Hybrid System Failure in 08

What did your fuel gauge show? I've found now that it's 110 in Phoenix you really need to fuel up when you're down to the last pip. I filled up a few days ago within about 10 miles or so of getting down to my last pip and it took about 10.5 gallons...which only leaves about a gallon in the tank. If I were down to a flashing pip I'd probably be about out of fuel. In the winter it's lucky to take 8 gallons on the last pip.

Mike

 

Did you get the red triangle?

 

I just sent a message to my cousin's blackberry because I've heard of multiple Phoenix guys having this problem... he too is in Phoenix and his car sits out in direct sun all day. I really think the guys in the colder climates have a problem with getting enough fuel in their car and those of us in the southwest have the problem of a over-stretched fuel bladder which causes the car to literally be on fumes towards the end of where the fuel gauge registers.

 

why? let's be logical here. the car told you to add fuel. you didn't add fuel. then the car died. because there was no fuel.

if you can conclude anything other than that you ran out of gas, i'd like to know how.

 

For some reason I missed the 5 - 7 miles before he ran out of gas. that sounds about right. Like I said, I pulled into the station shortly after I got to the last pip and I was down to my very last gallon.... in the winter I could probably drive 50 miles on my last pip before the add fuel light came on (flashing pip). Since it's summer there's no play here. When it flashes, it's almost too late to get off the freeway and coast into a fuel station.

I had it happen to me about a month ago (this is for us Phoenix folks). I was driving north on the 101 around lunch time talking to my wife on the hands free. My add fuel showed up on the display and the last pip started flashing. That was passing the Ray exit ramp. I kept going and hit the 202 west. Right after the curve I started running out of fuel (the ramp may have sloshed just enough forward to cause this). I was doing about 80. I slowed down to about 65 before it caught it self and started accelerating again. I quickly got off the Scottsdale Rd exit and hit the fuel station about a mile north of the exit. I never went to battery only mode or had any warning indicators.... I cut it about as close as one could cut it. Now, I fill up on the last pip.... the last couple of tanks have shown I have a solid gallon left in 113 degree weather (maybe it will be even more picky when it hits 118 or higher).

Mike

 

In his defense if he lived in a colder climate such as the climate you live in he'd be able to go a long way once the add fuel light came on...on any vehicle. In Wisconsin type weather, my Prius will take approximately 7.5 gallons during that time. In our extreme heat it's literally empty.

 

we have actually lived full time in nc since the day we bought the prius. not as hot as az, but it does tend to park it in the mid 90s and sometimes hit the 100s for a couple weeks at a time.

 

If:

• you added fuel
• the car now works satisfactorily
• and nothing else was done to the car

then I would conclude that the dealer was correct in asserting that the root of the problem is that your car was out of fuel.

Many Prius owners have posted that they have run out of fuel; the fuel gauge with justification is referred to as the "guess" gauge. I encourage you to refuel no later than when you see two bars appear on the fuel gauge - unless you again wish to experience the drama associated with an out-of-fuel situation.

 

Only Once have I gone to EMPTY and have actually had to drive 1/2 mile to the next off-ramp and to the station next to the exit. Never again... that was some 17 tanks ago.... I usually fill up between the blinking pip and two pips.

Though the third tank netted me 51.7 mpg and 457 miles in weather in the upper 70's to the low 80's for early February.

 

Hi lmurph..,

You should really change the title of this thread to "I ran out of gas". The car told you it was about to run out of gas, and then it stopped. Why is it so hard to believe that you ran out of gas ?

 

I'm siding with the dealer ... you ran out of gas!!!

 

Thats good to know, I hadn't heard that. Usually fill up right after the pip starts blinking, but this is our first summer. Will advise SO (who's currently monopolizing the Prius) to fill up at 1 bar!

Thanks,
Rob

 

I agree with those here. From what I have read the add fuel indicator often means "Put fuel in the car now. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. You are about to run out of gas."

Maybe they need a "You just ran out of gas" indicator. :biggrin1:


G

 

You definitely ran out of gas, as soon as you fill the tank the warnings will go away. A lot of us here have learned the hard way about the guess guage. To fix problem fill the car up with gas at 1 pip (2 if you are travelling in unknown areas). I have ran the car down to the flashing pip many times. There is no good excuse for running out of gas and I have seen myself get as many as 50 + miles from the flashing pip to barely getting 10 - 15 before running out. I was testing out my car at the time and learned my lesson quickly that the "11.9 gallon" tank is really more like a 9 gallon tank in the winter and a 10 gallon in the summer.

 

I find it disquieting, and not at all humorous, that the OP alleged a
mysterious malfunction in his vehicle that put him/her and uncountable other
rush hour drivers in a life threatening situation, yet expresses no shock or
outrage. Further, his/her posting shows a gross lack of understanding for a
person who has "read all the posts."

Numerous responders have provided info that suggests that the condition
described by the OP is easily diagnosed as simple --perhaps even negligent --
operator error.

Yet the OP, avowedly eager to become an "informed consumer," remains
silent. Perhaps he/she works the night shift, or is taking classes and not able
to follow-up the first posting.

I think not. This looks like a delayed "me-too" posting from the group that
trolled through last week.

I am willing to be convinced otherwise... unlikely, but remotely possible.

 

time to kick the dead horse some more but... Perhaps Toyota should re-word the "Add Fuel" message to a more menacing "DANGER!!! YOU ARE RUNNING ON FUMES" or a "ADD FUEL OR fill out an ID107 Form".

 

This is especially interesting since it's the first hint I've seen
that the fuel LEVEL determination has temperature dependency.
I understand the issue with bladder flexibility and the QUANTITY
of fuel you can add, but I figured that the gauge would still
measure whatever was in there about the same way.
.
Ideas on what the temp dependency may come from? Thermal response
of the sender resistor, or something?
.
_H*

 

I'm not jumping on the Troll diagnosis just yet. A few thoughts.

How do you remember how many miles previous to the "failure" the low fuel light came on? Unless you are expecting a problem it seems odd to note the mileage that the Add Fuel message poped up. It's not like it records a mileage stamp for you. Could it be the OP drove a bit more than 5 to 7 miles on the warning?

Also, I've been reading these forums for at least 3 years now and have never noticed anyone else claim that the add fuel warning changes range with temperature. For me (70,000 miles in Prii now) it's been pretty consistent. Expect about 3/4 of a gallon range, whatever that might be. If conditions cause the mileage to drop to 35 MPG, you might get 25 miles before running out of gas. If you are hypermileing you might get 50 miles before the triangle of death.

By the way, all 3 of my Prii have had pretty consistent gas gauges. The first pip goes away when there are about 9 gallons left. Depending on how full I stuff the tank I could get between 50 and over 160 miles on the first pip. Then it seems just under a gallon a pip, with the last few pips going down just a hair faster.

 

This is the short story... you made her mad, really mad so she shut you down.

Long story. The one sure fire way to damage the traction battery is to drive the gasoline-powered ICE vehicle bone dry and then put too much demand on the NiMH battery by driving on it alone. The hybrids are gasoline-powered vehicles with an electro-mechanical assist. The current ones are not intended to be driven only on battery power - ever.

However in the event that one ( OK you specifically ) were to get very low on fuel thus potentially threaten the safety and health of the traction battery the nice lady inside the Prius that oversees everything begins to get angry.

First she sends you a normal warning that you are low in fuel with the 'ADD FUEL' message on the MFD. 'Feed me'
Then the last bar begins to blink constantly. 'Feed me NOW'
After some period of time without fuel she be comes VERY VERY angry. 'Listen, smart guy, I told you back 50 to 100 miles ago that you had to FEED ME. But NO you decided to push a little bit more. You decided to ignore what I told you. You decided to see just how far you could push me before I got really upset. Now you're going to see how upset I can be. I'm taking the power away from you so that you CAN'T drive this baby any farther than to get safely off the road. Then I'm shutting you down. See this red Triangle of Death sign on the dash, I'm really pissed!!! NOW FEED ME!!!'

How do I know that she says all of this? She and I have a close relationship. I've met her several times, 5 in fact. Then there's the times I've been inattentive and opened the driver's door while the vehicle is still in gear. This too will result in a Triangle of Death sign and her simple little comment of ...."Hey stupid, if you get out of the car with it still in gear and still running just who do you think is going to drive it? Get back in here and put it in Park. PAY ATTENTION!!!"