Gas unexpectedly ran out! - Toyota Yaris Forums

40oz · 12-18-2010, 01:19 AM

Okay my mom car just stopped in the middle of the freeway today and she had 2 bars on the fuel guage.

I know the common problem of 2 bars going to a blinking one but today was different. The guage never went blinking. The fuel guage just sat at 2 solid bars and it ran out of gas.

First I didn't think the problem was the gas because with the key in the on position the fuel guage still read 2 bars of gas. I got those 1 gallon containers and filled her up and it started.

Anyone have had this problem?

40oz · 12-18-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK198105

use your odometer as backup. I know that when i hit 520km I have about 70km left on the tank going 120km/h.

as to your original question i did run out of gas, but not because my gauge malfunctioned. Do you find it is doing it often? Or is it the first time>

first time this happened. plus its my mom who drives the yaris and I don't think she will pay too much attention to the odo, being busy that she is.

KrazyDawg · 12-20-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40oz

first time this happened. plus its my mom who drives the yaris and I don't think she will pay too much attention to the odo, being busy that she is.

It would be a good idea to monitor the odometer. You can calculate how much gas is remaining as well as calculate your MPG. I would be concerned if someone was driving without occasionally checking the dashboard from time to time.

DebbyM46227 · 12-20-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40oz

first time this happened. plus its my mom who drives the yaris and I don't think she will pay too much attention to the odo, being busy that she is.

You're giving busy women a bad name. Tell her she can't borrow your car anymore (if it is yours), until she starts checking the instrument panel now and then. What if she drove it for awhile with the red coolant light on?

Maybe put the cell phone down for awhile?

I glance at my instrument panel about once every 5 minutes. I'm busy and I still find time to do that.

sickpuppy1 · 12-20-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebbyM46227

You're giving busy women a bad name. Tell her she can't borrow your car anymore (if it is yours), until she starts checking the instrument panel now and then. What if she drove it for awhile with the red coolant light on?

Maybe put the cell phone down for awhile?

I glance at my instrument panel about once every 5 minutes. I'm busy and I still find time to do that.

I think he was saying she doesnt look at the odometer too much. Which is kinda normal I would think. Looking at the speedo, ok,but not reading the odometer. And yes I would reset the tripmeter every time she gets gas. good habit
I actually use trip A for gas, and Trip B for oil changes. lol, I use my main odometer if I go on a trip,lol

nemelek · 12-18-2010, 06:24 AM

I have not, but I never really the gas guage.

SailDesign · 12-18-2010, 09:31 AM

Running out of gas is like the Spanish Inquisition - nobody "expects" it....

MadMax · 12-18-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SailDesign

Running out of gas is like the Spanish Inquisition - nobody "expects" it....

Especially when the gas gauge is still showing a ¼ of a tank's worth of gas left!

But you are correct when it comes to the Spanish Inquisition!

Cheers! M2

jambo101 · 12-18-2010, 12:21 PM

Did the engine actually stop running or did it just drop to idle ?s my car did appear to run out of gas a few years ago but in actuality it went to idle and ultimately had a new throttle position sensor installed.

40oz · 12-18-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambo101

Did the engine actually stop running or did it just drop to idle ?s my car did appear to run out of gas a few years ago but in actuality it went to idle and ultimately had a new throttle position sensor installed.

Well what my mom told me is that it completely shut down. She tried to start it after the car shut down but it wouldn't. After getting the car towed home and putting in 1 gallon of gas it started right up.

I see this isn't a common problem and may just wait untill it happens again. My mom called the dealership and they said to just bring it in. The dealership is like 35 miles away and we might just wait untill it happens but hoping that it was just a fluke.

Well that's what I'm thinking. You guys think its serious enough to get it checked out? What if the dealership finds nothing wrong with the car? The car is fairly new, 2010 model.

Kal-El · 12-18-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40oz

Okay my mom car just stopped in the middle of the freeway today and she had 2 bars on the fuel guage.

I know the common problem of 2 bars going to a blinking one but today was different. The guage never went blinking. The fuel guage just sat at 2 solid bars and it ran out of gas.

First I didn't think the problem was the gas because with the key in the on position the fuel guage still read 2 bars of gas. I got those 1 gallon containers and filled her up and it started.

Anyone have had this problem?

Pretty sure no one else has ran into this problem. People have run out of gas but that was the result of stretching a fast blinking bar. Also, going from 2 bars to a blinking bar is not a "common problem", but rather what it is supposed to do. There's no solid single bar in between.

teddy · 12-20-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK198105

use your odometer as backup. I know that when i hit 520km I have about 70km left on the tank going 120km/h.

That doesn't work if you aren't consistent in how, when, and where you drive the car.
My wife and I have different driving styles, sometimes she drives more than I do or vise-versa. Neither of us use the car on a regular basis to commute to work, the car is 90% for recreational use. Sometimes it's highway driving, others it'll be weeks of nothing but shopping in cold weather.

bronsin · 12-20-2010, 11:49 AM

Hmm. It never ceases to amaze me that people regularly drive with, not only less than half a tank of gas, but even less than that. They seem to be mesmerized by technology that gives them the "blinking gas gauge" to tell them when they are "about" to run out of gas. That this "technology" might all be less than reliable never seems to occur to them. That there might be an emergency and difficulty in obtaining a full tank they have no clue.

Running out of gas on the highway is just bound to happen at some point. Cover your ass!

gollygirl1 · 09-04-2013, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronsin

Hmm. It never ceases to amaze me that people regularly drive with, not only less than half a tank of gas, but even less than that. They seem to be mesmerized by technology that gives them the "blinking gas gauge" to tell them when they are "about" to run out of gas. That this "technology" might all be less than reliable never seems to occur to them. That there might be an emergency and difficulty in obtaining a full tank they have no clue.

Running out of gas on the highway is just bound to happen at some point. Cover your ass!

Agreed, I try to keep my tank 1/2 to full - never like to let it get much below half if I can help it. You never know when you might have an emergency or something.

nookandcrannycar · 09-04-2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gollygirl1

You never know when you might have an emergency

That is why I have AAA (Auto Club/emergency service). If I never actually use the service, then I'm not getting the value I could out of paying for it.

gollygirl1 · 09-04-2013, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

That is why I have AAA (Auto Club/emergency service). If I never actually use the service, then I'm not getting the value I could out of paying for it.

I am with RACQ (a car club) as well - but the sort of emergency I was thinking of is if someone in the family suddenly took ill and you had to take them to hospital in the middle of the night and the local service station (gas station) is shut?

I was not actually thinking of a "car emergency" breakdown.

nookandcrannycar · 09-04-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gollygirl1

I am with RACQ (a car club) as well - but the sort of emergency I was thinking of is if someone in the family suddenly took ill and you had to take them to hospital in the middle of the night and the local service station (gas station) is shut?

I was not actually thinking of a "car emergency" breakdown.

Other than about a year in various parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains (+ traveling), I've never lived more than 40 or so miles (and usually much less) from a major U.S. city and 24 hour gas stations have been a reality near such for eons. If someone became Ill as you described (and I was here in my adopted home county), I'd call 911.

teddy · 12-20-2010, 01:25 PM

You folks suggesting that she keep an eye in the instrument panel are skipping over my post still. Between fill ups with our driving can vary quite a bit - anywhere from 400-600km a tank.

What good does keeping an eye on the odometer do if you expect to get 600km to a tank but it ends up being only 400?

12-18-2010, 01:19 AM	#1
40oz Drives: 240sx want a yaris Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 20	Gas unexpectedly ran out! Okay my mom car just stopped in the middle of the freeway today and she had 2 bars on the fuel guage. I know the common problem of 2 bars going to a blinking one but today was different. The guage never went blinking. The fuel guage just sat at 2 solid bars and it ran out of gas. First I didn't think the problem was the gas because with the key in the on position the fuel guage still read 2 bars of gas. I got those 1 gallon containers and filled her up and it started. Anyone have had this problem?

12-18-2010, 06:24 AM	#6
nemelek DWEED Drives: 3DR 2008 Metorite Metalic Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,161	I have not, but I never really the gas guage. __________________ Making a decision without following it with an action is still a fantasy.

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12-18-2010, 09:31 AM	#7
SailDesign Drives: . Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: . Posts: 1,931	Running out of gas is like the Spanish Inquisition - nobody "expects" it....

12-18-2010, 12:21 PM	#9
jambo101 Drives: yaris 08 sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 1,286	Did the engine actually stop running or did it just drop to idle ?s my car did appear to run out of gas a few years ago but in actuality it went to idle and ultimately had a new throttle position sensor installed.

12-20-2010, 11:49 AM	#13
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,790	Hmm. It never ceases to amaze me that people regularly drive with, not only less than half a tank of gas, but even less than that. They seem to be mesmerized by technology that gives them the "blinking gas gauge" to tell them when they are "about" to run out of gas. That this "technology" might all be less than reliable never seems to occur to them. That there might be an emergency and difficulty in obtaining a full tank they have no clue. Running out of gas on the highway is just bound to happen at some point. Cover your ass!

12-20-2010, 01:25 PM	#18
teddy Drives: 2008 5-door hatchback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 140	You folks suggesting that she keep an eye in the instrument panel are skipping over my post still. Between fill ups with our driving can vary quite a bit - anywhere from 400-600km a tank. What good does keeping an eye on the odometer do if you expect to get 600km to a tank but it ends up being only 400?