Fuel Tank Bladder

what was the code that "indicated" a required fuel tank change. Some will probably leak but I know lots who have gone way over 60,000 and are still on the origional tank.

 

Wouldn't it report same as loose gas cap or bad cap gasket? Maybe that was what was actually wrong.

 

we need the code.

 

this could also be a VSV problem and not tank related. The vent swithching valves control how the vapors are purged from the tank. A valve that doesn't open or close at the proper time will set the MIL and also if there is blockage in any of the hoses associated with the system, such as a kink or something pressing on the hose to collapse it will also trigger the MIL. There are 3 of these valves on the Classic fuel tank plumbing.

 

8) ratfish3,

I thought only the 04 and 05 Prius had bladder fuel tank?

 

Don't know much about the car just got a 2005, but from a good comon sense approach, that an old hand like me always use, I always do the simple things first. Check all the obvious stuff, kinked hoses, gas cap, and the venting 1st, replace if needed. Even if this is not the root cause, with a new bladder you would at least have a "new" and complete replacement fuel storage system. You might put in the new bladder and later find out it was something more basic. Do the easy stuff first and see if it solves the problem. That's my 5 cents and lowly advice here. Good luck )))

 

Will they refund the tank cost now?

 

Try and make your case with Toyota and/or the dealer is all I can think of...I neglected to notice you had already changed the bladder. Seems like another problem was the cause and is still there. I say go for the GAS CAP., had that on a Ranger one time, they took the tank down and did all kinds of things, luckily it was under warranty. Finally some chick mechanic just said did anyone check the gas cap?? and voila..ps there may be o rings or such on both the cap and the neck of the gas line check both.

 

Looking into the p1455 code in the repair manual, this code is set by monitoring the oxygen sensor readings when the bypass vsv is on. The ECM knows if there is an increase in vapor density and will set this code. Here are the checks a technician would go through;

1. Are there any other codes. If so start with them first. A loose gas cap would set a p0440 and a vsv problem would set a p0441 and/or p0446. These are codes that would direct you to the EVAP system.
2. Remove the fuel tank after draining the fuel. Invert and check for gas coming from any hose other the the main fuel line. If none, tank is ok and precede to check/replace the engine ECM . If fuel does come from any other hose, the bladder is leaking. In this case the fuel tank needs replaced, check/replace the charcoal canister and the hose/pipe between the vapor pressure sensor and intake manifold.

So in your case ratfish32, if that was the only trouble code, it may also have needed the hose/pipe cleaned of vapors and the charcoal canister replaced.

 

Excellent Rick57., thank you for your time and help it is appreciated.

 

Your all welcome. Just trying to be helpful, :wink:

 

I thought overfilling could cause codes to pop up. Have you overfilled many times before? I know there is a TON of debate as to whether or not this causes problems but I guess you never know...

Also, did you buy the car used or new?

 

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all Prius have had bladders since the inception. Not sure about the first generation that was sold in Japan but all NA Prius have it.

 

8) Frank Hudon,

Is it only the Prius sold in the US and Canada that have the bladders then? The reason I ask is. I do remember other on this forum stating that their Prius did not have a bladder for a fuel tank.

 

Call me naive, but this whole fuel bladder implementation on the Prius has me worried.

Do other cars have bladders? Is this some sort of borrowed technology from another industry (e.g., aviation) and being tried out in automobiles? What's the bladder made of? Do fuel bladders suffer from clogging on the way in or out (as in kidney stones?)

My life experiences with all sorts of sacks filled with liquid (water balloons, food in storage bags, grandma's bladder, etc.) have mostly ended up with something going wrong, so I'm not sure how fuel bladders will be any different....

Can someone educate me?

 

The bladder is made of resin, bigdaddy, not the ziploc-bag type you seem to have in mind... and unless you do something seriously wrong your fuel bladder isn't capable of forming kidney stones :lol:

It's made to keep gas from evaporating and help reduce evaporative emissions. If it weren't worth the trouble they probably wouldn't have done it, because the tech training I've seen for it is pretty complex. They also have to pay to educate people in how to fix these things you know!