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The bars to my gas tank meter is acting wierd!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by kosmikchic, Aug 3, 2007.

  1. kosmikchic

    kosmikchic New Member

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    The most bazarr thing happend to me today. I had only 2 bars left on my gas tank meter. I drove to work and it went down to 1 bar. Ok, I know now I will need to fill up soon. So I drive to the store after work to pick up some stuff and when I go back to the Prius to start it up to go to a gas station, my once single bar had turned to 6 bars!!!!!! How could this be? How did I go from one bar to 6 bars without going to a gas station? Is there something wrong with my prius? Has anyone else experienced this?

    Thanks in advance to any replies :)
    ~Ame
     
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Ame,
    Is it possible that someone could have stopped by and topped off your tank?
    Yeah, probably not.

    I've never seen anything like that but one thing for sure, if it happened to me, I would get gas as soon as possible and write it off as a fluke.
     
  3. kosmikchic

    kosmikchic New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 3 2007, 07:53 PM) [snapback]490321[/snapback]</div>
    LOL, that is truelly positive thinking.... but I was only gone for 3 min.... so I doubt a stranger could fill it up that fast :D

    I agree with you, I do plan to go to the gas station first thing in the AM to fill it up.... I don't trust the sudden 6 extra bars. I am hoping it's a one time fluke!
     
  4. Neicy

    Neicy Member

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    If you park on a hill it affects the guage - but that much? Doubtful. That would have to be some mountain!
     
  5. priusmaybe

    priusmaybe New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Neicy @ Aug 3 2007, 11:04 PM) [snapback]490330[/snapback]</div>

    I have a friend that randomly pays for someone else's gas at quick trip when she goes in to pay. It is funny to watch her.
     
  6. kosmikchic

    kosmikchic New Member

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    Here's an update to the wierdness incase any of you maybe interested.....

    I went straight to the gas station to fill up. The gas guage still read 6 bars! I filled the gas tank all the way and get this..... I pumped 9.566 gallons of gas!!!!!! Time for some wine! :blink: :huh: <_<
     
  7. babsrocks

    babsrocks Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kosmikchic @ Aug 4 2007, 10:47 PM) [snapback]490732[/snapback]</div>
    mine did something similar awhile back. Not as exteme but I think it went from blinking to 4 bars then I was able to get in like 9 gal in there. Only happened that once.
     
  8. DougSlug

    DougSlug Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kosmikchic @ Aug 4 2007, 10:47 PM) [snapback]490732[/snapback]</div>
    Sounds like you ought to go straight to the dealer, too! That could cause a big problem...maybe there's a software or sensor flaw yet to be fully discovered?

    - Doug
     
  9. takodon

    takodon New Member

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    We had the same thing happen today. It was at two bars yesterday, then
    when I looked at it this afternoon, it was almost 3/4 full. We had parked
    for a few minutes around lunch with the nose downhill on a steep slope,
    but when I noticed the gas gauge we had driven for 10 miles since then.
    I opened the gas cap to see if there was some weird pressure thing going
    on, but no pop, no effect. We've driven another 10 miles or so and it's
    still 3/4 full so it's not gradually returning to "correct".

    I fully expect to put 8 or 9 gallons in when we fill up tonight.

    Odd.
     
  10. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Ours is weird sometimes too. I'll fill up until it clicks off, pay for the gas, and get back in to find the gauge registering only about 3/4 full. Then, as I drive down the street, the rest of the squares appear as if by magic. One of the first few times this happened, I said "Hey, let's go around the block and try that again!" :)
     
  11. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DougSlug @ Aug 7 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]492105[/snapback]</div>
    The gauge can be recalibrated if the wierd readings continue. It does not improve the accuracy of the gauge.
     
  12. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I rely on my mileage to tell the story, it's a motorbike riding thing.
    800km (about 500m) from a tank, time to fill up regardless of the gauge.
     
  13. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    North American readers are cautioned that patsparks observation applies only to his particular fuel tank in his operating conditions. If you try the same tactic some number of you will run out of gas.
     
  14. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Thanks Richard, I should also say I never wait for the last bar on the fuel gauge, but I do know I will get at least 800km before then.
    Australian fuel tank is a plastic tank with no bladder. It is always a 45 litre tank.
     
  15. skyisblue

    skyisblue New Member

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    This weekend I had a similar problem.

    I was driving down to Santa Cruz from Berkeley and when I left I had half the bars (or a little over) showing. When we got to Santa Cruz I was down to two bars so I knew I should fill up before the return trip (I was carrying a friend and our surfboards on the rack so we get only 38 mpg on average on this trip). I filled up in Santa Cruz, drove home, and drove around town in Berkeley on Sunday, and it still shows that I have a full tank.
    java script:emoticon(':unsure:', 'smid_13')
    :unsure:
    Any ideas what is going on or how to fix?
     
  16. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skyisblue @ Sep 24 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]517115[/snapback]</div>
    There is nothing wrong to fix. I usually drive 135-185 miles before the first bar drops.
     
  17. justin96039

    justin96039 210,000 Miles on our Prius!

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    Yesterday had the following problem. I had 4 bars then 2 bars and then at 300 miles, the add fuel light came on. When I went to a gas station after 40 miles, I only placed 8 gallons in the vehicle. After placing that 8 gallons in the vehicle, I only had 9 bars. After 150 miles I only have 6 bars. This is odd. My mileage is 34,000. This is something we should keep track of. JW
     
  18. koa

    koa Active Member

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    Anytime I park in our sloped driveway with the front down the gas gauge recalibrates to full. It usually won't fix itself till the next fill up. We always back in now. It's an annoying quirk.