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

2012 prius v not switching to ev mode

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by Rick K, Oct 13, 2020.

  1. Rick K

    Rick K New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2020
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    I just noticed that when I slow down or stop and car is in idle, it does not switch into the ev mode the gas engine is still running any thoughts as to why this just started to happen? I just bought the car used about 2 months ago it has about 100k miles on it.
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,375
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    How is the hybrid battery charge at those times? If its low the gas engine will stay running to charge it.
    B8E4851B-30B6-4E10-A17A-77D91359728A.jpeg
     
  3. Rick K

    Rick K New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2020
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    Battery 3/4 full
     
  4. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Might be the Inverter....................
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Were the Inverter-Motor-Generator TSBs accomplished on your VIN?
     
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,375
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I would get a scanner that would show live data and look at codes, if any, and engine temperatures. I know the engine will run if it thinks its cold. It will definitely run if it thinks the hv (high voltage) battery is low. Otherwise I might be tempted to do a power fail reset by disconnecting the 12v battery for a few minutes.
     
    scona likes this.
  7. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I wonder what happened on this....?
     
  8. Anis Ali

    Anis Ali New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2020
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    Fiji
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi there
    It's the battery pack fault
     
  9. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    This is where the real pain begins Danny.... $$$$$
    Any body know what movie thats from?

    Speaking of pain... I had the dreaded blown headgasket... came out of nowhere.... just started up one morning and ran terrible for a bit and finally the check engine.....misfire.
    I knew what it was for sure when I popped the hood and the coolant was down enough to notice. Otherewise fluid level never changes....
    I just changed the gasket and never did anything to the head... just cleaned it.
    Has 4400 miles on it now....
    Ps.. I never drove it after that first start with antifreeze In the cylinder.
     
    #9 Tim Jones, Nov 8, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2020
    Aaron Vitolins likes this.
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,375
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    That probably means Toyota will do a head gasket customer support program soon. It worked on the brake booster prius v issue. Just get Tim to complain...
     
    Air_Boss likes this.
  11. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    What about ..... This is where the real pain begins Danny boy..........

    It's the traction battery
    No wait.. it's the inverter
    Or maybe the master cylinder and accumulator
    Might be the EGR System plugged....
    Nope it's just the good old blown head gasket.
     
    #11 Tim Jones, Nov 8, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2020
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,375
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Too easy... but have to say your quite the hybrid mechanic
     
    Air_Boss likes this.
  13. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    At least it wasn't the excessive oil burning........
     
    Aaron Vitolins and Air_Boss like this.
  14. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    When does the full buyback program commence?

    (Having said that, we are experiencing no issues with our 2912 v Five. Knock wood.)
     
    Tim Jones likes this.
  15. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    How many miles on it?

    I laugh when people get on here and say I have 90,000 miles on mine and it's the most dependable car I've ever had... I had 275,00 on my camry before I did anything to it except timing belts and brakes. and well over 300,000 on my previa till it needed a radiator and I just replace the alternator 425,000 @ $41.00 autozone...
    Only car that I've had a blown head gasket is a 2013 toyota prius v and I'm 64.
     
    #15 Tim Jones, Nov 9, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2020
    nssdiver likes this.
  16. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Ours age more chronologically and by cycles than by miles, though the CRV has 112,000, the Accord before that 122,000, the Grand Caravan 138,000, and the classic Roadster 88,000. The v is a mere babe at 45,000 miles.
     
    Tim Jones likes this.
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,375
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Pretty sure the 2012 to 2014 v's are the least reliable Prii out there closely followed by their hatchback gen3 cousins. Tim's car has had all the disappointments; battery, inverter, brake booster, egr and (I am willing to bet) oil consumption. Houston heat, enhanced ac and extra size probably led to early battery failure along with the assistance of poor inverter power management. Then the inverter (with late customer support), the brake booster (with late customer support), egr cooler (poor engineering compounded by poor piston rings) and sooner or later, excessive oil consumption (eco engineering stretching too far on the rings).

    I would say a current value buyback is not beyond reason when you can check four out of five boxes. The sad thing is the car is "versatile" and some people see the size and economy as "+"s in an "alpha" way. In Europe they are great taxis, much better than the BMW and Mercedes counterparts with high miles. Their European ac still works and the rear seat legroom is great. No belching diesel fumes either as you are stuck in traffic.

    My 2012 v still drives great, is solid and has original brakes and suspension as it approaches 250k miles. I have never kept a car this long. I recently cleaned it up, polished the headlights and the neighbors thought it was a new car. But unfortunately I can check many of the boxes as well.
     
    #17 rjparker, Nov 9, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2020
    Tim Jones likes this.
  18. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    For some reason doesn't use much oil........ running 0w-40 about one quart every 5000..... or so miles.....
     
  19. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    So far at least, ours consumes no 0W-20 oil between changes. Knock wood, again.
     
  20. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I've got 270,000 on mine now. About 40,000 a year.