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2012 versatile PCU fuse blows.

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Michael Leary, Dec 17, 2015.

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  1. Michael Leary

    Michael Leary Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2015
    39
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    Location:
    Kansas, U.S.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    They upgraded the System from the recall a few months ago.
    Now two times the fuse blew. Cost me over $350.00 to get towed and them do diagnostics.
    They don't know why it blew. Happened again tonight.
    Both times:
    Cold-
    Night-
    driving lights all on-
    backing up-
    hit brakes and shift lever to drive
    "Pow"- stuck.

    Dash-engine lights all on.
    Park and Power switch green until shift lever moved to drive then power turns amber.
    The engine never starts and the trouble lights don't go out.
    I changed the fuse myself tonight and it worked fine again. drove home

    Any ideas? making me a bit anxious. Should I notify Toyota?
     
    #1 Michael Leary, Dec 17, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2015
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,037
    1,110
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    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Connecting the dots of the prior behavior, recall work, recent behavior... 100% yes, and ask for some consideration on what it has already cost you in cash and inconvenience.
     
  3. Michael Leary

    Michael Leary Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2015
    39
    22
    0
    Location:
    Kansas, U.S.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    OK, Lots of sorting through the process of what happened.
    1. I had added a feed off the ten amp fuse that feeds the computer. It blew twice.
    2. There are two wires I used. One to two extra cig lighter sockets on the center console: one inside, one outside.
    3. The other wire fed two 5.5 volt outlets, one for the Garmin GPS, another for the dash cam up by the mirror.
    4. The dash cam wire went through the driver post and over to the rear view mirror console.
    5. It has a small step down electronic unit to plug in as a power source and eliminate the long wire from an outlet.
    6. My wife is handicapped and has a mirror tag. It was easier to hang it on the little power cord than the mirror.
    7. The jostling and movement meant the power unit tucked into the console, loosened.
    8. When I backed up and then stopped quickly, it rotated the unit which shorted the power wire to the top of the car.
    9. No joy from no computer. Dead.

    The fix.
    1. Remade the vampire fuse so it really was a parallel fuse rather than serial. If something happens now it will only pop that one, not the computer too.
    2. Repaired the connector and tightened it so it can't rotate anymore, even with the tag.
    3. insulated the unit completely so there is no chance of it shorting again.
    Problem solved.