Ran Out of Gas With 5 Pips Showing

Maybe the leaf clogged the line (and not the sensor). which would starve the engine of gas and essentially shut the engine down. The sensor would still show the correct amount of gas, but the gas could not get past the clogged fuel line.The most pertinent question is how would such a large item get into your gas tank? sounds a little sabotage-esque to me

 

Yup; something doesn't compute here. Did the dealer tell you about the "leaf" issue? Something's rotten in Denmark, I think. For $107.00, I would go back to that dealer and ask for a more detailed explanation, and get the specific code readouts.

 

The leaf could have entered the fuel system from a contaminated fuel tank at the filling station. Seems very logical to me

 

The only way to find out if there is a leaf in the tank is to take the gas tank completely apart. No way they will charge only $105.

 

The blockage could have been downstream from the tank and much more assessable.

 

Welcome to PC bruceax ... sorry for your experience. Any chance that the tech mentioned how a leaf got in there? I mean this IS spring time. Maybe if this were Autumn? / Fall? ... and refilling your tank at a station with trees near by? on a windy day so they'd be blowing your way? I duno. What do YOU think.

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Gas from the gas station tanks goes through a filter in the pump prior to getting in your car. Most gas nozzles are fairly tight fitting, as many states require the fumes to be prevented from esacaping during filling. That is not to say a leaf can't get in a tank, but it is unlikely.

I do not know where or how many filters there are for the Prius gas system, some cars have two, one at the tank, and another near the engine. More likely sediment or the unidentifiable remains of a leaf blocked something. I doubt they pulled a whole leaf out of anywhere in the fuel system.

In any case, most likely would not be a warranty issue, so $107 might be cheap. It is possible they have no idea and that is a story to explain why it happened. If it happens again, obviously, you have lots of leaves in your gas tank.

 

It must have been a Nissan Leaf! I new they would be trouble for the Prius!

 

Well that's a whole different issue and is not related to running out of gas.

Tom

 

Leaf still shouldn't have gotten by the air filter though..

 

Sounds like carelessness when installing the last engine air filter: not completely securing the cover (which can be caused by putting in the filter upside-down), or maybe making a hole in the filter.

 

You beat me to that one!

 

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"Airflow meter" in the fuel system?

Or was it a leaf in the mass air flow sensor? And how did it get past the air cleaner?