Gas Tank Bladder

I have only filled mine up once. And a little too late when it came to knowing that DONT OVERFILL IT OR YOU WILL WEAR IT WHEN YOU PULL THE FILLER BACK OUT. Boy was I mad. It just wouldnt stop coming back out. After it finally stopped I cleaned up the paint and around the gas cap real good so not to damage my paint job. HEADS UP EVERYONE. Stop filling when the nozzle shuts off the first time.

But anyway.

I guess since I really expanded this bladder, I too have almost 150 miles on this tank and it has not come off the full line yet. My milage on the computer shows 52.7mpg.

The tank was full from the dealer and I noticed the first notch came down when I reached about 70 miles. But I figured since it was from the dealer they were not going to put in anymore then they need too.

The temp when I first bought it VS when I filled up was about the same. Around 55 degrees.

Thanks for posting your experience about getting low on gas. I will really watch mine and not let it get this low.

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I experience the same situation - Hot weather - lots of miles before first bar. Cold weather - less miles.

A couple observations : the bladder is a vinyl bag and becomes very stiff in the cold thus not expanding.

Gas gauges are inherently inaccurate, and even in the old pointer type gauges, they stay on top much longer than one would normally think.

I feel this cars gas gauge is approximately the same as I have been used to in most if not all of my previous cars (I have owned over 30 cars in the last 30 years). No surprises to me at all - except for the much better gas mileage during warm times!!

lovin it ..
steve dickerson
'02 super white 12,300 miles

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Gas Tank Bladder Problem

Hi,

I have a 2002 Prius. About two months ago I went to start up my car after my son had been driving it, only to have the hybrid warning lights come on. At the time the car also wouldn't start. Interestingly, after a little "rest" I was able to get it out of the garage for the tow truck driver. After more than a week the service department was finally able to diagnose the problem, informing me that I needed a new gas tank and a new computer. The gentleman explained that something was wrong with the bladder and that it was letting the car run out of gas. So, everything was fixed and I was back on my way.

Today I came out of a store and went to start my car only to find that the hybrid lights were on again. I waited for about a half hour, turned it on and saw only the check engine warning light, and drove it directly to the dealer's in anticipation of servicing tomorrow.

Has anyone else had this experience? By the way, after I found that I'd be paying $700 for the gas tank (125 miles over warranty), I asked if this is a common problem. I was told that they have only seen 1 or 2 other Prius with the same problem. This is a lease and I'd like to buy another one when the lease is up, but not if this is a common occurrence.

Re: Gas Tank Bladder Problem

Cindy Romano said:

Hi,

I have a 2002 Prius. About two months ago I went to start up my car after my son had been driving it, only to have the hybrid warning lights come on. At the time the car also wouldn't start. Interestingly, after a little "rest" I was able to get it out of the garage for the tow truck driver. After more than a week the service department was finally able to diagnose the problem, informing me that I needed a new gas tank and a new computer. The gentleman explained that something was wrong with the bladder and that it was letting the car run out of gas. So, everything was fixed and I was back on my way.

Today I came out of a store and went to start my car only to find that the hybrid lights were on again. I waited for about a half hour, turned it on and saw only the check engine warning light, and drove it directly to the dealer's in anticipation of servicing tomorrow.

Has anyone else had this experience? By the way, after I found that I'd be paying $700 for the gas tank (125 miles over warranty), I asked if this is a common problem. I was told that they have only seen 1 or 2 other Prius with the same problem. This is a lease and I'd like to buy another one when the lease is up, but not if this is a common occurrence.

Click to expand...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toy ... 011-03.pdf
(you'll have to be a group member to view the file)

TSB EG011-03, "Master, Hybrid, & M.I.L. 'ON'
P3190/P3191 & P3101," issued June 12, 2003,
for 2001-2003 model year Prius,
superceeding TSB EG012-02 dated Sept. 5, 2002.

After going through a diagnostic flow-chart,
possible replacements are any/all of the following:
Fuel tank sub-assembly (warrantied for 36 months or 36,000 miles, except for vehicles registered/operated in CA/VT/MA, where it's covered for 84 months or 70,000 miles)
Engine Control Module (ECM) (warrantied for 96 months or 80,000 miles)
Circuit Opening Relay Assembly (warrantied for 36 months or 36,000 miles)

Gas Tank Bladder Problems

Thanks for responding back so quickly, Michelle. Unfortunately, I'm not a group member so I was not able to open up the website.

The mechanic at my dealership was not able to find any problem with the car, other than finding the same code as from last time. In fact, he wasn't even able to get an "engine check" warning light to come on when he started the car and drove it around. We're sitting tight to see if the problem resurfaces.

In the meantime, I'm looking into whether this is a common occurrence with Prius in general, or just the 2002 model. Does anyone know the answer? Other than this, I have had no problem at all with my car and absolutely love driving it. (I've also had a great experience with the service department -- not something I've always been able to say with other cars.)