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Gen 4 Won't Take Fuel

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by bestmapman, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    Went to the gas station last night and I could not get any gas in the car. I tried and tried. Everything I could think of and it would not take any gas. Here is what happened.

    Pulled up to pump. Depressed the fuel door button. Opened the fuel door and unscrewed the fuel cap. Inserted the fuel nozzle and pulled the trigger. Immedialely the autoshut off engaged. I tried again, same result. I tried readjusting the angle of the nozzle same result. I tried pulling the nozzle out more and inserting the nozzle more. Same result. I tried rapid fire and it would just spill out on the side of the car. The gas would just pool on top of the opening. The only symptom was occaisionally the fuel would bubble and then the some but not all would go in. I ended up driving home. Luckily home was close, about 1 mile.

    I searched and found another thread similiar, but not exactly the same here.

    As suggested in the other thread, I will try again this morning and report back.

    Note: the car is a 2016 4 with APT and has 30k+ miles. Never had the problem before. The low fuel light had just came on. Temp 40F misty but not raining, approximately 10PM
     
    #1 bestmapman, Dec 18, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2017
  2. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    try another pump.
     
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  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I understand the new Toyota cars use a valve below the filler to stop fuel vapour. If this valve has failed you can't refuel the car. A friend with a C has had trouble with this valve.
     
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  5. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Try holding the fuel cap release button in for at least 5 second before letting it go.
     
    #5 RCO, Dec 18, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2017
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is it possible to see this valve, verify if it's open/closed? How far down filler pipe is it?

    Use a light, anything but an open flame, lol.
     
  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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  8. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    O jeez, I can see it now.................cig lighter............booooommmmmyowwwwww
     
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  9. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Ok, try a Davey Lamp. :cool:
     
  10. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    I have had this problem in the past with my 2016 Prius as well. Pressing the fuel button a second time seems to fix it if you took too long to start fueling. There should be a message on the alert screen that your Prius is ready to be fueled.

    JeffD
     
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  11. bbald123

    bbald123 Thermodynamics Law Enforcement

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    This is the procedure described in the manual too.

    upload_2017-12-18_15-34-19.png
     
  12. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    I went to the fueling station this afternoon and it took fuel no problem. Thanks everyone.
     
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    There is a service bulletin that may apply.
    See Fuel Filling Problem | PriusChat

    Try closing the door and making sure it is fully open before fueling. That should let you add enough fuel to make it to the dealer for the repair.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Still a mystery there though. Sporadic fail??
     
  15. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    Next time I fill, I will try hitting the door closing latch/swith and see what happens. I will report the results.
     
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  16. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    My friend's C went through two of the valves. Maybe they have a bad batch of them?

    OMG, an actual failure in a Toyota! The world is coming to an end!
     
  17. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    OP did you use the same pump at the same gas station?
     
  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    There is a bowser (pump) at a petrol station I regularly visit which won't work on the PRIUS - it'll put in 20 cents, then stops - I have to then dribble petrol in till it gets to the $2 minimum - then move to another bowser. I'd used it twice, mentioned it to the operator who said nobody else has a problem, since then I just use another pump.
     
  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Post 2 had the right idea. There is a TSB due to a weak spring that does not open the door all the way and causes this issue. The details are here.
    Fuel Filling Problem | PriusChat

    The service bulletin is T-SB-0220-17, “Difficult to Refuel Vehicle Due to Fuel Filler Door Switch Interference,” issued May 23, 2017, which at this writing seems to be available only by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.

    The bulletin is applicable to 2016 and 2017 model year Prius cars with VINs earlier than JTDKBRFU#H3038680 (Tsutsumi Line 1) or JTDKBRFU#H3552934 (Tsutsumi Line 2), and also to 2017 model year Prius Prime cars with VINs earlier than JTDKARFP#H3012455, but only if the fuel filler door does not open completely when the fuel door open button is pressed, which can cause the fuel vapor containment valve to close prematurely. The bulletin links to videos showing examples of complete and incomplete door opening.

    The countermeasure is to replace the Fuel Filler Opening Lid Hinge Spring, original part number 77366-52010, with a spring of a new and “much larger” design, part number 77366-47030. The bulletin includes illustrated work instructions and allows 0.2 labor hours for the job.
     
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  20. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Thanks for the information.