P3193 code

Hmmm. I don't want to sound sarcastic, but I really think you should not push the Prius when it comes to the fuel gage. Quite a few on this forum refer to the gage as a "guess" gage rather than a gas gage or fuel gage.

If I were you I would get into the habit of refueling when you get down to two pips or three pips. Unless the gage is out of calibration, you normally will not run out of fuel doing that. Note I said normally. There have been exceptions to that rule.

My best advice would be this for a out of gas situation with a Prius. Add four "FULL" gallons of fuel to the Prius in one setting. Then try to start the Prius and get it into "Ready Mode". If the Prius won't start and or go into "Ready Mode", then try disconnecting the 12 volt battery for about 30 seconds, then reconnect it and try to start the Prius again. At that point the Prius should recognize the fuel and since you unhooked the battery most if not all of any codes present "should" be cleared.

Give that a shot. If you gets you back on the road, from then on make it a practice of buying fuel "sooner" than you do now. Several here on Prius Chat will say if you drive on a flashing pip, you are simply playing Russian Roulette. Sooner or later that live shell is going to come up and get you.

Hope this helps you. Let us know how it all works out.

 

Also, it is very possible that I am confused at this point. I am under the impression you are out of gas, but your last few words said you put fuel in it.

If you truly ran out of gas after you added the fuel, then my next question would be did you add more than three gallons of fuel when you put the gas in.

 

Just a long shot, but check that your gas cap is on nice and tight (take it off and put it back on again). There have been a few people who've reported getting a code (not sure which one though) due to not having it on tight.

 

There have been enough reports here of miscellaneous generic code readers giving false readings, that it is too soon for any certainty. The iced exhaust pipe theory has merit, given your location. The present out of gas code sounds suspicious.

There is a frequent PC'er, ericbecky in Madison. Hopefully he will chime in. If you ever get there, he could help. I realize you are a poor student, but if you can part with $30, then get the mini VCI (Prius code reader) on eBay, and you will be able to know more about these sorts of intermittent problems than your mechanic. It will pay for itself over the life of the car.

 

Maybe the P3193 code was an old "stored" code and unrelated to the check engine light problem that seemed to resolve itself.

I guess I would be remiss without asking how your 12 volt battery health is.

 

Weird stuff happening? MPGs dropping? Test The Battery | PriusChat

 

Just to reiterate --- What Dorunron and Frey said <check battery>...

 

DTC P3193 is logged by the engine ECU and points to an out-of-fuel situation. Hence, if that DTC is current, that does imply that your car very recently ran out of fuel.

I would like to encourage you, as a Prius owner, to modify your refueling practices so that you avoid future out-of-fuel episodes without fail. That is definitely very bad for the car (especially the traction battery) and might not be so great for you, depending upon where you are left on the side of the road.

One very easy way to check the 12V battery is to turn on the headlights when the car is IG-OFF. If the lights are dim, that is a clear indication that the battery is weak.

Of course, if you can figure out how to use the MFD to get a numeric reading, or if you have a digital multimeter to measure battery voltage, even better.

 

Did you notice the engine seem to lose power at all. Like for example only running on electric when you would have thought the engine should also be providing power?

Anyway test the battery as soon as possible, any other attempt at diagnosis is pointless until that one is determined. Use the procedure linked above by Ron. No tools or meters required, just follow the procedure in the first post here: Weird stuff happening? MPGs dropping? Test The Battery | PriusChat

 

I wonder if your fuel pump is going out or fuel filter is clogged. I would wait for whatever it is to get worse. It will be easier to fix when the check engine light stays on consistently. If the fuel delivery system is messed up it could seem like you are out of gas to the computer. How many miles do you have?

 

1. It is incorrect to assume that you are starting with 12 gallons, after the fuel tank has been filled. The actual capacity of the Prius fuel tank can vary widely especially in cold ambient temps, due to the flexible bladder. Might be as low as 9 gallons in very cold climates.

2. It was previously suggested that the fuel pump or fuel filter might be getting flaky, thus impacting fuel flow to the engine. One check that could be made is to measure fuel rail pressure, which should be > 43 psi. This is something that you can have a mechanic to do for you.

If it turns out that fuel rail pressure is low, the solution is to replace the fuel tank since the pump and filter are located within and cannot be separately replaced. The circuit opening relay also should be tested to make sure that dirty relay contacts are not the reason for low voltage getting to the fuel pump and negatively impacting fuel rail pressure. That relay is one of four relays located in a module, within the main relay/fuse box next to the inverter.

 

BTW. You are supposed to test the 12V with the ignition off. Ignition on does not tell you anything because the inverter is supplying the power in ignition on. Also, you should perform this test after the car sits overnight for a true reading. Furthermore, Patrick Wong is one of the best people to receive help from on this forum... Alienating him with abusive comments is equal to you going to the bank and setting up a direct payment link to your local Toyota Dealer. Just sayin'.

 

raspberry,

Honestly, I think you are letting the Prius bladder mislead you. As Patrick Wong pointed out the capacity is far less than you believe.

From everything you have stated, it would not surprise me one bit that you really did run out of gas. However, since we do not know if the fuel system is working properly certain tests have to be made. Again Patrick Wong suggested the pressure of the fuel rail be tested. Any mechanic can check that for you.

Also, if you really want to check the 12 volt properly do it after the Prius has set overnight. The 13.9 volts really doesn't help you much other than showing that the charging system is working. What really tells the most is the voltage in the first part and the second part of the test.

I honestly believe you should develop a habit of buying fuel BEFORE the second pip disappears and NOT wait until the flashing pip is showing and then driving 40 miles after that. You are inviting a out of gas situation.

Ron (dorunron)