Compare 2012 - 2015 PiPs?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Carmen TheWonderDog, Oct 1, 2025.

  1. Carmen TheWonderDog

    Carmen TheWonderDog Junior Member

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    Well, it finally happened, my rusty 2008 130kmi ish(?) Prius has hit a real road bump, not just the two natural disasters & being ‘totaled’ twice, but the HV battery throwing codes & tagged as responsible for the inoperability of the car.

    So, since I’m far from anything, my latest theory is to do Everything; thus having a back up/work car. Buy the $1k online reconditioned battery (vs $2k new, vs remove original battery, drive 2.5h to a tech to diagnose & repair) & DIY w/ postage paid core return. AND find a low mileage PiP that hasn’t put up w/ the painfully hot steamy summers & freezing winters this poor Gen2 traction battery has endured until recently.

    But which year? First model year notoriously has kinks that later get worked out; was this the case vs 2013-2015? I drive little (no favor to my Gen2 battery, a few mi/wk, filling tank 1/mo or 2mo), so the PiP would be almost entirely electric for me & added incentive for roof solar.

    Unless my thinking is flawed, I’m considering a low mileage PiP that’s been pampered in a mild climate its whole life (for battery & body) & dreaming of spending closer to $11k than $14k. Now is clearly the time, but since I live in the middle of the country (where it’s easier to find an e-85 truck), 2.5-3 hr from anywhere, it’s looking like (per AutoTrader) more & better options are available further away than easy driving distance, so… this looks to be considerably beyond my existing experience of 2 used cars from private owners inspected & purchased in person (my only 2 cars so far). Looks like that would tack on ~$1k in car transport if purchased sight unseen. And my little pea brain is thinking, go online to look up well-rated hybrid mechanics in the area & find someone willing/able to do the pre-purchase inspection & provide me a report?

    Ideas? Comments? Opinions? Advice? Look elsewhere? Anything? Bueller….
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    #2 PriusCamper, Oct 1, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2025
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  3. Carmen TheWonderDog

    Carmen TheWonderDog Junior Member

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    Thanks!

    10-12 mi will usually suffice for me, but when the battery fails, yes, I’d definitely look for an upgrade (& hopefully by then, prices will have dropped, as the tech won’t be quite so new)
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they replaced the pistons and rings in the late '14's and '15's. supposed to help with the clogging egr and blown head gasket, but idk.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    The piston ring revision was the only “kink work out”, happened at a certain VIN in model year 2014. EGR still clogs with carbon, and without periodic cleaning leads to head gasket failure around 150k miles on average. Inverters have a moderate failure rate, brake boosters similar. Electric water pumps (one for engine, another for inverter) have also proven failure prone, around 150k.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do we know if 2015 egr's are clogging?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Scientific method, you’d need a survey. EGR carbon build-up could be accelerated by oil-burning, seems plausible. Still, our ‘10’s dipstick level has yet to budge between oil changes, but it was accumulating carbon. I cleaned it first around 45k miles, debatably “early”. Judging from cooler and intake manifold condition, by 150k miles it would have been about the usual mess.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Oct 4, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2025
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  8. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Member

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    Apropos of nothing, but VW TDI diesels in the 2000 timeframe like I had experienced EGR issues.
    Imagine recirculating diesel exaust...ugh.
    I recall 'EGR delete' pipes sold.
    Of course they would throw a code.
    Don't recall any cooler though; that would've been a real mess.
     
  9. Carmen TheWonderDog

    Carmen TheWonderDog Junior Member

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    Since you mention it, since my last oil change, my ‘08 has lost an absurd amount (down to last mark on dipstick) of oil :-/ in < a yr, not a lotta miles. No idea what this means. Was going to take ‘er in to my mechanic for oil & diagnostic, before the order of priorities changed :-/
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    generally, there's either a puddle on the ground, or it is burning oil, which goes out the exhaust.
    but sometimes, it can be leaking slowly, and is just all over the engine and caught by the plastic aero cover below it.
     
  11. Carmen TheWonderDog

    Carmen TheWonderDog Junior Member

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    No puddle, not consistent or noticeable anyhow. Will deal with after HV battery issue solved…
     
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the first year pip didn't have any kinks to work out because 90% of the car came out in 2010.
    the plug in parts were rock solid and had zero issues.
    the main problems are like any gen 3, egr, head gasket and brake actuator.

    on your '08, what will you do when the recon battery fails?
     
  13. Carmen TheWonderDog

    Carmen TheWonderDog Junior Member

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    It’s already not working, I’ve just installed it. do not know if it’s user error on my part or… But given how challenging *I* found the swap, lacking most tools, I do wish I had bought new!

    Only got electrical to turn on, no motor, no codes. Wouldn’t turn off, only a blaze of nonsensical dash lights (mpg, etc, nothing ever on other display).

    Eventually all lights out. (30m-hr? maybe?)

    12V was ~12V ish, now fully charged.
    Have back-up coming w/ multimeter.
    Now have right socket adapter to tighten to spec (impt?) vs by hand)
    Missing parts are a few 10mm nuts @ 12 mm bolts.
    Extra parts are a couple black plastic bits each w/ a pair of cylindrical parts, that aren’t pictured in the text/pictorial guide.

    1st instinct was to offer parts to non-cooperative neighbor who disassembled but wasn’t participating in reassembly (has same car) & go shop PiP’s & Model 3s while the market is good.

    But, I do need to troubleshoot

     
    #13 Carmen TheWonderDog, Oct 18, 2025 at 10:45 AM
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Are you by chance talking about torquing hybrid battery cell nuts?

    curious too: what is “(impt?)”?
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  16. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Not from Toyota, especially since that generation started as a non-plugin 2 years earlier. I sold my 2012 (charged twice every day) to a friend back in 2017. He's been using it ever since. No problems.