Running out of gas?

[Tonpilot]

Hi List!

Has anyone out there ran out of gas in the attempt of trying to stretch that last ounce of fuel? Or for any other reasons?

I thought of this before I last topped my tank. I was trying to get the most miles out of the tank. Finally, the last light bar on the fuel gauge disappeared and I got concerned! I though it would be really embarrassing to call AAA for fuel for a ultra-hybrid like our beloved Insight!

[Braxus]

From my experience, you usually have at least another 40-50 miles when the last light goes out before you really run out of gas.

[Resist]

I have run out of gas in my Insight, pushing it to the limit. I was at a stop sign on an up hill incline. I started to go and lost power, to my surprise the car kept going on electric only. It was very under powered but enough to keep me moving off the road and into a parking lot (that was also up hill). Once there I shut off the car and tried to restart it. As long as the gas engine tried to start (and died), the electric motor engaged and allowed me to repark my car. But if you are bone dry and the gas engine won't turn over a little, the electric motor won't work. Granted this isn't good for your car, but it's nice to know you can at least get off the road if you do run out of gas.

[Bill]

That's quite interesting "Resist" so while you were cranking the starter the electric motor added torque, which was enough to move the car?

[Allnighte]

I think I hold the record for running out of gas. I think (I lost count) I've run out of gas 7 times in 1 year of owning the car.

I've had the car for 1 year and 5 months now. So I'm getting better at filling up when the trip B reaches 450 miles. My gas gauge has been broken for about a year - I'm going to get it fixed soon, I promise!

I've only experienced the "electric only" once. And it was right when I desperately needed it to get off the road on a no-shoulder off ramp and to the gas station.

I do have a AAA member ship. Everytime i've run out, i've been close to work/home. so my dad has come with the gas can a few times. I think i've called AAA 3 times now.

[Bill]

Alnighte:

What's wrong with your fuel gauge? Is the sender unit on the blink or is it more local to the LCD display? Please bear with me if I'm be-laboring an already previously well-explained point.

[Motty82]

I too have gotten the car to move with electric torque only. I am not the best at that first shift from stopped to moving slow and I tend to either be too heavy on the gas pedal or too light. When I go too light, sometimes the cars stalls and I get a bucking feeling which I believe to be the electric supplementing the engine giving no torque.
~Martin
2000 5 Spd

[Resist]

Originally Posted by Bill

That's quite interesting "Resist" so while you were cranking the starter the electric motor added torque, which was enough to move the car?

No no no. I didn't crank the motor at all. The engine was running then stopped (out of gas), and the electric motor kept the car moving (my ignition was still on), as I pushed the throttle down.

Again no cranking of the starter. As I said before, if the gas engine runs (or tries to run as it pudders out of gas), then the electric motor will work as the gas engine dies and you press your throttle down. But if your ignition is off and you turn the ignition on without starting the engine, then you will not get the electric motor to work on its own.

[Allnighte]

it's something with the sensor (i think).
if i fill up the tank, i get about 3 bars on the LCD display. then the bars will disappear over about 50 miles, and it just shows empty for the rest of the time.

it happened after i was rear-ended

i have a CVT, btw

[bfivelover]

I know the electric motor won't start the car if the battery is dead. Found that out one morning when I left the ignition switch on all night.