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Fuel Gauge Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Diddlywop, Jul 16, 2012.

  1. Diddlywop

    Diddlywop New Member

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    On Saturday, I fueled up for the 4th time in my Prius. After the nozzle clicked off, I put the cap on and drove away. I noticed that the gauge only registered 9 pips, or 1 pip still unlit.

    Thinking I obviously didn't fill up, I returned to the gas station and added another .6 gallons of fuel before it wouldn't take any more gas.

    Again, the fuel gauge showed only 9 pips, leaving one pip unlit.

    What is the problem?

    P.S. I filled up after my range registered 0 miles left, filled up with 7.2 gallons the first time and added the .6 the second time.
     
    #1 Diddlywop, Jul 16, 2012
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Let it go down again to where it will take a few galls, like 3 or preferably more and it should work. It's probably not registering the .6 you added since it already sensed a fill up. Not a big deal and will work next time IMO.
     
    #2 Paradox, Jul 16, 2012
  3. Diddlywop

    Diddlywop New Member

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    Thank you!
     
    #3 Diddlywop, Jul 16, 2012
  4. ppimd

    ppimd Member

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    Refueling this car has to be done carefully. Notice how much mobility there is to the fuel neck when you have the gas station nozzle in it. After experiencing something that was totally unexplained by the dealership or the Toyota rep or this forum why put 7 gallons of gas in the car that was never registered I've come to my own conclusions. The car is very sensitive and quirky when registering the gas going in and the solution I have found is to hold the gas pump nozzle steadily in the fuel filler neck wh
    ile putting gas in the car and doen't rely on the automatic shut off to work hold the gas handle until it shuts off. This has been the only way to get consistent fillups that register properly on the fuel gauge. The gas station pump and sensing equipment is a lot less sensitive and sophisticated than your car except it
     
    #4 ppimd, Jul 16, 2012
  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I've owned 3 Prius and honestly, never experienced an issue filling up. It clicks, I put in a little more, say half a gallon and that's it. I fill up with the car off so it forces the computer etc to reset with the new measurement in the fuel tank when I restart it. I think the OPs only real issue is not putting in a bit more after it clicked. I can see it showing one less pip if it was a really fast filling station and when it clicked it simply didn't add enough fuel to 'measure up' to a full tank pip-wise on the display.
     
    #5 Paradox, Jul 16, 2012
  6. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    I agree, It will be fine on the next fill. Enjoy your Car!
     
    #6 retired4999, Jul 16, 2012
  7. bielinsk

    bielinsk Gremlin

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    I have filled up 5 times and I have never seen more than 9 pips on my gas gague. The tenth line right next to the full dot has never lit up.

    I find my tank starts flashing when I hit 7.5 gallons used.
     
    #7 bielinsk, Jul 16, 2012
    j12piprius likes this.
  8. Diddlywop

    Diddlywop New Member

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    I just filled up again and it only registered 9 pips, leaving the 10th unlit again.
     
    #8 Diddlywop, Jul 23, 2012
  9. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Did you stop and not add more after it clicked? Did you fill at the same station? If so, were you on an incline/decline while filling or was the car flat?
     
    #9 Paradox, Jul 23, 2012
  10. bielinsk

    bielinsk Gremlin

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    I was flat, but i did not shut down the car. Next time i full up i will shut the car off.

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
    #10 bielinsk, Jul 23, 2012
  11. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Hmm, I do not know for either one of you guys to be honest. I've filled up many times now over 6000 miles and adding an extra half gallon, maybe more, after clicking off has left me with a full pip display and it lasts for almost 60 to 70 miles of all hv driving before dropping to one pip below full. My 2010 acted the same way as my 2012.
     
    #11 Paradox, Jul 23, 2012
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