Fuel Filling Problem

Toyota should redesign the switch; this is a weasel-out. Maybe US owners contacting National Transportation Safety Board would get them going? I mean: this is gas spillage, not trivial.

 

Filled up today. This particular gas station has a smaller overflow gasket, so no touching.

Prius_fuelcap by CoolPrius posted Dec 22, 2017 at 7:01 PM

 

Reasonable idea, wrong agency.

In the U.S., it’s the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that regulates safety-related characteristics of vehicles. Anyone can make a Vehicle Safety Complaint, or in a more formal process, petition for a defect investigation (see 49 U.S.C. § 30162 and 49 CFR Part 552, Subpart A). EPA and CARB might also be interested, if spilled gasoline contributes to increased evaporative emissions.

The NTSB, like the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), investigates specific accidents and general transportation safety issues and makes recommendations, but it’s not a regulatory agency like NHTSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, USCG, or PHMSA. Indeed, the NTSB is independent of those agencies, so it can objectively assess how regulation or the lack of it might have caused or contributed to accidents.

 

I had the problem today, it is only the second time I have put gas in the car. I went to another gas station and it took gas. I'm not sure but the first time I shut the car off then pushed the button on the lower left dash to open the door and it would not take gas. The second time before I shut car off I pushed the button and made sure I got the message on the display on the dash and it took gas fine. At first I thought it was cold weather but I think it was just operator error. I will pay more attention next time.

 

Did you check to see if your car was part of that TSB to replace a weak door spring?

 

I had this issue for the first time in about 50 fill ups

I just screwed the cap back on, shut the door, pushed the button to release, and it worked just fine. Didn't even have to let go of the fuel pump

The -10 F temps might have had something to do with it too..

 

Thanks for solving this problem, eric1234. If anyone is still confused, the fuel pump nozzle has a splash guard (rubber disc) that can accidentally push the switch (tiny black post on the right). Pushing the switch closes the valve in the fuel neck, so fuel overflows.

Normally, closing the fuel door causes the attached metal piece to push the switch down, then releases the switch into a cutout hole to lock the door shut. Yes, it's OK to play with the switch and door to see how it works, but wait until AFTER you pump gas.

 

I suspect there is another switch that detects if the door is fully open. There is a TSB for some cars that had a weak spring not opening the door fully.

 

Good catch, I forgot to mention the other TSB.

 

Had this issue today during the 16th fuel up of my 2017 Prius. Second time it happens in the last 3 fill ups. Today I went in with 3/8 of a tank and it started spilling out after 10 litres, and I ended up with just over half a tank on the gauge.

Thought it might be a fuel gauge issue but after I plugged in my numbers in Fuelly and it spit out 1.9 l/100km (impossible) this confirmed that the gauge is probably fine. I then thought that there might be an obstruction somewhere between the fuel door and gas tank, until I found this thread. Next time I fill up I will make sure that nothing touches that latch...

Thanks for the thread!

 

Did you get the "Refuel Ready" or whatever it says on the dash display.?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the "ready to fuel" message on the dashboard. Why would anybody sit there and look for a message? Is this a special feature that is specific to a Prius? I'm already out of the car before I press the fuel door unlock button.

But even with the ready message, when you insert the gas nozzle and strike the switch, you will still have the overflow. Right?

(Another Prius Oddity to add to my growing list. )

 

Didn't know that was a thing either... I'll keep an eye out for it next time!

 

You don't have to wait for the message but it should be there when you push the button.

Be careful not to push the button in the gas door opening, I think I did and it shuts off the fuel opening.

I need more information myself but if it takes gas like most cars what is there to learn right? Then when it doesn't the game changes.

Next time look for the message, I always do that now, it's just a matter of pressing the button and glancing at the display no big deal.

 

It sounds like the "ready message" has nothing to do with the overflow problem? Or am I missing something.

These guys are accidentally hitting the little switch with the fuel nozzle... closing some valve... and the gas overflows, or won't fill. Even if they get the ready message, they can still hit the switch inside the filler door, and overflow, right?

Just another Prius Oddity! I still believe that this car is unnecessarily overly-complicated in many ways. There's nothing in the owner's manual about being careful with the nozzle, and not hitting that switch. People are gonna freak out when they see gas running down the fender.

 

Nope. I usual have to get out and turn back having just remembered to push the button!

 

I've never hit that switch with the fuel nozzle. But I did overflow my gas tank twice, by trying to squeeze in an extra gallon. I learned a lesson. Don't be greedy. Pull the nozzle out when it automatically clicks off. Then go for a nice drive and eat my egg McMuffin.

 

I noticed if the door is open when you hit the button the message "Refuel Ready" pops up and then it show the drivers door open and then it goes into cycling between the two. I really don't know if this has anything to do with your problem but I had trouble when I first got the car and still don't know what was wrong or something I did. Now when I push the button I watch for the message. I am not one of the worlds most observant people either.

 

I can't honestly say that I've ever seen that ready message. And I just filled up this morning, and I don't recall seeing that little black switch either. I just shove the nozzle in and gas her up.

Which brings up a whole different issue about this Prius: I don't want to have to think about it so much! I enjoy (and need) simplicity in my life. I gotta be honest. After reading that dang 800 page owner's manual, my head was spinning! 800 pages is crazy! (And I never even got around to reading the Navigation book.) It's just too much. I still believe that the Prius is unnecessarily overly-complicated. But maybe that's the nature of the technology. (Or maybe it's just my older age talking.)

I miss my very simple to drive 1995 Camry.

I should start a new thread. "Old Guy Overwhelmed!"

 

Look what I found inside the fuel door:



This explains the situation exactly. Guess I should have paid attention to the notice earlier!