1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Fuel Gauge accuracy/issue

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SBPC, May 24, 2012.

  1. SBPC

    SBPC New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2012
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    santa barbara, ca
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    III
    My new C fuel gauge seems to have a problem and i'm wondering if anyone else has the same issue. When it gets down to 2 bars, it then moves directly to low fuel warning mode (blinking bar and warning tone). Next time i started the car it was back at 2 bars. Then it repeated the above process. It seems that low warning reading was accurate but it is still annoying. anyone?
     
  2. nutleyfrisbee

    nutleyfrisbee New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2012
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Altos, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    I also just bought a Prius C.
    My gas gauge is not working correctly there is clearly a bug.

    When I get down to TWO BARS, they never flash.
    BUT the Cruising Range reads 10, then 5 , then yesterday went down while I was driving on 1 street, from 5, 4, 3, 2 1
    I had TWO Bars and a Crusing Range of 1 Mile.
    I kinda panicked and went to a gas Station where I put 8.5 Gallons in the tank, so I had at least 1 Gallon left which should be more like 30Miles range.
    I am taking it into the shop , its not right.
     
  3. Ashley7

    Ashley7 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    545
    222
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    The range is not right on mine either, but I never expected it to be. It's an estimate on all cars, and I've never known any that were accurate. I'm pretty sure the shop will tell you there's nothing wrong.

    And it doesn't flash until it gets down to one bar. Check out other threads about fuel tank capacity and the like--most people still have a gallon or just under when they get to one bar. But the car is going to tell you the range is zero miles. This is a good thing. Toyota wants you to go get gas without risking running out. People are dumb and will risk it, and they're trying to reduce the risk by telling you to get gas before you absolutely need it.

    There is nothing wrong with your car.
     
    xpcman likes this.
  4. ewaboy

    ewaboy Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    693
    205
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    +1 - Ashley7 is correct - everything you've experienced is normal. The cruising range is just a rough estimate - not a measure of exactly how far you have till you run out of fuel. Notice that the gauge stays on the top bar till about 80 to 100 miles have been driven. Gas gauges are more guides than precision instruments.

    I've only seen and heard the last bar flash and beep once but if you click on my C 2 Fuelly display you'll see that I've never had a fill that was over 8.6 gals. The first entry, 9.5, is when I picked up the car from the dealer with 3 miles on it and a full tank. So the beep and flash is also just an early warning that the car will need more gas - not that it's about to run out. My Prizm has a low fuel warning light which is supposed to go on when the needle hits the red/orange zone on the analog display dial - but it often doesn't come on at all or goes on and off depending whether I'm driving downhill or uphill.
     
  5. Sheri A.

    Sheri A. New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    4
    1
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    Major problem with gas gauge not being accurate Prius C
    We had 2 bars showing and got the warning sign "Hybrid system not working pull over immediately". The cruising range was at least 20. It had run out of gas. 10 days later it ran out of gas again and the cruising range over 30 and just had gone down to 2 bars. Gauge replaced. I still don't think it is working accurately. Am afraid to run out of gas again so I fill it up when it reaches 4 bars. This is a major problem with a new car.