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Low Fuel blinking not activating?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by madelinesonja, Oct 2, 2009.

  1. madelinesonja

    madelinesonja Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I got my Prius II two weeks ago to the day, and I'm down to one bar on the fuel gauge at about 460 miles. The miles to empty is showing a mere 32, but the lowest bar on the gauge is not blinking -- the owner's manual says it should start blinking when there are about 1.6 gallons remaining in the tank -- surely I could go MUCH farther than 32 miles on 1.6 gallons, and the gauge is claiming the tank still has more than that?

    I'm thinking I might go ahead and fill it up now and see how much is actually left in the tank, but I'm surprised that there's such a discrepancy between the miles till empty and the supposed amount of gas left.

    Any tips?
     
    #1 madelinesonja, Oct 2, 2009
  2. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    Your mileage may not go to 0 before your blinking pip. You have a long way to go after it starts blinking before it runs out. Don't have a clue why the miles to go and the light blinking don't agree. Perhaps they are triggered by different things?
    After the light starts blinking you should have two gallons remaining. Nice to know that you don't have to panic if it starts blinking.
     
    #2 a64pilot, Oct 2, 2009
  3. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    I would like to think the blinking pip is triggered by a resistor being uncovered by fuel level or something other than indicated fuel level, but I don't have a clue if the system is that sophisticated or not.
     
    #3 a64pilot, Oct 2, 2009
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Miles to empty is calculated by considering several factors, and includes a margin of safety. The flashing pip is only from the tank fuel level. The two can differ by quite a bit.

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Oct 2, 2009
  5. texas112

    texas112 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    II
    And mine doesn't start blinking until miles to empty hit the mid 20's. So maybe yours will start soon :)
     
    #5 texas112, Oct 3, 2009
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    0 Miles Left doesn't mean your car will shut down. There's a margin of safety built into that so really it's 32 miles plus another couple (depending on how efficiently you drive, it could be another 100-200 miles til you actually run dry).
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2009
  7. madelinesonja

    madelinesonja Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well, it started blinking last night on the way to the grocery store. After leaving the store, it stopped blinking, but after a half-mile or so it started again, so I decided to fill up (honestly, I was just anxious to do a calculated MPG to compare it to the disply). It only took 9.5 gallons. I don't top off due to an unfortunate incident that occurred the one and only time I DID top off.

    For the record, the displayed MPG was exactly 2 higher than the actual when calculated -- 50.7 vs. 48.7.
     
    #7 madelinesonja, Oct 4, 2009
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