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'12 V sluggish---list of extra good prius mechanics around the country?

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by rockwind, Jul 2, 2022.

  1. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    las vegas
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    has anyone compiled a list or a thread of good mechanics who know the quirks of the prius's?

    in particular, las vegas, nv? i am actually a very good mechanic with older cars but my 2012 prius v is not working right. no codes though. i am not sure if i have time to go thru the huge learning curve to figure out what the problem is. when i drive my wife's 2019 prius awd, it is like a race car compared to my old 2012 V. i have to press the accellerator like 3/4's of the way down before it will move. getting dangerous, i used dr. battery app on my phone a while back and seemed rather normal.

    i have a 2012 silver PRIUS V VIN JTDZN3EUOC3043438 that i bought new. 163k miles on car but the engine was replaced at around 120k miles with a unTAGGED donor engine that had 75k miles on it.

    if it is the big battery,, wouldn't some error code show up?
     
    #1 rockwind, Jul 2, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2022
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Model:
    Three
    Unless the hv battery is showing very low on the gauge it won't cause the system to be sluggish. The typical weak hv battery symptom is fast discharge at a stop sign causing the engine to start. Even a bad battery will provide normal acceleration as long as it has 1/3 or better charge.

    It is not going to be as good as a 2019 with the lighter body and better engine. However I would try Power mode on the v. Fast acceleration on the v requires significant pedal unless in Power mode.

    With no codes or lights, I doubt its in limp mode. You could check the brakes, particularly the drum parking brake in the rear. Check the wheel bearings. Normally you would hear wheel bearings but many people miss it since they don't know the sound that is loudest from 35-50 mph.
     
    #2 rjparker, Jul 2, 2022
  3. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    i had all new brakes, including rotors i think put on about 3 years ago just because i was getting a little shimmy/vibration when applying them,, which went away after putting on new brakes.

    but will check out the drum and wheel bearings.

    i do realize the 2019 is obviously going to work way better. but i have been driving this V for 10 years and there is defintely something going on with it,, it is borderline dangerous with the lack of acceleration. it almost reminds me of some sort of electronic throttle position sensor malfunction
     
    #3 rockwind, Jul 2, 2022
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    What was the reason for the engine replacement? Has the EGR system ever been cleaned.

    BTW, this is a Prius hatchback, level V, not a Prius v? The latter is a larger vehicle, commenced in model year 2012.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jul 2, 2022
  5. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    MINE IS A prius V,, my vin tag says made in 2011 so i put 2011,, i always thought it was a 2012 though.

    about 3 or 4 years ago it started displaying what i now realize as the typical head gasket issues. i was super busy at the time so i just took it to a shop and they said it was cheaper to get a donor engine than replace the head gasket so i said go ahead. (wished i hadn't or had done it myself, i've replaced many head gaskets over the years but not in a prius) but that is water under the bridge

    i do not know if the egr system has been cleaned, will that cause these symptoms? this is the donor engine,, i would have hoped the shop would have cleaned the egr prior to install but they mysteriously have changed to "new" ownership and do not want to talk to me when i ask questions. for the las vegas folks on here, that would be ZIP ZAP AUTO on the corner of cheyenne and durango so beware.
     
    #5 rockwind, Jul 2, 2022
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    That’s my unproven theory. Someone here was on head gasket failure #3 with a 3rd gen with EGR untouched. See first link in my signature for cleaning info.

    still, if head gasket is failing, EGR cleaning will not help; head gasket needs to be addressed first. But do get on EGR cleaning soon thereafter.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jul 2, 2022
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Egr flow clogged shut won't make it sluggish; an egr stuck open could cause roughness or misfires on the low end and will usually code. See the "Car Care Nut" youtube video on egrs for a quick test.
     
    #7 rjparker, Jul 2, 2022
  8. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

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    rj , i remember communicating with you before,, you seem very knowledgable, what are the common culprits for this? should i buy new battery?
     
    #8 rockwind, Jul 2, 2022
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    are you up to snuff on regular maintenance? if so, i would look at throttle body/maf cleaning, injectors and etc.
    there is no list of good mechs unfortunately. even though one gets posted now and then, no one has ever added to a sticky.
    i would change the title to 'looking for a hybrid mech near vegas' or something similar.
     
    #9 bisco, Jul 2, 2022
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Have someone check the codes with a good scanner, ideally Techstream. You might have something out of range.

    I would certainly jack up each wheel and look for one that was really dragging.

    When my hv battery went out it still accelerated fine unless the battery bar graph was at the bottom. Drive it and watch for a correlation.

    Changing the hv battery for this would be the ultimate parts cannon. Consider buying a one hour diagnostic at the dealer and report back.
     
    #10 rjparker, Jul 2, 2022
    rockwind likes this.
  11. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

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    copy, good thoughts.
     
    #11 rockwind, Jul 2, 2022
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

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    @rockwind, I edited the title to reflect the 2012, not 2011 that you mentioned in your post.

    Also, you may want to update your profile so that it reads 2012 Prius v wagon.

    "V" in your package is actually the "Five".
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Jul 3, 2022
    rockwind likes this.
  13. rockwind

    rockwind Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    las vegas
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    ok, i just did it.
     
    #13 rockwind, Jul 24, 2022
    Tideland Prius and bisco like this.
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