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"plug-in charging system malfunction" and "Check engine light" i two weeks after purchase

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Alvin Chu, Jan 31, 2020.

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  1. Alvin Chu

    Alvin Chu New Member

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    Hello everyone, I bought a 2020 Prius Prime on Jan 20, and today I was trying to charge the car at a ChargePoint station, I plugged in as normal but noticed it was not charging, so I tried plugged in and out several times, but still not working. Then I noticed a warning message "plug-in charging system malfunction" pop up. At night after I drove it several miles, I noticed the "check engine light" is on.

    Literally I haven't driven for two weeks, and I can count the number of charing on two hands. I just wonder if anyone met such issue before? Could it be the charging station cause the problem? But seems other cars are fine to use the station.
     
    #1 Alvin Chu, Jan 31, 2020
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Depending on how quickly you pulled it out and put it back, it might have been waiting for the next scheduled charge. If you unplug it and plug it back in within five seconds, that over rides the schedule and charges immediately.

    That sounds like something you should have the dealer look at.
     
    #2 jerrymildred, Feb 1, 2020
  3. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Does the car charge with the EVSE that came with it?
     
    #3 El Dobro, Feb 1, 2020
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is the gas cap tight?
     
    #4 bisco, Feb 1, 2020
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  5. MSantos

    MSantos EcoAccelerometry

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    I have seen something like this before, although definitely not on a brand new Prime.

    Probably a long shot, but just for giggles, can you check the 12V battery's voltage when you push the power button "without" depressing the brake pedal?

    Poorly charged 12 volt batteries cause all sorts of weird behaviors on power up like check engine lights, misbehaving body control modules, you name it... especially when the car is not driven much or infrequently.


    cheers
     
    #5 MSantos, Feb 1, 2020
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  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Ta da! First thing to check. Seems unlikely given that it isn't right after refueling, but it sure is easy to check and it's one of the ost likely triggers for a check engine light.
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Feb 2, 2020
  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I've never seen it on mine, but apparently "plug-in charging system malfunction" happens when EVSE or charge chord is not functioning. This seems to happen often on public charge stations as in this case in a different thread.
    Plug-in Charging System Malfunction message | PriusChat

    As for the CEL, I am not sure if it is related to the charging system malfunction but I doubt it. We need to see the code to know more about the problem. Did the CEL disappear on its own without doing anything?
     
    #7 Salamander_King, Feb 2, 2020
  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Public facilities of any kind should always be suspect......and that includes charging stations.

    IF.....it still seems to work OK at home, I wouldn't worry about it but mention it at your next service.

    IF.....it does NOT work at home or the warning lights stay on......then take it in for warranty service.
     
    #8 sam spade 2, Feb 2, 2020
  9. Michael Wood

    Michael Wood Active Member

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    The gas cap got me once on my 2015. I didn't turn it until it clicked and that was enough to trip the check engine light. I didn't have a code reader at the time so I took it to the dealer to clear the code and check things out. They made me feel like a criminal :)
     
    #9 Michael Wood, Sep 22, 2020
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