skid control ecu

[n00bz]

I have 2004 prius, 100,400 miles. No problems ever and all of a sudden, driving as usual, vsc, brake, !, and alarm buzzer on the entire time car is running or door opens. Brake seems harder to stop now. Right rear wheel is grinding when brakes are applied. jerks a bit at slow stops. Went to dealer, gave me a repair order for a skid control ecu $1755.00 not in stock, need to order one, may take a week? addional referral charge of 180.00
Found used one online for $150 with warranty
Should i purchase used? Do i need to reprogram it or is it a plug and play? Any advice is much appreciated.

Also, dealer mentioned that i have a recall for the electric water pump, which i decide to put off until the brakes are fixed first.
Daily driver, i'm driving sloooow right now.

[seilerts]

Since you paid $180, ask for the diagnostic codes and freeze frame data and post it here. My question, why would it be the ECU, rather than the actuator? It is usually the actuator that goes bad. Further, the 12V battery must be ruled out. Did they test that? Is it original to the car?

If you replace the ECU, it may need a zero point calibration, which requires Techstream.

[n00bz]

I had that gut feeling that the dealer was shady too. I didn't mention this but i did go to my mechanic first and he was able to print out the electronic brake control module technical service bullentin #BR001-07 for me during his testing with a snap on computer. He was the one that told me to go to the dealer and they should have this replaced because it was recalled. So i'm confused. The dealer told me the only recall was an electric water pump, but i put that off untill i get the brakes done first.
btw, $180 was a fee to get the ecu on back order? I paid 115 for the diagnosis fee today.
The battery is original and test ok during the maintenance mode.
Dealer also tested battery and is good.
anything else i can try myself?

[seilerts]

BR001-07 was superseded by T-SB-0307-08. This is for brakes that "bark" -- when pumping the brake pedal at a stop, there is a sharp noise due to air in the actuator. Warranty coverage is 3/36, and you are probably out of any extended warranty coverage as well.

What does your brake fluid look like? Canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or greenish-tinged used motor oil?

There's a good chance that your mechanic can read the codes and set the zero point with his Snap On scan tool, if he has the Toyota add-on. Go back to him and see if he thinks it is the actuator, and if he is willing to put a salvage actuator in there.

I'm deeply suspicous of your 12V battery, being original and 8+/- years old. They seldom last that long. Check it again in maintenance mode in the morning and report back numbers i.e. 11.x in Acc, 10.x in Ig-On, etc.

[V8Cobrakid]

as seilerts mentioned, the 12v can be an issue. if you are still on the stock 12v, change it now. this could be caused by a bad 12v.

as for the inverter water pump recall, it expires in 2013... so wait till yours dies. (pink fluid stops moving)

is that buzzer a really loud buzzer from under the glove box? might also sound like it's behind you? if the brakes are hard and you're getting alarms when you open and close the door (car preps the brakes) then the car is using electric brakes (of sorts). if i recall correctly, there are multiple sets of brakes.. a main system with pump.. some sort of pump back up... and then electric pump ran by a bank of capacitors in the rear next to your 12v... if they get used, the car sounds that alarm. i've heard it twice and i wish to never hear it again.

[n00bz]

I will check the oil, and have the battery replaced in the morning. As for the DTC, I have no paperwork from the dealer indicating any trouble codes. It shows on the invoice, performed diagnosis. needs ecm to start, and the repair order for the ecu part number 89540-47060.

For the battery, which do you recommend?

[seilerts]

For the battery, you have Toyota OEM or Optima ds46b24r. They are the only drop-in replacements that are available in North America. The battery spec requires an AGM with Japanese pencil posts, so not just any battery will do.

[n00bz]

I just performed the flash codes to the car, i get abs 42 and vsc 45? can you shed some light on that?

[Wolfie52]

"...as for the inverter water pump recall, it expires in 2013... so wait till yours dies. (pink fluid stops moving)"

Why on earth would you wait to get a FREE repair done, especially when you are going to be there anyway??

Get it done now. There is no cost and I would think this is a part that will not go bad again. I had mine done right away, even though there was not a problem. Been a while now and still no problem.

It is one less nagging worry to have while you are on a 600 mile road trip...

[n00bz]

New battery, did the reset abs, still same thing

I noticed the rear 2 tires have barely any tread and waving, right rear shocks leaking.
Two front tires are almost new. Can this be setting the lights off? But i have done the reset?