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

2010-2015 or 3rd Generation Prius Brake Flush Video

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by NutzAboutBolts, Jan 9, 2016.

  1. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    We just did a 3rd Generation Prius brake flush, I will be uploading the video here once it's done being edited. Thank you for your patience...Video is up! Enjoy :)

     
    #1 NutzAboutBolts, Jan 9, 2016
    CrniMilorad, Patrick Wong, dorunron and 5 others like this.
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Kudos for U
     
    #2 mrbigh, Jan 9, 2016
  3. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Nice!
     
    #3 frodoz737, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    How many bottles of fluid would you advise to have on hand? Say 8 oz bottles, is that still the common size?
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Feb 13, 2016
  5. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,103
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Well done, very interesting! (y)
     
    #5 dorunron, Feb 13, 2016
  6. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    We used 2 8oz bottle to do the flush.
     
    #6 NutzAboutBolts, Feb 13, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    751
    223
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Any brand recommendations for the brake fluid?
     
    #7 gliderman, Feb 13, 2016
  8. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Any DOT 3 brake fluid works.
     
    #8 NutzAboutBolts, Feb 13, 2016
  9. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    In your video, you referred to a vacuum tool that sucks up the brake fluid. What is this device, and is it affordable for a home mechanic?
     
    #9 Rebound, Feb 18, 2016
  10. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I bought it from MatcoTools along time ago, its called MightyVac. It's a great brake flush kit to have since they have 2 attachments, one is to suck out the excess fluids in the brake reservoir deep down there, and the other is to be used on the bleeder valve. The kit is pretty expensive for the average person and require's an air compressor for it to work. I'm a DIYer so I think it was a great investment, but if you rather have the shop work on your car, then I wouldn't bother investing into tools.

    Other than using it on the brake flush, I use it to suck out the power steering fluids when doing a flush on my other car as well.
     
    #10 NutzAboutBolts, Feb 18, 2016
  11. kanota

    kanota Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    7
    1
    0
    Wish you could just flush it like a regular car. I have a motive pressure flusher that I use on all my cars and trucks

    Fone ?
     
    #11 kanota, Mar 14, 2016
  12. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Why wouldn't your Motive pressure flusher work? It looks like it would work fine.
     
    #12 Rebound, Mar 14, 2016
  13. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,319
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    While Toyota does provide a service method for replacing the fluid w/o Techstream (or equivalent), it is easy to cause faults to be set during this process that would require a scan tool to clear. If you accidentally caused a fault code to be stored, the brake system will not function properly and you will need to see the dealer (or a shop) anyway - which can turn expensive.

    I copied the info below from the repair manual:


    • So yes - it can be done without Techstream. But if things go wrong, you can have a problem on your hands that you may not be able to solve. I still think it's best to pay the dealer or someone else with the correct tooling to handle this job when the time comes.




    Assenmacher makes a Toyota-specific cap that works great with the Motive. I have used it on my Prius with success.

    VW, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, Ford, Dodge and other Tools for Specialty Applications
     
    #13 The Critic, Mar 18, 2016
  14. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I respect what you're saying, but it's very easy to buy an ODB-II cable and software from eBay for under $20. I realize that anyone with a Toyota affiliation cannot recommend using software that's not sold directly by Toyota. However, I think this cable/software should be in the garage of any Prius home mechanic.
     
    #14 Rebound, Mar 18, 2016
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    If Invalid Mode get's switched off, by one of the listed methods, while you're in mid-bleeding, will that cause a code? It wasn't clear to me from the video. I gather that's what @The Critic is saying.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Mar 18, 2016
  16. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes, but you can easily clear these codes using a laptop and the $18 cable/software bundle from eBay.

    Although, if you follow the video, you won't need the OBD cable and software.
     
    #16 Rebound, Mar 18, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)