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ABS Brake Lights with High-Pitched Noise

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by KleverGuyy, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. KleverGuyy

    KleverGuyy New Member

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    On my way to work yesterday on the freeway the Brake and ABS warning lights came on along with a high-pitched noise from the dash. Scared the hell out of me.

    I pulled over and the few things I could find online mentioned a pump. My brother, who sold me the car, is worried it's the transaxle that went out. He's mentioned these Gen 1s have a history of it. However, the car was running and as I was getting home the brakes went out. The pedal got stiff and it was difficult to slow down. I managed to get home.

    So, if the brakes went out that leads me to believe it isn't the transaxle, and also because the car kept going for another 15 miles and still turns over.

    We have a diagnostic tool but nothing unusual came up. It's not specified for Prius', though. Any thoughts or ideas on what may be going on?

    My buddy is a mechanic and he's coming by today but has little to no experience with HVs. Anything would help.
     
  2. KleverGuyy

    KleverGuyy New Member

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    It's a 2001 with 195,000 miles, btw.
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The alarm buzzer tells you there isn't enough pressure stored in the brake accumulator to assist your braking, and a stiff pedal that slows the car with only the strength of your leg on the pedal is what results when that happens. Something could be wrong with the booster pump, or fluid might be escaping the accumulator in some way so pressure isn't held (it doesn't have to be leaking out of the car, it could just be leaking back to the reservoir), or fluid might not be getting to the pump. Have you checked the level in the reservoir? It could just be too low. Something could have plugged the fluid line going into the pump - just in the last week or so, we had someone who had done recent work and inadvertently kinked the hose from the reservoir to the pump, and that was the whole reason he wasn't getting boost pressure.

    The brake computer info can be read by a Toyota-specific scantool, so you can easily have it read at a dealer for not much money if there's one near you. Some people buy a "Mini VCI" dongle that works with a Windows laptop and seems to come with a pirate version of Toyota's software. If neither of those is an option, you can also get the codes by using a jumper wire to connect pins TC and CG (4 and 13) at the diagnostic connector over the driver's left knee, turning the ignition on, and counting blinks of the ABS light.

    The codes will help figure out what's up.

    -Chap
     
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  4. AlexY

    AlexY Member

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    Looks like brake pump is gone.
     
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  5. rlin78

    rlin78 Junior Member

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    Chap and Alex are both correct. It sounds like the brake booster pump just went out. I just experienced that on my 2001 a month ago. The good news is you got home safely, the bad news is that this is either expensive if you take it to the stealership or takes a lot of time if you try to fix it yourself.

    First step is to get a Prius aware scanner. the Mini VCI is the cheapest solution. When I scanned mine, I found a bunch of codes. C1251, C1252, C1256, and C1258 I believe. C1258 wasn't something I could relate, I believe it is a generic code.

    If your car has C1256, that's pretty much confirms it's a pump because you said you had brake pressure until you got home. That means the accumulator was working. Take a look at my post and Chap's discussion here and see if you want to attempt it yourself. Good luck.
     
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  6. faceleg

    faceleg New Member

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    This happened to me a month ago, it was the "hybrid abs brake booster". Cost me around 1360$ NZD.

    Apparently the part is located right by the firewall, difficult to get to.
     
  7. rlin78

    rlin78 Junior Member

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    1360$ NZD is almost like $1000 USD, that seems very reasonable for the repair. The part alone costs over $1600 brand new, did you use new or used part? I would still think the cost is very reasonable consider you have to remove the AC lines.
     
  8. faceleg

    faceleg New Member

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    Used, came with a 6mth warranty.

    Was advised by the mechanic that new part not worth it considering the price of the car (4400$ NZD).
     
  9. rlin78

    rlin78 Junior Member

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    Made sense. It's a reasonable cost consider the amount of labor required.
     
  10. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Ask the mechanic if he has a 4400$ NZD that gets the same mileage?

    With a new car, you pay the predictable note and have a warranty. With a used car, you pay the random repair costs. So I'm keeping our 2003 'until the wheels fall off.'

    Bob Wilson
     
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  11. faceleg

    faceleg New Member

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    Excellent point!
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Darn - I've already replaced two wheel bearings on mine. Should I have done that? Keep that up and the wheels might never fall off! Then what'll I do?

    -Chap
     
  13. 123notme

    123notme New Member

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    The hole is on the right side of the wheel between the break and gas pedals.