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ABS system failure

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by teryng, Feb 10, 2010.

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  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Wow!

    I had always suspected the "extended warranty" wasn't worth the paper it was written on. You might consider filing a report with the State Insurance Commissioner but ...

    Your experience with Progressive is one of the best endorsements I've ever seen. I have no complaints with Travellers but now ...

    Scanning the two pages won't be necessary. If they don't have diagnostic codes listed, it won't matter.

    Don't rule out a foreign brake fluid ... yet.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #21 bwilson4web, Feb 11, 2010
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    They sure replaced everything but I'm wondering ... with the car off, do you remember pressing the brake pedal and it going to the floor?

    The primary symptom of a severe brake failure like this is the loss of pressure. With the car powered off, it the brake pedal went to the floor, then the system would be failed and replacing just about everything would be merited. Just a thought, getting back the old parts is always useful for analysis but that opportunity is probably long gone.

    The brake light switch is an interesting part. I'm going to look at my circuit and see what a failed brake light switch might cause.

    When you mentioned the "screech," my first thought was the brake accumulator pump didn't have any fluid. This could lead to metal chips in system and that would require a complete replacement. But to lose all of the brake fluid, that would be something.

    BTW, we have over 120,000 miles on our 2003 Prius of which I've put about 70,000 miles since Oct. 2005. Other than tires, no major problems and since I bought the maintenance manuals at the same time, I was always planning to do-it-myself. Toyota service is a little ... pricey ... not like everyone else who does it for free. <GRINS>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #22 bwilson4web, Feb 11, 2010
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  3. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    I am not a technician but from my viewpoint you were taken advantage of in a huge way. $6500 for brakes, thats crazy.
     
    #23 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  4. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    Yes, I am having trouble deciding if it is worth remaining loyal to this dealership!
    Thanks,
    Teryn

     
    #24 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  5. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Easy, no way! did you go in with an abs light on or did they find the problem?
     
    #25 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  6. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    $2865 for brake diagnosis? What?
     
    #26 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  7. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    If there was a foreign liquid in the brake lines when you bought the car it would have had problems right away.
     
    #27 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
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  8. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    On the morning in question, yes; I am used to putting my foot on the brake to turn off the car (of course, that had always been after driving someplace after starting). With dash light on and car screeching, I did press the brake and noticed it fully gave in, unlike the night before when I drove home from class and everything was working normally. Still seems odd to me that ovemight, with car tucked away in its little carport, that a system could fail!
    Teryn

     
    #28 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  9. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    Scarey, huh? I must have a big CHUMP engraved in my forehead that I just can't see in a mirror!

     
    #29 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  10. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    My first/original post kinda tells the story. Car worked fine one night and next AM the dash light came on, car screeched like a banshee when I tried to turn the ignition key and kept screeching thereafter with just key in ignition. Had it towed the 50 miles to dealership where purchased/serviced and the story goes from there... Teryn


     
    #30 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  11. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    I hate to say it, but I think they took advantage of you and rebuilt your entire braking system. The total bill was $7,500 or thereabouts, how much was labor and how much parts?

    Your dealer said you had contaminated brake fluid, it was going to be $7500 to fix it and told you it was too expensive to have the fluid analyzed?
     
    #31 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  12. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    total labor 2882.65 total parts 4657.45 total misc. 20.00 total misc. discount 605.40 all plus tax 497.29
    total invoice 7451.99
    someone in this forum looked it up and told me that the car is only worth 8,500; between this total bill and what I paid for the car 2 years ago, I could have owned 2 Corollas!
     
    #32 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  13. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Just curious, what happened to the Camry you had to replace the engine and transmission on? Was it at the same dealer?
     
    #33 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  14. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    The Camry is still in the family; running fine for my ex-husband and he puts over 500 miles a week on it!


     
    #34 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  15. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Did you put the engine and transmission in at the same time? What ws teh bill?
    Was it at the same dealership you repaired the ABS at?
     
    #35 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  16. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    I had bought it at an auto wholesaler in Miami, not the dealership in Tampa. They had ripped me with a fake "carfax" and when I went to register in in my hometown (other coast and 4 hour drive away) realized that it had been a "fleet vehicle." I should have taken it back to Miami but didn't have time so that was another car that I overpaid for as a used vehicle between purchase and repairs but, like I said, it is still paying me/Mike back on a daily basis now. Teryn

     
    #36 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  17. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    Since the Camry did not come from a dealership, I never took it to a dealership for repairs. Used a local mechanic that had worked on my Isuzu truck for the engine and had a friend who works on race car transmissions do the tranny. Together, both jobs were under 4k.

     
    #37 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  18. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Wow! You seem to struggle when it comes to cars. I am a car dealer, for future reference, find a dealer you can trust and stick with him/her.
     
    #38 malorn, Feb 11, 2010
  19. teryng

    teryng New Member

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    I have noticed that there is a group called "Prius team" in the forum; I am curious what you people think of my brake job worth the cost of a vehicle. Was my dealership as bad as some are making me believe? Do you have any idea what could have happened to my system? Is it possible that Prius brake fluid, not to be confused with brake fluid for any other Toyota, may have had a problem and broken down into the substance that the dealership found, without any contaminant being added? What accounts for the same thing happening to an 02 a year before this happened to my 03? Any other cases that you are aware of? Do I need to file a complaint with someone in order to pull actual cases recorded? Thanks for anything you can add.
     
    #39 teryng, Feb 11, 2010
  20. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Because braking is so important, the car tries to run the brake accumulator pump as early as possible. I've heard it run long before starting. You'd have had to take the key out right away. Not your fault but running the pump without fluid ... <owch>

    With our ZVW30 (2010 Prius), just opening the door starts the brake accumulator pump running. BTW, the ZVW30 brakes are awesome stopping machines!

    Bob Wilson
     
    #40 bwilson4web, Feb 11, 2010
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