fibromd

This may have been posted before, but wanted to post a warning since I haven't come across it. Due to the way Toyota/Lexus designed their hybrid system, if you run out of gas the car can't be restarted even after gas is put in. The car must be taken by flat-bed to the dealer to have the system reset. So don't run out of gas in your ES300h!

jbm79

All Toyota and Lexus systems are programmed to attempt to start the gasoline engine when the battery reaches its “recharge threshold.” If the engine does not start after three attempts, the system shuts down and requires a technician to reset a fault code before the vehicle can get moving again, even if fuel is added to the empty tank.

http://autos.aol.com/article/hybrid-run-out-of-gas/

boe

That sucks! I hope someone figures out how to reset it and posts on the web. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...s-battery-dies

bruce van

Good to know....but you really shouldn't let ANY car run out of gas. Bad for the fuel pump and all other hosts of things.

And you don't want to be "that guy" who is causing a traffic delay because he forgot to put gas in his car.

atoyota

Consider having to be towed to the dealer as "Here's your sign." - Jeff Foxworthy (Bill Engvall)

Stupid people should have to wear signs that say "I'm Stupid." That way you wouldn't rely on them, would you? You wouldn't ask them anything. It would be like, "Excuse me...oops, never mind. I didn't see your sign." ...

Don't run out of gas. It says this plainly in the easy and early part of the manual too.

The article also mentions that since the 2001 introduction of the Prius, no one has ever had this happen.

mrBillFL

As mentioned.

many cars have the fuel pump inside the tank, and the gas is used to keep the pump cool. run too low and you risk burning out the pump from high heat.

Arty101

I guess the designers never overestimate the intelligence of the driver. They figure on the lowest common dominator that may cause catastrophic damage to the traction battery and shut them out before that happens.

CurryPot

In August 2005, I ran out of gas just outside of Memphis while driving my 2005 Prius from Seattle to DC and back. 14 miles after the fuel warning light came on! Manage to get off the freeway. Battery was dead of course, used it to crawl off the freeway. Called Toyota assistance, man showed up with three gallons of gas, car fired up first time. Drove it for another 15,000 miles before trading it.

Other people on Priuschat at the time reported this happening and I don't recall anyone flat bedding their cars.

gfr1

My 2 cents. From what I've read and heard, I think that the car not starting after gas is added, just because it ran out of fuel, is a rumor. However, in the manual, it addresses that the car (ES300) won't re-start unless there is as much as three gallons added, once it does run out of fuel. I suspect that this might be related to the low fuel warning light being on. I gather that since it did stop due to low fuel, the starter might not try to start the engine because there'd be no chance. Hence, the comment above, saying that they showed up with three gallons of fuel. That three gallons might be needed if not on level ground, or the calibration of the low fuel light. Reading the manual, it seems like the light should activate at around 2.6 gallons, in standard conditions. Mine was a lot less than that, the one time I decided to check it for operation. You'll notice that this light does not check during the pre-start cluster light checks. Hence my decision to check its operation.

I8ABMR

Thats a pain in the butt to say the least. It should fire right up

Arty101

It's definitely not the most ideal for owners.

Harza

My IS 300H 2015 run out of gas few days ago. First the car normally used the hybrid battery's charge to low level and when engine was normally supposed to start, the speedometer display started beeping and there was a text to park the car off the road safely and put P the gear on P position, also sayed something about hybrid system shut down. I was able to slide the car to the bus stop and went to get gasoline and put it in the tank. The car started normally and speedometer display didnt give any unusual beeping sounds or text. There were no problems. So just put some gasoline into tank and you'll be good to continue the trip.

melinteteo

Some of you were asking for a fix in order to reset the fault. I have recently had this issue and by unpluging the
​the 12V battery terminals and reconnecting those, the computer was reset, so was fault and I was able to drive.

melinteteo

Hi, you can just unplug the 12V battery terminals and the computer will reset, clearing the fault.

samsonn25

I have experience with this and this is what happened when I ran out of Gas on my 07 GS450h three tines.

Had to get gas, any amount helps.
Push button start, but CEL code for traction battery pops up and car will attempt to start and stumble, then die.
Used handheld scanner to reset CEL code.
Push button start and car starts and rune fine.
Go get some more GAS!