Brake Actuator Problem

This sounds like low/dead battery to me. If it is still at the dealer, you could politely ask that they put the 12V battery on a charger for several hours and reset the codes. They may need to perform a zero-point calibration, as there is a possibility that the locksmith's computer may have undone something.

What are you doing for a key???

 

This is very interesting! I have the car now. I wonder if I go back to the dealer and ask them to do that and if it works, they might be really embarassed. I guess I cannot just buy a battery because they need to reset the code. I have one key that the locksmith bought. Are you interested in quoting another key?

Thanks again.

 

I was wondering if your locksmith was able to successfully program the key without having a master. It is possible, but finding a non-dealer locksmith to do this on a Prius is very rare. How much did it cost if, if you don't mind sharing?

Anyway, since you have your car back, you could check/charge the battery yourself, and do the code reset too if the dealer didn't do it already.

 

The locksmith tried to manually program the key and was not successful. Then he tried his computer and that was when the 3 lights (!), ABS, VSC, Brakes came on and stay on. The locksmith wanted $375 and lowered it to $325 when he cannot program it.

I will take it back to the dealer to try the battery recharge and reset you suggested.

 

Have you contact Locksmith? he solve your problem?

 

I took my car back to the Toyota dealership, the senior mechanic (the guy who does all the programming) was willing to try reprogramming. Although he was able to program my remote key the first time, it did not quite work all together. The new flop (remote) after he programmed it will open the trunk remotely, but not the door. The door however can be opened either by opening the trunk remotely or by pushing the open button on the remote. What is strange is if I shut off my engine and not leave the car or open the door within 5 seconds, the radio is turned on automatically and all the panel lights came on. It stops there and I cannot start the car with the push button. To start the car, I then need to open the door and the lights and radio will be off, I can then start the car. One other thing that the mechanic found was that this was a zip car and the door was protected by a zip card. However my old key worked perfectly even with all zip car security connection. The mechanic then disconnect more wire (presumably from the zip card) and the Brake, ABS, Exclaimation lights no longer lit up (Thank goodness, it is apparently not the brake actuator) If I would have gone along the first time, I potentially could be out of the pocket for $2500!

I don't know why the replace remote is any different than the original. The mechanics said he has disconnected all the zip security and he did not seem to know what is going on.

I would never imagine losing a key could trigger months of going to the dealershop. Any ideas or suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Clem

 

Zip Car? That changes everything. The door locks most likely have been hooked up to a different, proprietary security system. That's why the new fob doesn't work for them. I don't know why the car reboots after 5 seconds.

 

The toyota mechanics said that he has disconnected everything that does not belong to the toyota system. He said anything that he recognized form Zip car has been disconnected.

I really don't know,

Thanks for responding

 

It doesn't look like this forum gets used much any longer. Just to add my 2 cents, in case anyone still reads, I bought an 07 Prius with 137,000 on it. Second day all the warning lights for ABS came on. I went on Just Answer and a Toyota tech told me to get the brakes bled before doing anything else. I had Pep Boys do the bleed for $125 with the Toyota tool. That made the "chirping" worse (I compare the chirping to the sound a ground hog or squirrel makes). Anyway, I have found that when I'm at a full stop with my foot on the brake, the chirping is continuous. Since it isn't a safety issue, but the noise is embarrassing, I just punch the car into Park and take my foot off the brake; the sound goes away. Then I just shift into D when the light changes. It's no worse than driving a standard transmission, so not really a pain. But, it does make the sound go away while you're sitting surrounded by a bunch of other cars' drivers looking at you and shaking their heads like "you idiot, you bought a Prius!" Anyway... I love the car and am working through the issues slowly.

 

i have this chirping noise as well coming from mine. my toyota dealership said it was normal operation. im limited to service shops here because most will not touch hybrids in this area they think its a mercedes or something. but i have not had any braking problems. sometimes when i hit a pot hole while applying brake pressure it feels like there is a slight loss in brake friction but it is only momentary.