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

2012 Plug-In Prius will not charge when plugged in. Advice?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Willem B, Jun 19, 2020.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,762
    48,974
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    is it the oem evse?
     
  2. 72MPG

    72MPG New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2022
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    CALIFORNIA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Thank you for all the replies. It is an OEM Toyota charge cord. Yes, it doesn't click anymore. I tired a co worker's cord and it worked fine. Yes gain, it's the charge cord. I'll check the ground and open it up if I have to. Otherwise I'll buy a new EVSE.
     
  3. 72MPG

    72MPG New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2022
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    CALIFORNIA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    The new cord fixed my charging problem. I got the cheapest one on Amazon (125.00) and it works great.It's a bit longer at 28 feet, but isn't made of the fine copper wire as it's not nearly as flexible as the OEM cable.
     
    bisco likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,762
    48,974
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    glad you got it sorted, ten years seems to be an average failure rate
     
  5. Plugin13

    Plugin13 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2022
    4
    8
    6
    Location:
    OC
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I had this same socket issue happen yesterday morning to my 2013 plug-in.

    I got to my shop, we to plug in my 240v charger, heard a crack/pop sound on insertion, and then... no charge. So I pulled out the 110v to see if that worked and it did. Thinking something cracked in the charging handle, I took the handle apart and couldn't see anything wrong so I ordered a new LV2 charger. New charger arrived this morning, plugged it in and... nothing. Boy was I pissed.

    On lunch, I took to google to see all the possibilities that could occur and came across this write up. Seeing that a replacement plug was $180, I decided to give it a go as the 110v still worked. I tore out the back of the car as instructed, pulled the plug unit out from the body, peeled the seal back and wouldn't you know, all the clips had popped and unit separated easily!!

    I chose to tackle the fix a similarly, but a slightly different. I drilled five 1/8" holes in the remaining good tabs (careful not to hit the wires), then used 1/8" aluminum, .188" - .250" grip, blind pop rivets to secure the "cage" back to the housing. Very secure and no protrusions into the wires. Put the unit back in the vehicle, hooked everything up and SUCCESS! Reinstall the interior.

    Thank you OP for a terrific writeup. I'm sure fellow Plug-ins will be seeing this issue as they approach the 10 year mark as stated.
     
  6. JoeHaynie

    JoeHaynie New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2023
    1
    2
    0
    Location:
    Provo Utah
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Willem, thank you for taking the time to explain the root cause and the resolution (and with photos too!). Your post was heaven sent for me. We bought a used 2015 Prius Plug-in in a different state (they can be hard to find in my neck of the woods). When we got home after our 12-hour drive I tried plugging it in and no little yellow charge light. I found your post and it looked like what I had could be similar. I followed your instructions and I am now charging without any issues. Thank you again!
     
    nicoj36 and vvillovv like this.