While driving around 55mph, the check engine light came on and as soon as it came on the car begin to slow down until it came to a stop. There was no noise. This was the first time the check engine light has came on. My car has exactly 28,960 miles on it. It took the service department at the dealership nearly 2 full days to charge the car and get it to stay on when you turn it on. It wouldn't initially stay on when they charged it. They originally called me this afternoon around 4:30pm and said they were trying to get a software update from Toyota. Around 4:55pm they called again to say that I needed to contact my insurance to file a claim because they think maybe something is wrong with my gas because they think they found some crystal-like substance in the tank. A gas-related issue is not covered under warranty. I don't see how a gas-issue caused the car to completely shut down. I also don't see how this could be why they had trouble charging the battery. Does anyone had any ideas on this?
Crystal like substance? It sounds like someone put sugar/salt in the tank. The Straight Dope: Does putting sugar in the gas tank wreck a car's engine?
Multiple things happened here. First you ran out of usable gas. It is not necessarily because you didn't fill your tank, but none was being burned. The car tells you you are out of gas by lighting up the dash and then continues to propel you on electric only so you can safely pull off the road. In this mode, you have almost no power. You continued to drive it for a mile or two maybe. In normal circumstances the battery starts the engine to recharge the HV pack at 40% to keep the battery healthy. Just like it stops it at 80%. When you are in an emergency situation the car will allow you to run the pack down to completely empty at speed which is closer to 14% to 18%. At this point there just isn't enough juice to continue forwards, and you stopped. You now have maybe 1 attempt, maybe 3 attempts to start the engine with the HV pack so low. MG1 is spun up by the HV pack to start the engine to charge the battery. So when it is so low, you get a chicken and egg problem. Hopefully it didn't get so low that you can still start and charge it. Not sure what battery they are talking about, but if they couldn't charge the HV pack it is because they have to fly in a HV charger from Toyota regional, generally from Japan because it doesn't happen often. Now as to why, when they say crystal-like structures, that's almost always sugar. It could be bad gas from a crappy station. But almost always it is vandalism. Do you see any marks around your gas can where they pried it open? Or do you leave your car unlocked so the gas lever can be pulled?
There was nothing around the gas tank to make me think someone has tampered with the tank. Usually the only time the car is unlocked is during the day at home.
It's really easy to pop these gas tank doors open and not damage them once you know how to. Is the car garage kept or parked in front of the garage?
when my gen II ran out of gas, and i drove until the battery quit, there was still enough juice left in the battery to start the car after putting gas in the tank. is the gen III different?
i would go down and have them show you what they found. maybe ask your insurance agent what they think.
It seems like a little detective work may be in order. If there is sugar in your gas, somebody put it there recently. Have you recently put gas into your car using a gas can? Do you have a troubled neighbor or an ongoing dispute? Has anyone in your neighborhood or where you regularly park had a similar problem? I would pursue this cautiously. Investigating suspicions can be perceived, by some, as jumping to conclusions.
The old man across the street was rumored to play jokes before we moved in but I hadn't noticed anything any signs of his known tricks. I was told his tricks are harmless so I haven't thought about it.
The old man across the street was rumored to play jokes before we moved in but I hadn't noticed anything any signs of his known tricks. I was told his tricks are harmless so I haven't thought about it.
I went to the dealership yesterday and they showed me a milky substance with a little bit of small crystal-gritty material siphoned from my tank. I've never seen anything like this. But apparently the Prius is designed to shut down when at risk of major damage. It no longer looks like a warranty-covered issue and I've contacted my insurance. Their diagnostic machine can find no other issue with the car... We will see what happens when they completely clean the tank.
It is the same. However people that don't know they ran out of gas may try to start it a few times, or after it loses forward motion sit in the car with the headlights and radio on waiting for the tow truck.
Any chance that you got some bad gas? The junk that is sold as gasoline is pretty bad and I have seen some strange looking junk coming out of what are supposed to be "clean" tanks. You would be amazed at what the modern fuel will do to a brass float in an older car.
The gas today is a mess. However, the insurance adjuster determined that glitter was used in my tank. He believes I was a victim of a bored teen on Sprinn Break.
Wow, that's some creative kids you have in your neighborhood. Sucks, and hope the insurance handles it speedily.
Ridder, Could you make a "special" batch with all the good er bad stuff in it? I would love to feed my 65 Mustang GT real gasoline for a change
