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Fuel Gauge says I need fuel when I dont

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018.

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  1. Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith New Member

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    I have a 2009 with 74k miles on it. I started having an issue with the fuel indicator gauge. My MPG still shows upwards of 40 when I check it, however, the gauge drops and begins the 1 pip blinking at about 250 miles. I when to fill up thinking maybe it was bad gas, but it only took about 4.5 gallons. The gauge returned to full. 250 miles later it repeated and this time I paid attention and again only could put about 4.5-5 gallons of gas. I looked up how to reset the calibration and tried it a few times to make sure I didnt mess it up somehow. It is still doing it. The MPG still says upwards of 40 MPG. So this time I pushed it. I am nearly at 350 miles and it has been blinking at me for 100 miles. So it is clearly the gauge. Any suggestions besides the $129.00 diagnostic fee?
     
    #1 Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    You probably already know that the Gen 2 Prius had a problem with the gas tank bladder especially in the winter time. Being you are in south and you don't have the temperature extremes I don't know what advice to give. Sometimes I would go 300 miles in the winter and fill up but was never down to one pip on the gauge. Never liked that setup.
     
    #2 padroo, Feb 22, 2018
  3. Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith New Member

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    Yes I know about the Bladder in the tanks. That concerns me a little actually. Thanks

    Semper Fi
     
    #3 Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    There could be some sort of wrinkle or something that isn't letting the bladder expand all the way. I would not try to force more gas in though, because it can damage the emissions system.

    PS. You should click the "report" button on your original post and ask a moderator to move this to the Gen 2 forum so that Gen 2 owners are more likely to see and respond to it. ;)
     
    #4 jerrymildred, Feb 22, 2018
  5. Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith New Member

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    Thanks Jerry. I dont try to force gas in. When I fill up it is just like any other day. Usually I click it on automatic and let it fill up on its own. It clicks and thats that. Nothing overflows. I dont have to force, and The gauge resets to full when I am done.
     
    #5 Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018
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  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Ah! When you said you pushed it, I misinterpreted what you were pushing. My bad! (y)
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Feb 22, 2018
  7. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Wrong forum
     
    #7 krmcg, Feb 22, 2018
  8. Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith New Member

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    Sorry Im new. What forum should I post it in?
     
    #8 Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018
  9. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    generation 2 forums.
     
    #9 krmcg, Feb 22, 2018
  10. Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith New Member

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    Oh I see thank you
     
    #10 Matthew Smith, Feb 22, 2018
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  11. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    You will get more help there - those with the same model car and maybe the same issues...
     
    #11 krmcg, Feb 22, 2018
  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    See my PS in post #4.
     
    #12 jerrymildred, Feb 23, 2018
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  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    You must be new to the car.

    When you get to th gas station open the fuel cap and let it vent for a while.

    DO NOT gas it up on automatic as it will fuel way to fast and shut off way to early. If will get stuck
    Gas will gush back out and it will not shut off. Do it by hand and slowly.

    The longer it vents the bladder will relax and allow to be filled up.

    How many times has gas gushed back out during automatic fill?

    Back in the day the bladder and the mysteries of the 12 volt battery were the number one posts.
    We only see these now from new g2 owners.
     
    #13 edthefox5, Feb 23, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2018
  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Oh and another popular post was owners running out of gas trying to get the last drop out of the blinking pip
    Which is really stupid. You run out of gas in this car you will really regret it.

    $$$$$$$$$$$
     
    #14 edthefox5, Feb 23, 2018
  15. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Mine's the opposite: it shows full for the first 100 miles and then drops fast through the remainder of the PIPS. Taking the advice of the forum, we don't push it and fill up before blinking; usually about 9 gallons.

    FWIW
     
    #15 fotomoto, Feb 23, 2018
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  16. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Never been able to get more than 9 gallons on mine too but never let it get to the blinking pip.
    Driving with blinking pip is Russian roulette with this car.
     
    #16 edthefox5, Feb 23, 2018
  17. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I have the similar problem to the OP, but just not quite as bad.
    I tried the gas tank calibration procedure last nite, we'll see what happens.

    It is always worse in winter, and maybe winter gasoline enters into the equation somehow, because even on warm days in winter it is about the same behavior. So I do also think it has to do with some change in the tank system behavior with age, but somehow it's better in summer.

    It does now *seem* like the answer is the tank is showing empty when there is more in there. I used to think it was not filling as full, but by the ear it sounds like the gasoline is getting to the top of the tank.

    I guess the Japanese laws favor getting rid of used autos/Prii so maybe they or not seeing the issue over there. I don't know if they ever had the bladder tanks in Japan...not in EU.
     
    #17 wjtracy, Feb 23, 2018
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