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flow meter?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dfkern, Jul 27, 2015.

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  1. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    driving in town the other evening, the serious trouble lights all came on, and i parked it. owners manual seemed to indicate hybrid system problem. towed to dealership today; turned out i had done a knuckle headed thing and let it run out of gas. then, they called back, said they had found other things. some codes on power train, P-3193; P0A0F, and P3000. Also, on fuel tank subassembly, B-1271;b1660, b1901. They say if it is combination meter, it would be covered under a bulletin. But, they won't know until they do a diagnostic for which they must charge me $270.00. I frankly don't understand all this. Can anyone out there help me to know if i need to let them proceed, or go to another dealer, or what?
     
    #1 dfkern, Jul 27, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    well just tell them to cover it under the bulletin, that bulletin doesn't say you need proof. It's based on your word
     
    #2 JC91006, Jul 27, 2015
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what year is it and how many miles? you can probably ignore most of those codes. i would look for a dealer who would charge closer to $100., where you at?
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 27, 2015
  4. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    $270 for diagnostics? Get me a job there. I agree with bisco, get a second opinion. If you ran it out of gas, all kinds of codes may pop up.

    What is the number of said bulletin?

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #4 JTM2955, Jul 27, 2015
  5. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    2009, about 95,000 miles. I"m in Sumter, SC

    They didn't tell me number of bulletin. i should have asked....
     
    #5 dfkern, Jul 27, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 27, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what do you mean, 'they said if it's the combination meter, there's a bulletin'? if what's the combination meter? did you run it out of gas? is there another problem?
     
    #6 bisco, Jul 27, 2015
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. Ask that dealer to clear the logged DTC and return the car to you now.
    2. Resolve not to let the fuel gauge drop below two bars. Immediately fill the gas tank when you see the gauge drop that low.
    3. See if any further problems happen. If not then be glad that you dodged a bullet.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Jul 27, 2015
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is this 'flow meter' you speak of?
     
    #8 bisco, Jul 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2015
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  9. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    Or they will sell you a "flow meter" and not even know what it is or does.

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #9 JTM2955, Jul 27, 2015
  10. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    i did run it out of gas. i was driving down i-95 and ran low in NC so i put in a couple of gallons, because no one wants to pay NC's high gas prices, then forgot to fill it up. As Click and Clack say, "It's the stingy man who pays the most". the dealership says it still has problems, but i can't get specifics until tomorrow.
     
    #10 dfkern, Jul 27, 2015
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  11. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    ok. good. thank you
     
    #11 dfkern, Jul 27, 2015
  12. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    the service advisor initially said that there was no problem other than it being out of gas. She then called back to say that a tech had driven the car again and thought there might be a problem with the flow meter, but it would require a three-hour diagnostic to be sure.
     
    #12 dfkern, Jul 27, 2015
  13. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    Even if you truly did run it out of gas, you still shouldn't have a lot of codes.

    Did you drive it on electric mode and the engine was trying to start and couldn't?

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #13 JTM2955, Jul 27, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    huh, never heard of it.
     
    #14 bisco, Jul 27, 2015
  15. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    Well I will add that there is an air flow sensor. But diagnosing that shouldn't take three hours.

    My apologies to the good service advisors out there, but there are a few that do not hear then write down the correct words.

    God only knows what the service person really said. Smoke and mirrors mixed with a side order of bullcrap.

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #15 JTM2955, Jul 27, 2015
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you might be onto something.
     
    #16 bisco, Jul 27, 2015
  17. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    thanks to everyone who weighed in; i think i have a good handle on it now. One more question, though; does the low fuel warning light reset when the tank is partially filled? i am not the sort of dunderhead who drives a hundred or more miles with the low fuel warning light blinking... i'm thinking it did not turn on when i ran low after my partial fillup....
     
    #17 dfkern, Jul 28, 2015
  18. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    So you are saying you never saw the low fuel warning lamp? Wow that is big.

    If its like most cars, it uses a wet bulb sensor. If it dries, it completes the circuit and the lamp comes on.

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #18 JTM2955, Jul 28, 2015
  19. dfkern

    dfkern Junior Member

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    i did not. not somethin i would ignore, especially with guests in the car, headed to fancy dinner...
     
    #19 dfkern, Jul 28, 2015
  20. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    If memory serves me correctly, Prius has its tank, pump and low fuel sensor all in one. I dont believe you can get any of it separate.

    This would explain why the dealer quote the entire unit."Flow Meter" maybe the pump w/tank Japanese translation.I bought a speedometer cable one time for another car and the Japanese called it "flexible shaft". That's true but in the loose translation.

    Gives new meaning to the term Lost in Translation, doesn't it?If the Prius still run and works without the low fuel lamp, I would drive it until two bars show then refill it.

    The fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline in the tank. The more fuel in the tank, the lower the temp of the pump. That should mean a longer lasting fuel pump ( nothing is set in stone ).

    LG-D851 ?
     
    #20 JTM2955, Jul 28, 2015
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