Prius not refueling properly

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017.

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  1. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    Got a problem with my Prius not refueling correctly.

    It is a fleet vehicle so is used by many different drivers.

    Sometimes when refueling at the fuel station the pump will be prevented from filling the tank fully perhaps by as much as 2 litres or 3 litres.

    However, it will from time to time appear to allow the tank to be refilled fully so there does not seem to be any consistency.

    Tried different pumps to check if maybe an issue with that but this was not the problem.

    Don't know if this is connected but also found one or two times that when the tank was supposedly refuelled fully the fuel level indicator on the dash was showing 1 bar less than a full tank only to magically change to show full tank a few minutes later so do not know if there is a delay with the sensor level indicator in the tank.

    Looking through the forums it could be a plethora of issues causing this but maybe someone has had the same problem and managed to rectify this.

    Any help would be appreciated.
     
    #1 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
    #2 bisco, Nov 30, 2017
  3. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    126,000 miles.
     
    #3 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  4. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    If it were a US car I would explain that the fuel tank has a bladder that expands above 65 degrees and contracts as it gets cold, combining the cold with not allowing enough time after taking off the gas cap for air to flow into the tank, in the US, often caused your symptoms, so, do cars in your country have the bladders in the fuel tank? Generation 2’s do, generation 3’s don’t, well in the US.

    If you don’t have the bladder, you still like all prii, need to wait a short period of time to allow air to flow into the tank, otherwise at times fuel doesn’t flow well.
     
    #4 Lucifer, Nov 30, 2017
  5. Tech Tips

    Tech Tips Member

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    Well, this generation of Prius has a bladder tank (to meet emissions regulations), and it can be really finicky on how much fuel it wants to take. This depends on temperature, fuel level, and how fast you are filling the tank. Some people have reported it only taking 8 or 9 gallons (30 to 34L) on one pip. The gas gauge is not analogue, it only has 10 states which aren’t linear. Each “pip” is supposed to mean 4.5L so the level can be anywhere whithin that and it still will read the same.
     
    #5 Tech Tips, Nov 30, 2017
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  6. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    Got a feeling it might be to do with the filler neck as it is wobbly. You can actually move it around a little so this might be restricting the fuel flow. The problem is there are so many things that might be causing it so will just have to do trial and error starting with cheapest option first.

    I did see on this forum in another thread mention letting the tank go near empty because if the tank has been overfilled many times before it can cause confusion with the sensors or something resulting in thinking that the tank is full when it is not.
    Apparently, letting the tank go near empty and then refueling rectifies this so will give this a try first.
     
    #6 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    eu vehicles are different, but if you have gasoline evaporative emissions canister, that is usually the problem.
     
    #7 bisco, Nov 30, 2017
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  8. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    Do you know its purpose in relation to emissions?
     
    #8 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there is no bladder in the eu.
     
    #9 bisco, Nov 30, 2017
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  10. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    What is that? Do you know if UK models have them?
     
    #10 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't. it is a charcoal canister that catches petrol fumes as you are refueling. in the u.s., they eventually get contaminated and have to be replaced.
     
    #11 bisco, Nov 30, 2017
  12. Tech Tips

    Tech Tips Member

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    Because of CARB (California Air Resorces Board) ratings, Toyota tried to get the AT-PZEV rating to get discounts and awards so to reduce gasoline vapours they put a bladder in it.
     
    #12 Tech Tips, Nov 30, 2017
  13. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    Okay. There might be another issue with the car that may be connected to that. I recently had the catalytic converter replaced along with the O2 sensor after the engine management light came on.
    However, 1,000 miles later and the management light came on again with the description of "Catylist system" indicating the catalytic converter again. The mechanic said it can't be that as we have changed everything and put it down to the hybrid ECU stll carrying the fault code from before and cancelled it. However, 1 week later to present it has come on again.
    Just beginning to wonder if that emissions canister is the problem if there is one on the vehicle as this could be linked to the catylist system etc.
     
    #13 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  14. Tech Tips

    Tech Tips Member

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    I believe that some cars either release the gas fumes into the air (after being scrubbed by the charcoal filter) and also some burn them through the intake manifold. I don’t think the North American version does that but the EU version might. Also just speculating it might put some gas vapours in to the catalytic converter.
     
    #14 Tech Tips, Nov 30, 2017
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Is your car being serviced by a Toyota dealer? Toyota dealer software can read more detailed Prius trouble codes at times to help isolate the issue.
     
    #15 Prodigyplace, Nov 30, 2017
  16. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    If it does put some gas vapours into the CAT then that would strongly indicate the problem with the engine management light and it is possible that could have been the original problem and the catalytic converter might not have been faulty and may not have been required to be replaced.
     
    #16 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  17. Carlos Delta Forbes

    Carlos Delta Forbes Junior Member

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    There is no way I will use an official dealer from any company.
     
    #17 Carlos Delta Forbes, Nov 30, 2017
  18. Tech Tips

    Tech Tips Member

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    Yeah I wouldn’t use any dealer but not all are horrible some are good like my local one which has not been pushy about doing extra stuff. Even told me things which could be skipped.
     
    #18 Tech Tips, Nov 30, 2017
  19. Tech Tips

    Tech Tips Member

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    Also, if you were fairly good with computers you could buy a tech stream and see if there are any issues.
     
    #19 Tech Tips, Nov 30, 2017
  20. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    I've had the pump stop many times in various gen 2s. You have to pull out the pump so that it is barely in the gas tank and then it fills up fine without stopping.
     
    #20 MilkyWay, Dec 1, 2017
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