[KB] How to Reset Gas Gauge

[Bill Merchant]

[font=Comic Sans MS:f1b1c793b0]I got this from Rick Angles (rick57) in another thread, but all these programming tips should be here in the KB. If your gas gauge seems erratic, running out of gas too soon, dropping too fast, and so on, this may help.[/font:f1b1c793b0]

There are 2 Inclination Sensors located in the Combination Meter. They measure side to side and front to back angle of the Prius. Taking those readings and from the gauge in the tank, the meter knows how many bars to show the driver of fuel in the tank. Who knows why but sometimes the sensors need to be reset.

The procedure is not hard, but not done right, it can make the reading off more. It sometimes takes a couple of tries to get it going in the right pattern of pushes (see below). So here goes:[list]Park on a very level surface, Ready Mode, make sure Odometer reading is showing, then power off. [*]Hold down the Odo/Trip button while going to IGN ON (foot off brake, not in Ready Mode!). [*]Release/press the Odo/Trip button 3 times in 5 seconds. Should be holding the button in at this point. [*]1st gen: You will see a set of numbers at this point within 5 secs. Release then press Odo/Trip again till you see a "1" which is Reset has begun.When finished,the Odometer will return to normal and you can release the button and power down.
2nd gen: You will see 6 numbers in a row. Release and press again and you will see a set of 5 numbers. After the 3rd digit shows "1", release the button and Odometer should be back to normal. Power down.[list]
For those with TSB acsess, the 1st gen is TSB EL008-03 and for the 2nd gen it is with the fuel tube upate. TSB EL010-04,see page 6.
This may not fix what some are experiencing, but could be.

rick57
Rick Angles
Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician
Toyota Hybrid Technician
Germain Toyota
Columbus, Ohio

[jed]

Same subject, different version.

I carried my 04 prius in for a fix of the inaccurate gas gauge. i knew about the TSB from this site a
long time ago, but just never got around to having
it done. I brought the car in, left it at the dealership
where it stayed for most of the week. At about day
four I called and asked what was happening and they said please come get your car, you'll need to bring it back next week. We had to order another part which should be in by then. Next week comes
and the car stays another few days. I call again and guess what. They need another part, please
come get the car. Third week, brought the car in
and a few days later they call and say it's fixed. They even washed it. Good, right?

Well...my son goes to fill the car the next Saturday and puts the nozzle in the filler tube, clicks the automatic fill thing on the nozzle and turns his back.
About 5 dollars into the fill he smells gas and hears
a splashing sound under the car. The gas is pouring out onto the ground instead of into the tank. This kind of thing really instills confidence in our toyota techs. Anybody else have this experience??? Could it be they just didn't connect two pieces of pipe?

[popoff]

[[*]Hold down the Odo/Trip button while going to IGN ON (foot off brake, not in Ready Mode!). [*]Release/press the Odo/Trip button 3 times in 5 seconds. Should be holding the button in at this point.

I've tried this repeatedly but the best I was able to do was see 5 dashes where the odo mileage numbers were. The 5 dashes slowly decrease to 1 dash and then the odometer mileage reappears.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Is there something about getting to IGN ON that I'm forgetting?

[rick57]

To popoff and Bill, the instructions are from the TSB's. I know from experience that sometimes you have to try a couple of times to get it right. If needed I will try to double check this week on a Prius to make sure there are not any thing we are missing,

To jed,when I have one that I am planning on doing,I will print out the TSB and show the parts guys what is needed to be ordered( the part numbers are listed in the TS. Sometimes the parts will be in the next day but if it is longer we have the customer bring it back when all the parts are in. Multiple trips back are not what Toyota or I,as a tech, would like to see. And for the gas running out,yes it sounds like somethings wasn't hooked back up. Doesn't show good for that tech or your dealer, :cry: .

[jed]

Thanks for the reply Rick.

car went in today and surprisingly enough was
repaired in one day. hopefully that will be the
end of gas gauge troubles.

[tag]

Quick....someone pass this information along to NASA:

Faulty Fuel Gauge Delays Shuttle Launch

By MARCIA DUNN, AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -
NASA scrapped Wednesday's launch of the first shuttle flight in 2 1/2 years because of a fuel gauge that mistakenly read full instead of empty....

LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...c/space_shuttle

[tomdeimos]

OK, so how do you tell if it is inaccurate enough that it needs resetting?

[rick57]

Ok,here is an update. I tried to do a 2nd gen this week by the instructions I gave everybody. Verdict; I couldn't get it to go either. Thinking back,I got a handout while at Hybrid Diagnostics class in May and the steps for the 2nd gen is slightly different. I remember helping another tech and using these steps and had no problem. I will try it out the first chance I get and post the updated steps then. As for the 1st gen,the steps are the same as what is posted,so they should work ok.
As for when to do it,us techs use it when changing the combo meter,making fuel tank changes(such as with the TSB for 2nd gen) or if the customer is having major fuel gauge accuarcy concerns.

[Bill Merchant]

[font=Comic Sans MS:e8b251a6ed]Rick, if you are parked on a level surface and perform the procedure correctly (however that may be on the 2G Prius), I wouldn't think that resetting your gauge could harm anything. Am I wrong?[/font:e8b251a6ed]

[rick57]

Right Bill.If you are on a level surface and perform the steps,you either won't be changing anything because it is already set. Or you will be correcting an inaccurate reading you maybe having, :wink: