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

Charger plug is very difficult to push in

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Scott Hamilton, Jul 6, 2015.

  1. Scott Hamilton

    Scott Hamilton New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2015
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Vermont
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    We bought our 2012 Plug-in used. At first the plug was fine, but it is getting progressively harder to plug in. Now, I have to lean on it pretty hard. Any one else experience this or know a solution (other than the dealer which is an hour drive away)?
     
  2. gallde

    gallde Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2004
    238
    130
    0
    Location:
    Tarrytown, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
  3. Chazz8

    Chazz8 Gadget Lover

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    744
    234
    61
    Location:
    Central New York
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
  4. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    the orange "O" ring can be removed and the problem is solved.....
     
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,198
    8,364
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Mine is green
    ;)
    but yea, the dislodged nozzle seal issue has come up several time on PC. Usually it's just not seated properly. Pull it ... then lube it with something non oily (like silicon spray) substance, and it can be re-seated pretty easily. That way you still keep your nozzle water tight if it's raining.
    .
     
    #5 hill, Jul 7, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,203
    50,075
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    k-y
     
    F8L, AzWxGuy and rogerv like this.
  7. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    1,639
    317
    14
    Location:
    Simi Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  8. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

    Joined:
    May 22, 2011
    1,003
    498
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Don't know nuthin 'bout PIP, but any electrical friction-fit plugs and sockets can benefit from a good cleaning and careful application of some dielectric grease. I use the little squeeze packets of spark plug boot grease. Great stuff.
     
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the tip! My GF's new Volt has a similar problem whereas mine has very little resistance. I'll try the KY. ;)
     
    bisco likes this.
  10. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,921
    3,144
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Good ol Kentucky jelly. :D

    Good ol Kentucky jelly. :D
     
    #10 xliderider, Jul 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2015
  11. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    701
    219
    0
    Location:
    So Calif
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    What about Kentucky? (Pharmacist's humor about KY go far beyond appropriateness for this forum.)
     
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,198
    8,364
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    The thing is - KY is water soluble - so I hear ;) and that's why I mentioned / recommended silicone grease. BTW . . . . that said, I suppose any lube is better than none. Now don't nobody go ape over that philosophy, either.
    :rolleyes:
    .
     
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,921
    3,144
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Water based KY and silicone grease should be safe for the material the O ring is made of. Vaseline and regular grease, or any other petroleum derived product, on the other hand, might swell or break down the O ring.
     
  14. angelahortega

    angelahortega Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2015
    28
    4
    0
    Location:
    Ukiah
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I had to take mine back to the dealer because the charger handle piece was getting stuck they replaced the whole charger. I didn't have an issue plugging in elsewhere
     
  15. samsdad

    samsdad Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    40
    4
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I have same problem. There's nothing loose, it's just near impossible now to plug-in. What about spraying the connector end with WD 40?
     
  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,801
    11,363
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    You mean like is suggested in post 2 in this thread?

    Charger plug is very difficult to push in | PriusChat
     
  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,198
    8,364
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    You mean 2 years ago?

    Anywho - 9 out of 10 times, one should simply ckeck to see if the seal/plastic gasket is out of its seat. Or if you're evse is indoors, & the seal continues to get messed up, just take it out like many have done here, for years ... even before this thread started .
    .
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  18. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,518
    14,128
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If it's the seal (which it usually us), remove it. 2013 and newer don't have a seal and do fine in the rain. Submerge it and you'll have bigger concerns. :D
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,203
    50,075
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    anyone seen the o/p lately?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    No longer figure skating I gather;).

    But that might be a different one:cautious:.
     
    bisco and Prodigyplace like this.