Fill up at a 1/2 tank! or pay $159.12

ekpolk · 08-01-2006, 02:29 PM

When I test drove my new-to-me 04, it had the flashing pip. I took delivery this way, and my sales guy "convoyed" with me to their contract gas station for my "free" fill-up. He did the card, and I pumped. We got every bit of 11.5 gallons into the car (

). Close call, I guess, but the car has shown no signs whatsoever of acting up as a result.

Beyond the question of getting your money back, which you very well should, I'd also want to know why the car acted up in this fashion. You might demand that they produce for you the exact codes thrown by the ECU, which you could then research yourself. www.techinfo.toyota.com is a good starting point, though you do have to pay for access to the service documents. You can buy daily, monthly, or annual access (I usually do the $50 monthly access when I've built up a couple issues I need to look up (we're now back to being a two Toyota family -- I do this maybe 3-4 times a year and look up lotsa stuff during the 30 days).

mdescher · 08-01-2006, 02:45 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 1 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]295789[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

When I test drove my new-to-me 04, it had the flashing pip. I took delivery this way, and my sales guy "convoyed" with me to their contract gas station for my "free" fill-up. He did the card, and I pumped. We got every bit of 11.5 gallons into the car (

). Close call, I guess, but the car has shown no signs whatsoever of acting up as a result.

Beyond the question of getting your money back, which you very well should, I'd also want to know why the car acted up in this fashion. You might demand that they produce for you the exact codes thrown by the ECU, which you could then research yourself. www.techinfo.toyota.com is a good starting point, though you do have to pay for access to the service documents. You can buy daily, monthly, or annual access (I usually do the $50 monthly access when I've built up a couple issues I need to look up (we're now back to being a two Toyota family -- I do this maybe 3-4 times a year and look up lotsa stuff during the 30 days).
[/b]

They were nice enough to put the codes on the invoice. For everyone's refference they are: P3190(poor engine power) and P3193 Fuel Run Out, then HV ECU code POAOF (engine fail start) - then in comments wrote - refer to owners manual about low fuel and fuel run out. I spent 2 hours page by page thru the owners manual and copuld not find one thing abou this other tan a small statement that it is not good to allow vehicle to run out of fuel (DUH!)

CrazyRussian · 08-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Keep at least 1/2 fuel in tank!!!! How about filling up at every gasstation that comes your way!!!! Damit, how the hell dealerships come up with that crap???

mdescher · 08-01-2006, 03:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CrazyRussian @ Aug 1 2006, 11:05 AM) [snapback]295811[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Keep at least 1/2 fuel in tank!!!! How about filling up at every gasstation that comes your way!!!! Damit, how the hell dealerships come up with that crap???
[/b]

Perhaps not all dealerships...I have had good experience with this dealer for serice...until now. Northridge Toyota in Northridge, CA.

ekpolk · 08-01-2006, 03:47 PM

md:

You won't find the good stuff in the owner's manual. It's a "dumbed down" lowest common denominator thing. The service bulletins, manuals, and so forth are all accessible, for a small fee, at the link I added in my last post. I think the daily rate is $10. You can view and download a lot of stuff, all models of Toyota and Lexi, in 24 hours. Though I'm new to the Prius, we've owned Toyotas of one stripe or another, for almost 10 years. This site is the place to find anything you want to know about your Toyota.

darelldd · 08-01-2006, 05:09 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 1 2006, 12:47 PM) [snapback]295834[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

md:

You won't find the good stuff in the owner's manual. It's a "dumbed down" lowest common denominator thing. The service bulletins, manuals, and so forth are all accessible, for a small fee, at the link I added in my last post. I think the daily rate is $10. You can view and download a lot of stuff, all models of Toyota and Lexi, in 24 hours. Though I'm new to the Prius, we've owned Toyotas of one stripe or another, for almost 10 years. This site is the place to find anything you want to know about your Toyota.
[/b]

And nowwhere do those documents say to never go lower than 1/2 tank... nor that there will be some major service charge if you do.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-01-2006, 05:12 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Renocat @ Aug 1 2006, 10:36 AM) [snapback]295739[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I say that is not acceptable. Pay the kind of money we do for a Prius and then be told you have to keep it 1/2 full even though the manual says nothing about that

[/b]

Actually, the manual does say that but it's not ½ tank, it says to keep at least ¼ tank of fuel.

"It is a good idea to keep the tank over
1/4 full.

When you refuel on a slope, the indicator
may not show the correct level.

When you refuel less than about 11.4 L
(3.0 gal., 2.5 lmp. gal.), the fuel indicator
may not change."

pg 114 in 2004 US Owner's Manual

eagle33199 · 08-01-2006, 05:15 PM

Out of all of this i'm curious... exactly what does the tech mean by "rebooting" the ECU? I can see having to clear the error codes, but turning the car off shuts down the ECU and turning it on boots it up... i'm not seeing where he really has to do anything!

mdescher · 08-01-2006, 05:25 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Aug 1 2006, 01:15 PM) [snapback]295883[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Out of all of this i'm curious... exactly what does the tech mean by "rebooting" the ECU? I can see having to clear the error codes, but turning the car off shuts down the ECU and turning it on boots it up... i'm not seeing where he really has to do anything!
[/b]

I am not sure, but the sevice manager said it takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours to do! They also set the "inclination meter and reset ECU and tested the fuel delivery system with OBDIISCAN tool" and verified low fuel light working. I am not sure even if there is an "inclination meter" and what it would do...tell you if you were on a slanted road? LOL!

I think it is a dealer training issue. When we bought the Prius the service manager reccommended buying the extended warranty on a 3 year 36,000 mile lease, he quoted a service schedule exactly like me Solara...I had done some research and said I did not think it needed any major service until 100k miles except oil etc. and they said no. So we bought it and drove off...when I got home I again read the service schedule in th manual, and demanded a refund as I was right...they hemmed and hawed then when I went to the dealership and should the service manager the schedule...he apologized and said he actually had never even seen the schedule in the manual as cars were selling so fast. They refunded the contract...different dealer..Frontier Toyota in Valencia, Ca. Toyoto really needs to improve their training! IMO.

ServoScanMan · 08-01-2006, 05:45 PM

I just filled up today with 2 pips on the gauge. The Wal-mart pump said it put in 11.418 gallons. How big is the tank on the 2006 model?

08-01-2006, 02:29 PM	#11
ekpolk The Regenerator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 363 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When I test drove my new-to-me 04, it had the flashing pip. I took delivery this way, and my sales guy "convoyed" with me to their contract gas station for my "free" fill-up. He did the card, and I pumped. We got every bit of 11.5 gallons into the car ( ). Close call, I guess, but the car has shown no signs whatsoever of acting up as a result. Beyond the question of getting your money back, which you very well should, I'd also want to know why the car acted up in this fashion. You might demand that they produce for you the exact codes thrown by the ECU, which you could then research yourself. www.techinfo.toyota.com is a good starting point, though you do have to pay for access to the service documents. You can buy daily, monthly, or annual access (I usually do the $50 monthly access when I've built up a couple issues I need to look up (we're now back to being a two Toyota family -- I do this maybe 3-4 times a year and look up lotsa stuff during the 30 days). __________________ ScanGauge-IIx for the TCH CAN View V3 (for when I care about maximizing Prius benefits). Valentine V1 (for when I *don't* care. . . ). Now in the TCH -- with Remote Display. Black 09 Camry Hybrid Cassis Pearl 07 Avalon XLS Black 04 Prius

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08-01-2006, 03:05 PM	#13
CrazyRussian Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 42 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Keep at least 1/2 fuel in tank!!!! How about filling up at every gasstation that comes your way!!!! Damit, how the hell dealerships come up with that crap???

08-01-2006, 03:47 PM	#15
ekpolk The Regenerator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 363 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	md: You won't find the good stuff in the owner's manual. It's a "dumbed down" lowest common denominator thing. The service bulletins, manuals, and so forth are all accessible, for a small fee, at the link I added in my last post. I think the daily rate is $10. You can view and download a lot of stuff, all models of Toyota and Lexi, in 24 hours. Though I'm new to the Prius, we've owned Toyotas of one stripe or another, for almost 10 years. This site is the place to find *anything* you want to know about your Toyota.

08-01-2006, 05:15 PM	#18
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,648 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Out of all of this i'm curious... exactly what does the tech mean by "rebooting" the ECU? I can see having to clear the error codes, but turning the car off shuts down the ECU and turning it on boots it up... i'm not seeing where he really has to do anything!

08-01-2006, 05:45 PM	#20
ServoScanMan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lorena, TX Posts: 238 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just filled up today with 2 pips on the gauge. The Wal-mart pump said it put in 11.418 gallons. How big is the tank on the 2006 model?