Gauge skipped last line

shocker · 06-26-2004, 09:43 PM

I was taking a road trip today and started off with three bars showing on my fuel gauge. The temp was 74 with off and on rain. I drove 50 highway miles at about 65 and then hit country hilly roads going between 45 and 55 mph. When I was 94 miles into my trip I dropped to 2 bars and at 99 miles I heard the low fuel beep and the last fuel light was blinking. The car completely skipped the last bar before going to blinking. I was watching it very closely because I did not know the area and was unsure of the location of the next gas station so I was watching the gauge like a hawk. When I finally found a gas station it took 7.43 gallons, go figure. The car had 455 total miles on this tank. I have been reading gauge threads for awhile and know that the gauge is "finicky". My car has been pretty consistent with going 100 miles when I have 3 bars remaining. My question is has any experienced the car completely skipping the last bar before blinking.

jkash · 06-26-2004, 09:55 PM

Same thing happened to me. I went from two bars to the last blinking bar, totally skipping the second to last bar and the last bar before it started blinking.

Jeff

Prius Maximus · 06-26-2004, 10:03 PM

Also happened to me. I left home for work (100 mile round trip) with 3 bars showing. I figured no sweat. By tthe time I went 8 miles, the last bar was blinking and the add fuel warning went off.

I thought it was just one of those things, but knowing it happened to at least 2 others, I am really starting to wonder how accurate that gauge really is.

Ray Moore · 06-26-2004, 10:08 PM

It seems like it sometimes drops a level prematurely when I climb a long hill. The one time I ran out of gas was climbing a long hill and when that guy went 967 miles on a tank or whatever it was, he ran out going up a hill and had about 1/2 gallon left in his tank based on his fillup.

prius2004hybris · 06-26-2004, 10:30 PM

I have found that I can go about 150 miles after a good fillup before losing the first bar. Once the last bar starts blinking, I have driven as much as 150 miles. The most I have ever been able to put into the tank was 11.21 gallons

The other day I received a notice to take my 2004 Salsa Red to the dealer for a software update, this morning I took it to a dealer for an oil change and the update. I had one bar left when I went in, and it should have been ready to blink, after the update, I had 3 bars! It is too early to tell, but I wonder if they reprogramed the bars due to all the complaints.
I will post again if I have more info.

jchu · 06-26-2004, 10:42 PM

Quote:

I have found that I can go about 150 miles after a good fillup before losing the first bar. Once the last bar starts blinking, I have driven as much as 150 miles. The most I have ever been able to put into the tank was 11.21 gallons

The other day I received a notice to take my 2004 Salsa Red to the dealer for a software update, this morning I took it to a dealer for an oil change and the update. I had one bar left when I went in, and it should have been ready to blink, after the update, I had 3 bars! It is too early to tell, but I wonder if they reprogramed the bars due to all the complaints.
I will post again if I have more info.

Update SSC 40D actually has to do with the computer picking up error codes coming from the emission control systems. No update yet that I've heard of for the gas gauge.

jamarimutt · 06-27-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Same thing happened to me. I went from two bars to the last blinking bar, totally skipping the second to last bar and the last bar before it started blinking.

Jeff

This happened to me too... I had three bars left when I parked the car and six hours later I had one blinking bar. The car was parked downhill, so that probably did it.

rflagg · 06-27-2004, 10:31 AM

Happened to me too, on a level surface. The gas gauge problem is definately visible in my car.

-m.

glscheil1 · 06-27-2004, 11:57 AM

Same thing happened to me. It went from 2 bars to the message.

starla30 · 06-27-2004, 06:08 PM

I went from 3 bars to a blinking bar once. The car only took 6 gallons when I filled up after.

06-26-2004, 09:43 PM	#1
shocker Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Northeast Posts: 87 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Gauge skipped last line I was taking a road trip today and started off with three bars showing on my fuel gauge. The temp was 74 with off and on rain. I drove 50 highway miles at about 65 and then hit country hilly roads going between 45 and 55 mph. When I was 94 miles into my trip I dropped to 2 bars and at 99 miles I heard the low fuel beep and the last fuel light was blinking. The car completely skipped the last bar before going to blinking. I was watching it very closely because I did not know the area and was unsure of the location of the next gas station so I was watching the gauge like a hawk. When I finally found a gas station it took 7.43 gallons, go figure. The car had 455 total miles on this tank. I have been reading gauge threads for awhile and know that the gauge is "finicky". My car has been pretty consistent with going 100 miles when I have 3 bars remaining. My question is has any experienced the car completely skipping the last bar before blinking.

06-26-2004, 10:03 PM	#3
Prius Maximus Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northeastern IL Posts: 187 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Me too Also happened to me. I left home for work (100 mile round trip) with 3 bars showing. I figured no sweat. By tthe time I went 8 miles, the last bar was blinking and the add fuel warning went off. I thought it was just one of those things, but knowing it happened to at least 2 others, I am really starting to wonder how accurate that gauge really is.

06-26-2004, 10:30 PM	#5
prius2004hybris Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Gas Gague I have found that I can go about 150 miles after a good fillup before losing the first bar. Once the last bar starts blinking, I have driven as much as 150 miles. The most I have ever been able to put into the tank was 11.21 gallons The other day I received a notice to take my 2004 Salsa Red to the dealer for a software update, this morning I took it to a dealer for an oil change and the update. I had one bar left when I went in, and it should have been ready to blink, after the update, I had 3 bars! It is too early to tell, but I wonder if they reprogramed the bars due to all the complaints. I will post again if I have more info.

06-27-2004, 11:57 AM	#9
glscheil1 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raytown, MO. Posts: 150 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Gas Guage Same thing happened to me. It went from 2 bars to the message.

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06-26-2004, 09:55 PM	#2
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 854 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Same thing happened to me. I went from two bars to the last blinking bar, totally skipping the second to last bar and the last bar before it started blinking. Jeff

06-26-2004, 10:08 PM	#4
Ray Moore Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 818 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It seems like it sometimes drops a level prematurely when I climb a long hill. The one time I ran out of gas was climbing a long hill and when that guy went 967 miles on a tank or whatever it was, he ran out going up a hill and had about 1/2 gallon left in his tank based on his fillup.

06-27-2004, 10:31 AM	#8
rflagg Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 946 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Happened to me too, on a level surface. The gas gauge problem is definately visible in my car. -m.

06-27-2004, 06:08 PM	#10
starla30 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Northampton MA, USA Posts: 160 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I went from 3 bars to a blinking bar once. The car only took 6 gallons when I filled up after.