STILL NO Fix for Gas Fill-up Problem???

There is no bladder in the 2010 Prius. Period. Any filling problems are unrelated to the old bladder issue. Perhaps the title of this thread should be "New fill-up problem with 2010s".

Tom

 

I've had that happen in other cars. I'm not sure if it is the pump or air in my tank.

 

<SIGH>I would put together a picture essay of how to fill up the tank ... but it will take about two or three weeks before I need to go again.

Bob Wilson

 

That's a just pump problem, nothing to do with Prius.

If you ever encounter one again (they have to routinely be replaced), take advantage of EV and finish filling at another.
.

 

I have had this issue. It is possible that the underground tanks need to be "burped." Try another station. I highly recommend a Conoco Phillips station if one is available. (Disclosure: I am a shareholder).

 

"It's Deja-vu----all over again."

Yogi Berra

 

I've had it happen on either my 350Z or my former 02 Nissan Maxima before. Don't remember which.

FWIW, here's a TSB for the 350Z on this TSB 05-048 Fuel Tank Difficult To Fill - Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki and a thread on this Why does the gas pump stopped even my car's tank isnt full? - MY350Z.COM Forums.

 

Huh?... What?...

But I thought the Gen II bladder-burp was a feature, not an issue.

:brick:

Uhh... er...

Yes, I'm awake. I was just "resting my eyes." :faint:

 

If it happens at multiple pumps or stations, I'd have the dealer look at it.

I had a Chevy minivan that had a similar problem. Turned out that the tank had a "baffle" inside to prevent the fuel from sloshing around. It had broken loose, and was partially blocking the filler neck opening in the tank.

The dealer replaced the tank, and that fixed the problem.

 

So there is no bladder anymore, but why is there a rubber "seal" at the filler neck still? This seal made sense to me if there was a bladder because I thought it kept the bladder from being air filled. But with no bladder this seal would allow air pressure to build up in the tank as it is being filled wouldn't it?

 

The tank vents to the outside through a vapor recovery system. This keeps hydrocarbons out of the air while allowing pressure to equalize.

Tom

 

Your problem is due to back pressure while filling the tank and an over sensitive pump nozzle. You gotta bear it out.

 

I only ever had problems filling my 2006 once and it was a pump problem. Right from the start the pump would shut off immediately no matter how gently I squeezed the handle. I went inside and notified the attendant. She gave me instructions to pull the pump all the way back so it's just barely entering the tank filling nozzle and then slowly squeeze the handle and it should begin to pump just fine, then ease it back into the filler nozzle while pumping and it worked. Must have just been a buildup of pressure in the tank and an overly sensitive pump but by backing it out to where it was barely in at all then easing it in as it pumps it seemed to have released that pressure (at least that's my guess). Never had a problem before then, nor have I since then.

 

I'm still running my 2001, but a 2010 is on the horizon, but on my 2001, I got so frustrated by the continual early shutoff from back pressure (and the militant environmentalists out there will hate me for this) that I got an X-acto knife and carefully cut the gasket out of the filler neck, and this completely eliminated the incidences of premature fuel filler shutoff. From the day I cut the gasket out, I've enjoyed easy, consistent fill-ups every single time, no matter the temperature, how empty or full the tank is- it fills up easily and stops when the tank is full.

It's easy to blame it on "defective" filler nozzles, but when such a large proportion of fillers have the same problem, I would venture that it's probably not the filler.. I was recently in Florida and rented a 2009 Prius there, and I only had to fill the car twice, but both times, at different service stations, including one that was just opened, with brand new pumps and fillers, I still had premature shutoff problems that I could only solve by pulling the nozzle out almost all the way..

To counter any "environmental" arguments: By pulling the nozzle almost all the way out to fill, you're basically creating an imperfect seal and letting out emissions as well, and you also run the risk that you could have a gas spill, even one drop of which would make moot any reduction of emissions from the gasket.. On the other hand, even if you cut the gasket out, you might get marginally more emissions than by pulling the nozzle out, but it's much safer and if you happen to live in a state where they use vapor recovery nozzles, the boot around the filler will capture the emissions, again making the gasket rather pointless, especially given the filling problems that it causes..

 

OH MAN you gonna catch he!! now

 

It's a slippery slope from cutting gaskets to tossing CFLs in the trash.

 

I just picked up my Gen III out of state and drove 173 home. So, I filled up at my local station. Had the pump on auto and it filled with no issue. I topped it off and only got 1.3 more in it. No problemo !!