2006 Prius Chokes and Stalls

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wentgreenin06 @ Aug 19 2006, 01:15 PM) [snapback]305905[/snapback]</div>

Dear lord, do you actually read what you are writing? I understand you are upset, but seriously, it sounds like you've lost touch with reality!

Now take a deep breath, realize the world does not revolve around you or your car, and let's start troubleshooting your issue in a reasonable fashion:

When you said the indicator said the car was running out of gas, was the last pip blinking? Did it say, "Add Fuel?" How much gas did you add after seeing the indicator?

What error codes did the dealer pull?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wentgreenin06 @ Aug 19 2006, 11:15 AM) [snapback]305905[/snapback]</div>

Besides answering brandon's questions, how do you know it's an identical problem? Just because you might have symptoms similiar to what you're referring to doesn't mean it's the same root cause.

FWIW, I have over 9400 miles on my 06 and have never encountered anything like what you've described.

BTW, you've posted this in the wrong area, it doesn't belong in "Prius and Hybrid News".

 

Unbelievable.

 

I have to agree with others so far, wentgreenin06,....

Take a deep breath and give it some time...I would wonder, too, about need for fill-up not matching little pips...since reading about that here, I'm going to fill up when I'm down to the last two pips...last time it only took 7.4 gallons, but that's ok...better sooner than too late.

terri

Keep us posted on outcome.

 

okay. FIRST: take a deep breath. sure you're upset but don't you think you're jumping to a rather irrational conclusion here?


did you add at least 3 gallons of gas? adding 1 or 2 gallons isn't enough for the car to register that gas was added.

any chance you added E85?

the reflash in the recall did resolve the problem with the stall issue. and toyota did inform their dealers and customers, how else do you think the recalls got done? the new version of the sofware has caused no problems to date, and that version was used beginning in mid 05.

i think you need to calm down and let the diagnostic guys find out what's really wrong with the car. when they find out the diag codes, pass them along here and we'll all be more than happy to help.

 

Do realize, we may be responding to a Troll! First post, and this is it? :huh:


WentGreen in 06 [today] but Not Sure if WentGreen is Ready for Us Yet. :lol:

P.S. Welcome to PriusChat WentGreen. [just hedging my bet ]

 

So are you asking for our help? Are warning us that we should get rid of our cars as soon as possible? What is your expectation of this board? Why are you posting here?

Please understand that I'm not trying to be rude, but you seem to be more concerned about trying to stir up a panic as opposed to trying to resolve your problem. Stop being troll-like and start being constructive! Everyone will benefit as a result. This attitude of, "My car broke down; the entire fleet is defective!" is complete BS and you know it.

If you're unsatisfied with the dealer's answer, take it to a different dealer. I know I wouldn't be satisfied with, "Gosh, I do not know. Oh, well."

Did the dealer pull any codes? What were they? How much gas did you add? These are all questions which have already been asked of you without reply. So far you're the only person making yourself a victim, here.

 

There's the slightest chance that those nice guys in Amarillo are idiots. Yes, even Toyota employes a few. If you got a Check Engine Light (CEL) you had codes set in the car's memory indicating why the CEL came on. If those Toyota technicians (I'm not willing to call them Prius techs) can't pull the codes to figure out what happened, they're right, they have no idea. Don't go to them if you need any further service.

And try not to let the gas get so low.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wentgreenin06 @ Aug 19 2006, 08:10 PM) [snapback]306074[/snapback]</div>

You were low on gas. How many pips were you at when the shutdown happened? You could've still run out. You didn't answer as to how many gallons you added.

In response to this post and another, you can always lookup recalls on any vehicle sold in the US at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems...ecallsearch.cfm.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wentgreenin06 @ Aug 19 2006, 11:28 PM) [snapback]306079[/snapback]</div>

just because they're very nice doesn't mean they have a clue what they're doing. this doesn't mean the car isn't fixable or that the problem is beyond understanding.

the check engine light is on, which means the car has set diagnostic codes which are used for diagnosing what caused the check engine light and how to fix it. if they can't figure out what the car is telling them, you need to go elsewhere. 99% of the codes have a very simple diag procedure. there are some vague ones but they're pretty rare.

there's no reason for them to be comparing this problem to the recall issue. i've said it before and i'll say it again. the recall was based on the old software, which has not been used since sometime in early-mid 05. it is strictly a software problem. the software was since fixed to correct the issue. typically with the recall stalling issue you could restart it with a couple of tries and go on to your destination without a hitch. it sounds like your car wasn't starting up again, which would indicate something beyond software that needs to be fixed before the car is restored to normal.

not all techs are good at diagnostics. and typically the ones who aren't vehemently refuse to admit so.

in short i'd get a second opinion. go to the next nearest dealer and ask specifically for their best diagnostic tech. and while you're at it ask him what codes the car set and like i said, if you pass on those codes we'll be happy to help you out. my husband is *the* prius diagnostic guy in the shop.

and while you understandably feel pessimistic about your car, i can tell you that the hubby sees much fewer problem prii than any other vehicle that comes into the shop- 99% of prii come in for schedule maintenance only. once this is fixed you're unlikely to have more problems with it. the reason for a warranty to begin with is that most problems crop up soon after the vehicle is put into service- usually a manufacturing defect with the part or how it was put into the car. it's rare but it happens, which is why you're covered.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Aug 20 2006, 11:10 AM) [snapback]306252[/snapback]</div>

In the shop?!?!?!?!?!?! i thought he was *the* prius diagnostic guy (period). :-p

 

It is pretty easy for the driver/owner to misread the symptoms when something like this happens, and it's completely normal to be a bit upset when something goes wrong with a new car. I think you should have the codes read out, get a copy of what they are, then have them reset. I assume from your post the car is running OK now, so just keep driving it and the failure most likely will not reoccur. Refill the tank when it reaches 1or 2 pips.

If the problem does reoccur go to a dealer and ask them to read the codes before they do anything else.

BTW Going only a short distance on the battery only is quite normal. If you have a normal SOC with 6 bars showing you can usually go about 1 mile maximum at low speed. That's based on what I read here, I haven't had the experience myself thankfully.

 

<_< I'm with terri

It's hard for me to comprehend why some drivers seem to want to push the fuel to the last cup of fuel to prove some unimportant point -- DUH "Look how many gallons I put in my Prius..!!" DUH. Most who read these forums KNOW that the "guess gauge" is neither linear nor accurate, and that running a Prius out of fuel is fraught with risk as well as inconvenience.

I have NEVER run my Prius out of fuel and usually fill at the last unblinking pip.