder and examined it to determine this. I just have to think that this would be a much better known problem with all the 1st gen Prii on the road for much longer than 55k miles and 2 years. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

06-13-2005, 07:03 PM	#5
longjohn931 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Orlando, FL. Posts: 98 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Car stopped on highway because of fuel bladder "If" and I do say "if", I was from MO. once too, the fuel bladder is the problem, I would certainly scream bloody murder to Toyota. The fuel bladder is warranted for 36 months or 36,000 miles and is obviously not a mileage sensitive part but any failure would be due to time or external damage and you should be still within the 36 month time frame. Even if not I would assume Toyota would be very interested in investigating this problem. Has anyone else heard of a similar problem on this Forum? My gut feeling is that some additive was introduced that caused this, (remember the old sugar in the gas tank trick)

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06-13-2005, 05:53 PM	#2
IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,338 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	What kind of fuel have you been using?

06-13-2005, 06:30 PM	#3
popoff Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: western NC mountains Posts: 560 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Have you been using any fuel additives? Where are you located?

06-13-2005, 07:06 PM	#6
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	(note to self: purchase extended warranty) I have never heard of the gas bladder falling apart either! I have a feeling it is probably related to some kind of additive. But yikes! I would also scream bloody murder and try to strike at least SOME kind of deal with Toyota.

06-13-2005, 07:40 PM	#7
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,297 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 1	PW where r u located?

06-13-2005, 07:45 PM	#8
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Isn't the Bladder part of the Emissions Control System?

06-13-2005, 08:27 PM	#10
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I didn't think the classic had a bladder. That's a good point, it could be considered part of the emissions. We wouldn't have it otherwise.