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[KB] How to Reset Gas Gauge

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by Bill Merchant, Jul 10, 2005.

  1. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    [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:
    • 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.

      • 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

     
  2. jed

    jed Junior Member

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    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?
     
  3. popoff

    popoff New Member

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    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?
     
  4. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    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, :roll:

    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 TSB). 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: .
     
  5. jed

    jed Junior Member

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    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.
     
  6. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    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
     
  7. tomdeimos

    tomdeimos New Member

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    OK, so how do you tell if it is inaccurate enough that it needs resetting?
     
  8. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    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.
     
  9. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    [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]
     
  10. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    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:
     
  11. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    according the the service bulletin it goes like


    D. Make sure your foot is off of the
    brake pedal.
    E. Push in and hold the
    “ODO/TRIP†button.
    F. Turn the power switch ON
    (push the “POWER†button twice).
    G. Turn the “ODO/TRIP†button OFF,
    then ON 3 times within 5 seconds.
    H. Continue to hold the “ODO/TRIPâ€
    button until the “ODO†indicator in
    the display turns off and a 6–digit
    code (######) is displayed.
    I. Release the“ODO/TRIP†button.
    J. Push and hold the “ODO/TRIPâ€
    button for 5 seconds or more
    again. The 6–digit code (######)
    will then change to a 5–digit
    code (#####).
    K. After “1†is displayed at the 3rd
    digit of the 5–digit code, release
    the “ODO/TRIP†button.
    L. Approximately 5 seconds after “1â€
    is displayed at the 3rd digit, the
    “TRIP A†indicators are displayed,
    and the odometer returns to the
    normal operation.[/i]

    NOTE:
    The “TRIP A†mileage will revert to
    0.0 miles in this procedure.
    Do not drive the vehicle before the
    reset procedure has been completed.
    HINT:
    If a write error occurs, start the
    procedure again from the beginning.

    the 5 digits you see will be

    X = first two digits
    Y = middle digit
    Z = last

    X: Values Written Into Meter
    (Longitudinal Direction)
    Y: Write Status and Result
    Z: Values Written Into Meter
    (Lateral Direction)
    Write Status and Result:
    0: Writing
    1: Write Completetd
    2: Write Error
    3: Write Canceled
     
  12. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    If you follow closely Dave, your explaination is the same as mine. You just made it more clearly, :oops: . That is from the Fuel Pipe TSB,right? I had that TSB in the car I was trying and it won't go that way. The info I have from class is slightly different. I am going to personally try it ( have used it one other time and worked) before I post the updated info, 8)
     
  13. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    [font=Comic Sans MS:58f16c7a01]Thanks, Rick. I'll edit the original post with the correct info once you have confirmed it for the 2G model. I'll incorporate Dave's details where it makes sense.[/font:58f16c7a01]
     
  14. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    yep mine is cut and paste from the TSB and u r right. thought it added an extra button push but actually it only really adds a bit of background info on what the numbers mean... still the same steps.
     
  15. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    Ok everybody,sorry this has taken to long. Been busy with a lot of things going on and I forgot, :oops: . I had a new 2G Prius in for PDI and decided to give it a try. And guess what,I found out what we were doing wrong! Just one little step messes up everything. Here is the steps from the TSB and only applies to the 2G.

    1. Park the vehicle so as it is level,front to back and side to side.
    2. IgOn and make sure that "Trip A " is showing on the odo ( this is where we made a mistake :oops: ).
    3. Power down.
    4. Keep your foot off the brake.
    5. Push in and hold down the Odo/Trip button.
    6. Push the Power button twice to IgOn ( not Ready mode ).
    7. Turn the Odo/Trip off then On 3 times in 5 seconds.
    8. Continue holding the Odo/Trip button until a 6 digit code appears.
    9. Release,then push again the Odo/Trip button for another 5 seconds. The 6 digit code will change to a 5 digit code.
    10. After the middle digit,of the 5 digit code,changes to "1" release the Odo/Trip button and the odometer will return to normal reading.

    Hope this clarifies the steps.
     
  16. BobA

    BobA New Member

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    And probably NO ONE in the right seat.
     
  17. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    I would probably say that is correct. I'm assuming that Toyota figured that the reset would only be done by a tech at the dealer & he would be working alone, :lol: .
     
  18. popoff

    popoff New Member

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    Works great.

    Thanks!
     
  19. jeepien

    jeepien Member

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    It sounds like you've reset your Maint Req'd indicator mileage back to zero.

    Keep an eye out for your next oil change, because the car won't warn you.
     
  20. gce_sla

    gce_sla Junior Member

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    This is the same procedure as before, and it doesn't work - for me anyway.
    Gary