Brake pedal position

timcarlos · 03-09-2007, 07:26 PM

I know that I can discuss this topic with my Toyota service center but I'm interested in what anyone here thinks.

I recently had my brakes adjusted and when I got the car back the friction point (the point where braking begins) is really close to the top of the run. It also seems that regenerative braking is less than it used to be.

I've also been told by someone in our parking lot that my brake lights aren't always on even though I have my foot on the brake pedal. It seems that they go on only if I apply more pressure to the pedal.

Here's the question, how far from the top of the pedal run should it be until braking should begin?

Thanks for your input.

Tim

seasalsa · 03-09-2007, 08:35 PM

Why were the brakes adjusted? With the mimimal brake use in the Prius, I wouldn't think it would be necessary.

Have you had the brake light recall done on your 04? After this was done to mine, only a very light touch turns on the stop lights.

The answer to your question depends on what speed you are traveling.

timcarlos · 03-09-2007, 11:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Mar 9 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]403110[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Why were the brakes adjusted? With the mimimal brake use in the Prius, I wouldn't think it would be necessary.

Have you had the brake light recall done on your 04? After this was done to mine, only a very light touch turns on the stop lights.

The answer to your question depends on what speed you are traveling.
[/b]

The brake light recall didn't affect my VIN number.

I had the brakes adjusted because the pedal went half-way down in travel to the floor which then triggered hard and sudden braking putting all occupants in hand stands. It seems that the brake pedal has a sensor incorporated to sense speed of pedal application and travel distance so as to activate the hydrolic brakes.

When I'm at a stop with the pedal applied, the brake lights are not on unless I give deliberate pressure to the pedal - more than required at a stop.

Also, I've noticed that sometimes at a stop the electric motor is activated unless I give more pressure to the pedal.

tochatihu · 03-10-2007, 09:12 AM

Tim if your brake lights do not go on with the *slightest* motion of the brake pedal, then the position switch is adjusted incorrectly. Or, you need a new position switch as seasalsa mentioned. Some 2004 Prius have needed that.

Charles Suitt · 03-10-2007, 12:41 PM

Hi TimCarlos

I drove a 2004 Prius for over 2 years, now traded for a 2007 Touring Edition. On both Prius, light application of the brakes did not light the stop lights. One thing I noted was that with the MFD on "Energy" with only light application of the brakes, the 'arrows' showed power still flowing from the main battery to the wheels. This is the 'anti-creep' feature simulating the action of a regular automatic transmission. To stop the power flow, I simply applied more brake pedal pressure.

A previous response is correct. The brake light switch {located on the upper arm of the brake pedal - under the dash} can be adjusted which controls 'when' the brake lights illuminate. I am unaware of whether that setting also controls when energy flow to the wheels is ceased.

ASIDE: Up until a little over a year back, we had an active Prius Meetup Group in the Dallas Metro area. As many as 14 Prius would attend for a Saturday or Sunday luncheon and share experiences. The national organization imposed a fee - $75 for three months - on the "Organizer" who then had to try to collect from attendees or absorb the fee, so he gave it up. No one had stepped up with $75 to re-organize the Prius Meetup Group. It was an interesting sight to see that many Prius lined up in a parking lot.

8AA · 03-10-2007, 04:56 PM

Maybe you could use PriusChat as a resource to coordinate the meetings.

christob · 07-13-2007, 11:15 AM

...So, the brake lights should turn on at the lightest touch to the brake pedal? (I'd think so---they did in my last car, and that slightest touch was also enough to cancel Cruise Control back then.)
It seems in my 07 Prius, that the slightest touch doesn't activate the tail lights... nor kill Cruise (though I'd have to test that again, to be sure.) I can be at a dead stop, even on a slight decline, with enough pressure (VERY light--basically the "resting pressure" of my foot's natural, relaxed resting position on the pedal) to hold the car still, yet I will see the battery/energy arrows flowing to the wheels... I apply a little bit more deliberate pressure to stop those arrows (why waste any more battery juice at a dead stop than necessary?) and I *believe* it is only at that level of extra pressure (we're not talking a lot, but more than I'm used to) that my tail lights also come on...
Normal?

qbee42 · 07-13-2007, 02:05 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChristoB @ Jul 13 2007, 11:15 AM) [snapback]478102[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

...So, the brake lights should turn on at the lightest touch to the brake pedal? (I'd think so---they did in my last car, and that slightest touch was also enough to cancel Cruise Control back then.)
It seems in my 07 Prius, that the slightest touch doesn't activate the tail lights... nor kill Cruise (though I'd have to test that again, to be sure.) I can be at a dead stop, even on a slight decline, with enough pressure (VERY light--basically the "resting pressure" of my foot's natural, relaxed resting position on the pedal) to hold the car still, yet I will see the battery/energy arrows flowing to the wheels... I apply a little bit more deliberate pressure to stop those arrows (why waste any more battery juice at a dead stop than necessary?) and I *believe* it is only at that level of extra pressure (we're not talking a lot, but more than I'm used to) that my tail lights also come on...
Normal?
[/b]

Yes, normal.

Tom

**Tideland Prius** · 07-13-2007, 03:08 PM

yes. There's a very small bit at the top of the pedal travel where the lights won't come on. Then there's another small area where the lights will come on but you're not actually braking. After that, then you're braking (regen or friction)

Again, they're very small areas.

JimboK · 07-13-2007, 08:53 PM

I can't speak to the brake function, but I can comment on the light activation adjustment. Brick recently did a great writeup on how to adjust it. I used his instructions to adjust mine, and mine now light with just slight pedal pressure.

Of course if the shop screwed it up, you might consider having them fix it.

03-10-2007, 12:41 PM	#5
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,624 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Hi TimCarlos I drove a 2004 Prius for over 2 years, now traded for a 2007 Touring Edition. On both Prius, light application of the brakes did not light the stop lights. One thing I noted was that with the MFD on "Energy" with only light application of the brakes, the 'arrows' showed power still flowing from the main battery to the wheels. This is the 'anti-creep' feature simulating the action of a regular automatic transmission. To stop the power flow, I simply applied more brake pedal pressure. A previous response is correct. The brake light switch {located on the upper arm of the brake pedal - under the dash} can be adjusted which controls 'when' the brake lights illuminate. I am unaware of whether that setting also controls when energy flow to the wheels is ceased. ASIDE: Up until a little over a year back, we had an active Prius Meetup Group in the Dallas Metro area. As many as 14 Prius would attend for a Saturday or Sunday luncheon and share experiences. The national organization imposed a fee - $75 for three months - on the "Organizer" who then had to try to collect from attendees or absorb the fee, so he gave it up. No one had stepped up with $75 to re-organize the Prius Meetup Group. It was an interesting sight to see that many Prius lined up in a parking lot. __________________ Charles Suitt Dallas Texas 2007 Touring Edition (Former Prius: 2004)

07-13-2007, 11:15 AM	#7
christob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 177 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	...So, the brake lights should turn on at the lightest touch to the brake pedal? (I'd think so---they did in my last car, and that slightest touch was also enough to cancel Cruise Control back then.) It seems in my 07 Prius, that the slightest touch doesn't activate the tail lights... nor kill Cruise (though I'd have to test that again, to be sure.) I can be at a dead stop, even on a slight decline, with enough pressure (VERY light--basically the "resting pressure" of my foot's natural, relaxed resting position on the pedal) to hold the car still, yet I will see the battery/energy arrows flowing to the wheels... I apply a little bit more deliberate pressure to stop those arrows (why waste any more battery juice at a dead stop than necessary?) and I believe it is only at that level of extra pressure (we're not talking a lot, but more than I'm used to) that my tail lights also come on... Normal? __________________ 6/13/07: Delivery of my Silver '07 pkg2 Mods: Disabled reverse beeper, clear door-edge guards, ground-loop noise filter for AUX jack, custom plates "GR8R MPG" ...Wishlist... Toyota-produced iPod interface, Sunroof... wait, the 2010 has all that! Consistently ~50mpg on MFD, lifetime cumulative calc'd at ~49mpg

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03-09-2007, 07:26 PM	#1
timcarlos Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 41 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I know that I can discuss this topic with my Toyota service center but I'm interested in what anyone here thinks. I recently had my brakes adjusted and when I got the car back the friction point (the point where braking begins) is really close to the top of the run. It also seems that regenerative braking is less than it used to be. I've also been told by someone in our parking lot that my brake lights aren't always on even though I have my foot on the brake pedal. It seems that they go on only if I apply more pressure to the pedal. Here's the question, how far from the top of the pedal run should it be until braking should begin? Thanks for your input. Tim

03-09-2007, 08:35 PM	#2
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,202 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Why were the brakes adjusted? With the mimimal brake use in the Prius, I wouldn't think it would be necessary. Have you had the brake light recall done on your 04? After this was done to mine, only a very light touch turns on the stop lights. The answer to your question depends on what speed you are traveling.

03-10-2007, 09:12 AM	#4
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	Tim if your brake lights do not go on with the slightest motion of the brake pedal, then the position switch is adjusted incorrectly. Or, you need a new position switch as seasalsa mentioned. Some 2004 Prius have needed that.

03-10-2007, 04:56 PM	#6
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Maybe you could use PriusChat as a resource to coordinate the meetings.

07-13-2007, 03:08 PM	#9
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,620 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	yes. There's a very small bit at the top of the pedal travel where the lights won't come on. Then there's another small area where the lights will come on but you're not actually braking. After that, then you're braking (regen or friction) Again, they're very small areas.

07-13-2007, 08:53 PM	#10
JimboK One owner, low mileage Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chesterfield, VA Posts: 2,548 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 4 Thanked 88 Times in 69 Posts Friends: 6	I can't speak to the brake function, but I can comment on the light activation adjustment. Brick recently did a great writeup on how to adjust it. I used his instructions to adjust mine, and mine now light with just slight pedal pressure. Of course if the shop screwed it up, you might consider having them fix it.