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Please help! Dealer is worthless. Major mpg drop.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by driving-mr-mel, Mar 15, 2014.

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  1. Easy Rider

    Easy Rider Active Member

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    You can't (or shouldn't) draw any conclusions from a single voltage reading unless you also know the load that is applied when the reading was made.

    If there is no load and it reads 11.9 it is pretty dead......but maybe rechargeable.
    If it reads 11.9 under a significant load, it might be perfectly fine.
     
    #21 Easy Rider, Mar 17, 2014
    dolj, uart and GrumpyCabbie like this.
  2. ramattos

    ramattos Junior Member

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    not sure if you have solved your problem or not, but i would take your car to milham ford, toyota scion up here near easton. they have always helped me.

    as mentioned before the problem could be anythingfrom a dying 12v battery to a loose connection somewhere.
     
    #22 ramattos, Mar 18, 2014
  3. driving-mr-mel

    driving-mr-mel Junior Member

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    Thanks to my Dad and a friend, I now have a new 12V battery that didn't cost me a thing. :) How long until I know if this fixes my mileage issue?
     
    #23 driving-mr-mel, Mar 28, 2014
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    right away. reset you mpg meter and go for a drive. let us know what you get.
     
    #24 bisco, Mar 28, 2014
  5. Easy Rider

    Easy Rider Active Member

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    Another piece of brilliant advice.........NOT. :(

    Because conditions vary WIDELY on short trips, it likely will take a tank or two of gas to get a good "reading". It will take at least a couple of days for the computers to "reset" from having the battery disconnected.

    Did this "free" new battery get fully charged before being installed ??
     
    #25 Easy Rider, Mar 28, 2014
  6. defrankond

    defrankond Member

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    sounds like maybe the evap control canister. when you fill up do you usually top off the tank? if so this could be contributing to your problem. usually is never wise to top off tanks in newer cars because the evap control system will suck fuel into the charcoal canister and basically damage it resulting in needing replaced. i am wondering if this could possibly be what is going on here?
     
    #26 defrankond, Mar 29, 2014
  7. driving-mr-mel

    driving-mr-mel Junior Member

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    So after a weekend and 200 miles of driving, I'm up to 48-49mpg! That's higher than it's been in many months and right in line with what I've historically gotten in this type of weather. My engine light is back on though, so I'm going to try to get the code read without paying the dealer $53 AGAIN.
    To answer the question about topping off, I have never topped off my tank in the Prius, because I read it was bad for it. I have started topping off since it started not filling up all the way, in an effort to force it to fill up.
     
    #27 driving-mr-mel, Mar 31, 2014
  8. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Remember, the Gen II is cursed with the bladder. If you run it down to empty, it is hard to get the bladder stretched back out to full. Try adding fuel at 2 or 3 pips and try to get away from topping off. Topping off is not a good idea. Eventually you will foul the carbon canister and the check engine will then come on. Not a cheap fix either.

    The bladder is stiffer during the cold weather. Gets easier to work with in warmer conditions.

    Best of luck to you!
     
    #28 dorunron, Mar 31, 2014
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