My brand new car was acting weird on me today

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sea-horsea @ Sep 3 2007, 04:10 PM) [snapback]506199[/snapback]</div>

I don't know about all the lights, but I do know from a number of threads that when that gas light starts to blink - get some gas asap. I normally fill when the gauge drops below the halfway mark, but on the last tank decided to see just what happens if I try for draining the tank - had a couple of weeks of local driving with lots of gas stations around, but I panicked before it got to the blinking stage.

The car will run in EV mode even when you run out of gas, but only for a short period of time, but that all depends on your SOC (state of charge on the battery). If you had a low SOC, then this might have prompted the car to flash more lights at you.

 

I'm guessing you ran out of gas, a very bad thing to do to your new Prius. What part of the "Add Fuel" warning that flashed on the MFD with a ding was confusing?

The fuel level indicator is frequently referred to here as the guess guage. Don't try to calculate how many miles you have left on the tank, the bladder means that the tank can change size depending on temperature and pump pressure. Also, never overfill the tank by topping off; you can saturate the evaporative emissions control system and, if you persist, flood gasoline into the metal tank surrounding the bladder, necessitating an expensive fuel tank replacement.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sea-horsea @ Sep 3 2007, 02:10 AM) [snapback]506199[/snapback]</div>

Even the Prius needs to refuel sometimes. please don't wait until it's too late. I usually refill at 2-3 pips left and the lower I'm on gas the more certain I want to be that a gas station is near by. Being on a HWY low on gas is not a chance I want to take, but if you were in that situation again slowing down from 65 MPH will extend further your remaining fuel.

Enjoy your new car

 

I ususally fill up when there are 2 pips left, especially on the highway. Now you know what not to do again. Enjoy your new Prius!

 

You ran out of gas. I wouldn't make a habit out of it, since it's not a very kind thing to do to the HSD system. For other readers who might be thinking about this for the first time, remember that the Prius is a gas powered car. It isn't designed to operate without gas. It will only go a very short distance once you run out, and it's not good for the hybrid system to try and make it to a gas station on electric only. If you are very, very close, sure, you can "coast" in, but otherwise pull over at the first safe spot. Better yet, don't run out of gas. I always fill up when I'm down to two pips, as soon as I can conveniently do so.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 3 2007, 08:49 AM) [snapback]506249[/snapback]</div>

Sitting at the side of the road in a hybid out fo gas.

Oh the HUMILIATION !!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Sep 3 2007, 09:19 AM) [snapback]506253[/snapback]</div>

It has happened to more than one poster on this board. It's a bit like when I used to drive a Jeep C-J5. I was stuck in the Jeep more than any other vehicle I've ever owned, but it was because I drove it places and in a manner that I would only do with a serious off-road vehicle. The Prius brings out that sort of behavior in some people, causing them to stretch a tank of fuel to the limit, and sometimes beyond.

Tom

 

remember that with a fuel bladder, the tank size is variable; it changes with temperature and other factors. that takes getting used to.

 

Another thing to remember when parking your car at home with very little fuel in the tank, what would happen if there was an emergency requiring you to drive your car, say to a hospital at 3.00 a.m., and there was insufficient fuel to get there.

 

Yes, a bladder...a bladder is inside the gas tank...it contracts and expands as the temperature outside gets colder or warmer...if you try to overfill the tank, the gas will spill out and spray you under pressure...so after the 1st click of the pump...quit...the bladder was put in the US models for emissions...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sea-horsea @ Sep 4 2007, 03:25 AM) [snapback]506672[/snapback]</div>

And spend some time here getting to know her, including her bladder, guess gauge, and many other features and idiosyncracies. The PC search function is a wonderful tool.

Welcome to PriusChat, BTW.

 

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