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

Got charged $1500 repair costs for fueling diesel into Prius 2013 4D (Zipcar)

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Nymous, Dec 14, 2013.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Nymous

    Nymous New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2013
    0
    0
    0
    Does this invoice seem reasonable? I'm down $1700 because Zipcar is accusing me of fueling the Toyota Prius with diesel instead of gas.

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Nymous, Dec 14, 2013
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,686
    48,936
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    why did they replace the battery? how would driving on ev ruin it? i've done that with no ill effect. they probably could have cleaned the spark plugs. "done thrice", i love that. can you even get diesel into a gas tank? or can you not get gas into a diesel tank?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 14, 2013
  3. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    And did you? Did you also drive the car on electric when the engine wouldn't start?
     
    #3 ftl, Dec 14, 2013
  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Well that's cheaper than it would be putting gas in a diesel vehicle. Not pretty.
     
    #4 frodoz737, Dec 14, 2013
    dbcassidy likes this.
  5. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Apparently it's not that hard to stick a Diesel spout into NoLead filler hole!
     
    #5 KK6PD, Dec 14, 2013
  6. Nymous

    Nymous New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2013
    0
    0
    0
    I can't recall but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. Zipcar is by the hour rental, and I probably rushed it, not knowing the consequences. I'm not too technical with cars.

    I did not drive in electric. I simply called Zipcar when the engine stopped working and they had it towed away.

    I'm still a bit shocked by the repair costs...
     
    #6 Nymous, Dec 14, 2013
  7. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    444
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Its actually not a bad charge considering the labor involved. Lesson learned?
     
    #7 rdgrimes, Dec 14, 2013
  8. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Doesn't happen here. Diesel nozzles are the same size or slightly bigger than the old leaded petrol nozzles and won't fit into an unleaded car. The unleaded nozzle is much smaller to fit the smaller hole.

    You can put unleaded in a diesel car easily though :unsure: and yes, to clean the wrong fuel out of any modern car is expensive!
     
    #8 GrumpyCabbie, Dec 14, 2013
  9. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,908
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    What does your fuel receipt say?
     
    #9 Air_Boss, Dec 14, 2013
  10. Nymous

    Nymous New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2013
    0
    0
    0
    I don't have the fuel receipt with me. I did ask Zipcar to investigate further and this is the response I got:

    "As per your concern we have investigated this situation further and based on the fuel purchase record of the gas card you used during your reservation with Toyota Prius, Diesel fuel was pumped causing the engine failure which Toyota also confirmed as the cause of the engine failure."

    "Based on our previous follow up and our policies you are being held responsible for the total cost of services and the tow fee for that Zipcar. You can view these invoices from the links attached to this email.
    The total amount of 1655.87 has been to your account and will be placed on your credit card..."
     
    #10 Nymous, Dec 14, 2013
  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    As expensive a lesson as it is, be happy that that's all that went.
     
    #11 El Dobro, Dec 14, 2013
  12. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2012
    681
    281
    0
    Location:
    northern Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Consider that Zipcar has a car fleet and the dealership is usually interested in local fleet services - so they might have given ZipCar a price break, whereas had you done it to your own Prius you'd not get that potential fleet break, so the same lesson, had it been learned on your own machine might have been more expensive. Putting diesel into a gasoline-driven car costs $$$ to reverse because without intervention it is guaranteed to make the car's engine inoperable. In my recent 2011-2012 experience, ZipCar cars are pretty new and well-maintained so your Zip Prius likely was a new, low-mileage vehicle that would have been a candidate for rescue rather than junking - hence the $$$ spent to get it healthy.
     
    #12 DadofHedgehog, Dec 14, 2013
  13. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,908
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Did you pump the fuel, or was it selected and pumped by a station attendant?
     
    #13 Air_Boss, Dec 14, 2013
  14. Nymous

    Nymous New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2013
    0
    0
    0
    Pumped it myself. I think I remember asking my buddy in the car if it was OK to pump diesel instead of gas, and he said YES. Lesson learned.
     
    #14 Nymous, Dec 14, 2013
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,686
    48,936
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what all could your buddy have been thinking?:eek: hey buddy, can you spare $850.?
     
    #15 bisco, Dec 14, 2013
    Merkey likes this.
  16. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    773
    228
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I'm not sure why you even thought to ask if you could use diesel...
     
    #16 vskid3, Dec 14, 2013
  17. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Diesel in a gas powered hybrid now that is a stupid mistake.
     
    #17 JMD, Dec 14, 2013
    Merkey likes this.
  18. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    I suspect at this point we don't need to rub it in :(.
     
    #18 ftl, Dec 14, 2013
    xliderider, GrumpyCabbie, Merkey and 1 other person like this.
  19. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Yep your right couldn't resist my bad
     
    #19 JMD, Dec 14, 2013
    Merkey and ftl like this.
  20. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,908
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Isn't diesel significantly more expensive than gasoline? On the order of 30 cents/US gallon more here.
     
    #20 Air_Boss, Dec 14, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 4