1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Hard to insert charging nozzle into charging port

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Valencia Orange, Jun 1, 2015.

  1. Valencia Orange

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2007
    192
    80
    0
    Location:
    Valencia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It is getting hard to insert the electric charging nozzle into the car's charging port. It use to be very easy to insert. The gray latch on the charging nozzle would lock into place immediately. I am not having to lift the charging nozzle while it is inserted, in order to get the gray tab to lock. Suggestions and help would be appreciated.

    Is the charging cable covered under the 36 month warranty?

    Thank you
     
  2. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    IIRC, some have removed an O ring to make the connection easier?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds right. look down the charger head and see if the rubber gasket at the bottom is dislodged.
     
  5. SLOW_RR

    SLOW_RR Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2013
    155
    84
    0
    Location:
    Finger Lakes Region of NYS
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    What bisco said! Remove the little (mine was red) "O" ring down in there with a pair of needle nosed pliers (probably a good idea to unplug the cord first from the outlet...) and just remove it. Bet it solves the problem. It did for me.
     
  6. seek

    seek Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    32
    6
    0
    Location:
    Tewksbury, MA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I had to push the rubber ring back down in a public charger. I probably should have used something other than the flat blade of a Swiss Army knife.
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,667
    8,068
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I pulled our o ring out ... lubed it up with silicon spray ... reinstalled. good as new. It does serve a purpose ... keeps water out if you're charging in a heavy rain.
    .
     
    rxlawdude likes this.
  8. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Gasoline works wonders
     
  9. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Vasoline that is. Foiled by spell check
     
  10. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    701
    219
    0
    Location:
    So Calif
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    Indeed, it's not like Toyota thought, "what can we do to peeve PiP drivers using our EVSE?" :)
     
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,667
    8,068
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hey !!!! that's a good idea !!!

    [​IMG]


    oh ... vasoline . . . Great . . . . NOW you tell me
    :p
    .
     
    #11 hill, Jun 11, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2015
    mrlebop and xliderider like this.
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    any luck at the dealer?
     
  13. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    No, dealer was out of vasoline.
     
    mrlebop and roflwaffle like this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    should have checked the k-y inventory.
     
    mrlebop likes this.
  15. SLOW_RR

    SLOW_RR Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2013
    155
    84
    0
    Location:
    Finger Lakes Region of NYS
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Maybe if you are charging in a flash flood..... I have charged in torrential downpours and never had any moisture get into the charge port. Take a good look at the angle the plug goes into the port on the car and tell me how heavy the flooding would have to be to get any water into the plug. I removed the dang "O" ring over a year ago. I can't see that it serves any useful purpose except to tick off owners... LOL Just remove it and forget about it.
     
  16. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lol, yep, walk up to parts counter at dealer.

    "I'd like to buy some KY please."
     
    mrlebop likes this.
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    because my plug won't go all the way into the socket.;)
     
    mrlebop likes this.
  18. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It's just a question the plastic/hard rubber getting dry and grabbing a bii. Smear a thin amount of vasoline on the mating surfaces. NOT into the electrical openings.
     
    mrlebop likes this.
  19. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Is Vaseline safe for the O ring material though? Water based or silicone grease might be safer.
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,946
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    my aftermarket L2 didn't come with an o ring, just plastic on plastic. there must be a lube made for plastic?