TSB Released on Fuel Gauge Innacuracies

I called my service dealer about this TSB and they knew nothing about it, so I emailed them the pdf. I'll let the list know if anything happens today.

Jeff

 

My vin is 87904 so are they saying I have no problem or there is no way to fix it?

Thanks,
Trapperjohn

 

Tempus
Thanks for the pdf! It sure is detailed!

Just wondering...where can the "average joe" find these TSB's? Is it normally posted somewhere on Toyota's website for the public to see? Or is this usually only available to service tech insiders?

 

I wonder how long it takes to get these bulletins to the service dealers. I have spoken to three people this morning at my local dealer, and they are still in the dark. I have a call into the service manager. Perhaps he is the only one who gets the bulletins. We'll see. I think I will call another dealer and see if they know what I am talking about.

Jeff

 

I just spoke to another dealer about the TSB. He said it may take up to a month before the dealers get this. It depends on how important they are. That sounded kind of funny to me, but there is not much we can do until they get in the loop.

Jeff

 

thanks

great job tempus. I fall in the range.

 

More updates: I spoke to a service advisor where I bought the car, Carson Toyota. He was helpful. The TSC's are emailed to the service managers when they are released. They got the Prius TSC yesterday. The parts have to be ordered before anything is scheduled. The parts will be allocated by Toyota based on how many Prius the dealership has sold. That being said, it seems like it might be a while before the service on this update will be done.

I'll keep you posted if I learn anything new.

Jeff

 

My car is outside the range, I think. How do you decode the Vin #?

 

Thanks, Tempus! A quick scan of the .pdf shows that, besides falling within a certain VIN range, the owner must first:

- Have a complaint on file. The .pdf shows the magic words the dealer needs to hear.

- Have the dealer order the part. If a new computer is required, there will be a delay while it's odometer memory is programmed with actual miles.

- Arrive for the TSB with <¾ tank of gas.

I didn't see a book time for completion. I'd guess at least 2 hours. That'll leave time to demo a few new 2005 Toyotas!

 

I saw yours first Brad, so you were first in my book

This is very good. The fuel guage thing seemed to be the only universal complaint with the '04s. If it has been fixed as of this spring and older cars can get the fix, everyone is happy!

 

If your VIN is outside the affected range, then your Prius already has the modifications this TSB recommends. In other words, Toyota started quietly putting the newer computer and filler arrangement into the car a couple of months ago.

 

Very interesting!! I was going to report that my car just picked up 2 weeks ago and built in July seemed to behave just like a regular with regards to fill ups and the gage. Has the same behavior as an analog gage. Last two fill up were just under 9 gallons and with in a few tenths of each other. In other words fairly normal car behavior. I am going for it and let it get to the blinking gage before filling. I was going to wait for one more fill up before I reported anything. My vin does not appear to be in the range. Anyone know how to decode these Vin's?? I was also told that the check engine O2 sensor thing was fixed and I had no check engine light I watched it like a hawk. I could have flashed for a second but if it was on for more than a minute or two I would have seen it. My brake in was atypical because of the initial 700 mile freeway drive though.

 

Can anyone who has a car with the VIN number LATER than the ranges specified in the TSB comment on how many gallons they get in the tank when the last bar starts blinking?

My car's VIN is in the range of affected cars, however I don't think I have a problem with the guage. It seems to work ok, and I can get between 9 and 9.5 gallons when I fill up immediately after last bar starts blinking.

Will getting this fix allow me to improve my range? Or is my car just coincidentally not having the problem?