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Problems pumping gas

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by AOV, Aug 13, 2007.

  1. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    Last week as I started to pump gas into my car, the pump clicked off, just like it does when its full, yet...I just started pumping. I assumed something was wrong with the gas nozzle. I continued pumping, pressing ever so slightly, (took me forever!) until it started bubbling out...oops, I over filled it a bit.
    Today, I pulled into another gas station, the same thing happened. I tried another pump, the same thing happened. What is going on? I have been pumping gas since ....they did away with the "full service" stations...and I don't remember how long ago that was.
    Anyways...I go to another gas station, where I have been before, and the same thing happens. So, I go inside to talk to the manager. He comes out...the same thing happens to him. He tells me that I might have air or water in the tank. So what do I do about it I asked, he replied....a mechanic might help, he would have to empty it out, or he said...maybe a bottle of some sort of "treatment".
    Can someone help me on this? :(
     
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Priuses do that sometimes. That manager was just trying to get you off his driveway.
     
  3. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Aug 13 2007, 10:17 AM) [snapback]494656[/snapback]</div>
    Just got off the phone, called my Toyota dealership. I was told that there is "a bulletin out to that effect". They want me to bring the car in to be checked out. The first thing she asked if it was a Prius. So, tomorrow, bright and early, she wants me there at 7:30. I was told that I can wait.
     
  4. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    Well...two hours later, I got no where with the problem.
    First they asked me how long have I had the problem, then it was mentioned that they have to call California and find out if there are any TSB's issued on this for the 2007, because the problems were in the "older models, the 2004's". So, I left. Not going to wait for them to make the phone call. I just wish they would have called California yesterday when I reported the problem.
    As I am typing away here, the dealership calls, they just spoke to Tech-line, and it seems from my description that there might be "a blockage", so now I have to bring the car back when there is only 1/4 tank left. That could be tomorrow if it wasn't a Prius! :) This is going to take me a while, or I can do some unplanned traveling.
     
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    A blockage in the fuel pipe? Do you have young children? Is the car ever parked anywhere unlocked?
     
  6. mrnice

    mrnice New Member

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    I experienced something similar with my 2007 Prius. On about the third fill up the pump clicked off after 3 litres. I had half a tank of gas and was only buying because the price had fallen. I tried pressing very lightly and it kept clicking off so I left as I was not in need.

    The next time I bought gas at a different station it worked fine so I chalked the experience up to a bad pump. Two days ago at yet another station the same thing happened but this time at around 20 litres. I had two bars left on the display. 20 litres should not have been full in my mind so I slowly pumped to around 30 litres which I thought would still not be full... it was. I have never let the bars go below 2, any ideas of how much gas is left at this point? From my car it seems there was around 15 litres left which is a lot more than I thought.

    How does the Prius let you know you really are low on gas?

    Please update this topic when you have an answer AOV. I bought my car in the US and brought it to Canada. I can only imagine the dealers here are not going to be all that helpful if there is a problem. I rather have a case I can direct them to if I need to bring my car in.
     
  7. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrnice @ Aug 14 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]495350[/snapback]</div>
    When the last bar on the gauge starts flashing, running out is immanent.
     
  8. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Aug 14 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]495343[/snapback]</div>
    I do have young ones running around here, I run a licensed daycare out of my home, yet....for them to enter the car and unlock the fuel door...is a bit far-fetched. Most times, the car is locked, for the reason that I don't want to have the battery die on me if I do not close the doors properly, because we all know that the car won't lock if something is not closed right.
    You know, once I was told that there might be a blockage....the first thing that came to my mind was...did someone drop a stone into it. The magic words are "might be"...I think they don't know what's going on.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrnice @ Aug 14 2007, 11:15 AM) [snapback]495350[/snapback]</div>
    I thought as well that it might be a bad pump, that is why I tried two different ones at the same gas station, I waited for someone to finish pumping their gas and used that one, and then went to another station, and had the same problem.
    As I mentioned, they want me to go back (no appt. needed this time), when my tank is about 1/4 empty...and its full to the brim now!
     
  9. orenf

    orenf New Member

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    I've had a similar experience with my new '07. First time I stopped for gas, the pump would click off repeatedly. Finally I called the attendant, and, after a while, he managed to somehow get it to work properly. He was (a) surprised at how narrow the opening for the pump is and (B) said something about pump sensors getting confused by something.
    After about 30L the pump clicked off again, and I decided to call it quits. The fuel meter showed the tank to be "full", but the first bar disappeared after about 110 miles or so, which seems to indicate it wasn't fully full :)

    I'll try another gas station when I next fill'er up (in two weeks' time...).

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Aug 13 2007, 09:01 AM) [snapback]494649[/snapback]</div>
     
  10. orenf

    orenf New Member

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    I've had a similar experience with my new '07. First time I stopped for gas, the pump would click off repeatedly. Finally I called the attendant, and, after a while, he managed to somehow get it to work properly. He was (a) surprised at how narrow the opening for the pump is and (B) said something about pump sensors getting confused by something.
    After about 30L the pump clicked off again, and I decided to call it quits. The fuel meter showed the tank to be "full", but the first bar disappeared after about 110 miles or so, which seems to indicate it wasn't fully full :)

    I'll try another gas station when I next fill'er up (in two weeks' time...).

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Aug 13 2007, 09:01 AM) [snapback]494649[/snapback]</div>
     
  11. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    We can thank the bladder for causing this issue.
     
  12. Wrightgal

    Wrightgal Junior Member

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    I have had the same problem with my 3mo old 2007. Down to 3 bars on the 3rd tank of gas and decided to stop and fill up. Pump clicked off after about 5 seconds. Kept trying to pump but just kept clicking. I knew it wasn't the pump because I always fuel up at this station and have never had a problem before. Anyway, I was in a hurry so I left and later that day tried pumping at another station. Same thing. Go figure. I just couldn't get my car to take any gas. So, I tried next day and everything was fine. Filled her up at my usual station and no problems. What is going here? Would love to know. This is very frustrating and could cause considerable anxiety if I were low on fuel. I figured just from reading my owners manual that it was probably something to do with the bladder system.
     
  13. tekn0wledg

    tekn0wledg New Member

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    Ugh. Now I'm worried :(

    I have a new '07 as well, but I have only put one tank in it so far. I'd hate to be somewhere on a long road trip with low gas and have this problem occur.
     
  14. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tekn0wledg @ Aug 15 2007, 02:05 PM) [snapback]496274[/snapback]</div>
    Don't get over-worried about it, you can still pump gas into the car, just pull out the nozzle so its barely in there and proceed, as though you were filling up a 5 gallon container for your lawnmower, or something. Just have an idea how much you need, and stop, don't want the fuel to overspill. And...it takes a lot longer, but...you will have gas.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MichelleC @ Aug 15 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]496229[/snapback]</div>
    I have had my car about 4 months when this started last week, and I have had the problem since. I went to my usual stations, and the same pumps, still had the problems. As I mentioned, you can pump gas into the car, just have to pull the nozzle out more, pressing it very lightly and be careful not to overspill.
    Since, I filled up Monday, and have not planned any long distance driving, and it being a Prius. :) ..its going to take me a while until my tank is 3/4 empty, so I can take it to the dealer, as per their instructions.
     
  15. telstar

    telstar New Member

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    I read this thread earlier yesterday about gas filling problems. Later in the day I needed to stop and fill up having about depleted my first tank of gas that came with my Prius (got it last week) so this was my first time pumping gas into my 07 Prius. I pushed the nozzle all the way into the filler opening and started the pump - it kicked off after a couple of seconds. Tried again and it kicked off again after a few seconds. Tried again, same thing. Having some experience with other vehicles with finicky filler openings, I slid the nozzle back about an inch, or less, and tried it again. The pump ran and filled the tank completely and didn't shut off until it was filled completely (10.7 gal) :) I'm thinking that with the particular filler opening on the Prius backing the nozzle a little a full insertion position may be just the thing ;)
     
  16. AOV

    AOV New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(telstar @ Aug 16 2007, 11:23 AM) [snapback]496897[/snapback]</div>
    I also, not being a novice...I did pull it out a bit, then a little more and it still clicked off, not until it was almost out that I was able to pump gas, and then the nozzle is too far out to click itself off properly. I have had the car for 4 months now, and I have almost 10K miles on it, so...when this problem only started the last two times at the pump...this has to be taken care of by Toyota.
    I am glad that your experience with the pumping issue is not as bad as mine, but then again, time will tell.
     
  17. Prudence

    Prudence New Member

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    I had problems with my very first fill up. I now pump at half speed and have no problems. While on vacation we ran into a bad pump, it did the shut off thing every few seconds, very annoying. We filled up two other times after and no problems. I don't like it, but I've learned to adjust the way I pump gas.
     
  18. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prudence @ Aug 17 2007, 09:05 AM) [snapback]497755[/snapback]</div>
    My only advice is to pump slowly. Please let us know if the dealer actually solves the problem.
     
  19. jackovalltrades

    jackovalltrades New Member

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    I am having this identical problem with my 2007. I've had it since February and have just over 14k miles now. This started about 2 weeks ago when I tried to fill with 4 pips left. It wouldn't take anything unless I pulled the nozzle almost all the way out. I managed to fill (according to the pips) but then over the week with 225 miles driven I was down to 3 pips which is way off compared to the usual 400 or so I normally get.

    Then my wife just this week took it out of town and the same thing happened to her. She had to ask an attendant at the gas station to help her out. She managed to fill up before driving 220 miles back home. I'm going to take this tank down to 1 or 2 pips before filling. If it happens again it's going to the dealer. I can't be putzing around with a pump with my 2 little ones in the car each time I go to a station.

    I would like to see this thread updated so that if I have to go to the dealer I will have something to go on.
     
  20. Silver Surfer

    Silver Surfer Junior Member

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    I have just experienced the exact same problem with my brand new 2007 Touring Prius.
    The pump continually clicks off. I even moved to another gas pump in the station. Same thing again.
    We have 300 miles on the car and it was just a little over half full. I wanted to see what would happen.
    I called my dealer and he said to wait to the next fill up and see if it happens again. If it does, bring it in he said.
    Not sure waht he will do, but I think this should be considered some type of safety issue as you shouldn't have to play around with trying to figure out how far in the nozzle should go to get an even flow of fuel. Especially since the nozzles are set to shut down after hitting full.
    I will be revisiting this thread often