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Prius Loses Power While Driving on Interstate

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by marolusmaximus, Jun 2, 2010.

  1. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    Has anyone ever experienced losing power while driving their Priuses?

    Mine did just last Friday. I was driving on the Interstate when suddenly the Prius decelerated and totally lost power. All dashboard lights were on, even the red triangle one. Had it towed to Toyota Autoland in Springfield, NJ.

    The initial diagnosis was a faulty air flow sensor, but yesterday Autoland said the problem was caused by dirty gas! There were some dirt particles that blocked all of the fuel injectors, and this isn't covered by any of their warranties! I'll have to have them replaced! Poor me has to pay $2000 for everything!

    I just don't get it; had the Prius filled up a week prior to the incident, and from what I know, Priuses don't have fuel/gas filters. They say a filter is built in to the gas bladder.

    Help!
     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    A fuel filter is located within the fuel tank and is not separately replaceable.

    How many gallons of gas did you buy when you filled up?

    How many miles did you drive between the fillup and the start of driveability problems?

    If the problem is bad gas, maybe you can seek recourse from the gasoline retailer.
     
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  3. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    I find that pretty dubious. I mean...the gas would have to have particulates in it that would be small enough to make it through the fuel filter but large enough to "clog up every fuel injector". That would be like the first time I have ever heard of such a thing happening to a car after one bad tank of gas ever...and I've been around cars a long time.

    What manufacturer did you buy the gas from, did you keep the receipt? Did you put it on a credit card that shows you fueled up there and when? In the very least, if that is the case...the fuel retailer would definitely be liable for your damage...
     
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  4. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    My daughter got similar experience robbed by a Toyota dealer in Tuscon. She went over to Mexico for a holiday and get bad gas over there. Car died couple days later and tow to the dealer. At first they drained the gas tank and replace the gas filters, then they said the car still not running right, they replace all the spark plugs and wires and claimed that didn't fix the problem and asked to have the injectors replaced. The total bill is $2300.
    I was in California and couldn't help.
    I got the original injectors back and found to be working perfectly.
     
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  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Might have been Diesel instead of gasoline. That would be ugly.
    [Not possible: he filled up a week before the incident. I must learn to read more closely.]
     
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  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    It sounds like the dealer took you to the cleaners. I smell something fishy in this one.

    Tom
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    was it BP?:eek:
     
  8. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Could the filter fail?
     
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  9. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    I filled it up for 7 gallons, and it was a week after that when this happened. Around 120 miles.

    I doubt that it's bad gas because when we got a sample from the tank at the Toyota service center, the gas looked pretty clean and looked very consistent, nothing murky or anything.



     
  10. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    I also think it's highly dubious that the gas was the cause of the shutdown. The red triangle lit up, and when that lights up, it usually is an electrical problem from what I've heard & read.

    We got the gas from a Shell station along US Route 22, and a lot of cars fill up at that station. We've been getting our gas at that same station for a year now.



     
  11. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    What did you do next?
     
  12. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    I'm not sure.
     
  13. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    Nah, I'm 100% sure it was regular gas.
     
  14. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If you could drive 120 miles after refueling, before the problem started, I agree that the gasoline is not likely to be the problem.

    How many miles on the odometer?

    Pls ask your dealership service writer what DTC was logged by your car, and post.
     
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  15. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    21776 miles. What's a DTC?
     
  16. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Diagnostic Trouble Code. It's the error code logging in the computers.

    Tom
     
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  17. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    Thanks! :)
     
  18. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    Yeah I say BS. The odds of the fuel from a major retailer like Shell being of such poor quality 1/4 tank running through the injectors could clog "all of them" even with no fuel filter at all are extremely slim. And in NJ you can't even pump your own gas, so even if it WERE diesel, thats still not your fault. Its not diesel, they would already know that by now if it were.

    I think this needs to be kicked up the chain to Toyota and get a regional warranty rep to come out and look at the car. If neccisary have it towed to another Toyota dealer for a second opinion...
     
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  19. marolusmaximus

    marolusmaximus New Member

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    Thanks, I'll try to get in touch with Toyota Corporate.
     
  20. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    And you might want to let the owner of that gas station know that Toyota is trying to pin this damage on them...maybe they have some purity documentation or something that can help you, tank inspections etc.
     
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