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Brake Booster Accumulator Actuator issue?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Renee Thomas, Sep 22, 2021.

  1. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @ChapmanF - such good advice, I love it. Especially the use of the term "brakepocalypse!" I'll contact Ken at Dynasty Automotive (in Orlando) on Monday to schedule. Yes, it'll cost me a few hundred more but I save the two hour drive each way and the stress that goes with it, especially on the way there during early morning traffic, in fear of another event. Dynasty is only 10 minutes away.
     
  2. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @ChapmanF - update for you. Yesterday I drove around town for as long as 20 minutes at a time, 5 times total, and had no issues other than the buzzing for 5 to 8 seconds repeatedly and brake barking if I pressed too hard on the pedal. The check engine light came on at the end of the day and I verified it was just the old P1116 code (coolant control valve for heater core, not an issue). This morning I woke up thinking about the 12V battery. I looked online for the test procedure: press ignition twice without foot on brake, hold info button down, flick lights on/off 3 times to enter diagnostic screen, press "Menu" then "Display Check" then "Vehicle Signal Check" to get to the vehicle inputs screen. For the first test: my 12V battery showed 10.9 volts and when I turned on my headlights it went down to 9.2 volts and moments later it beeped and the screen went black. Fifteen minutes later, I repeated the test: my 12V battery showed 11.2 volts, then I waited a few seconds and turned on my headlights and it immediately dropped to 10.2 volts, then 9.9 volts, then 9.7 volts, and then it beeped and the screen went black. My last 12V battery was installed in October of 2012. I think I should have a new 12V battery installed immediately. Or perhaps after sitting in the garage overnight, a 12V is supposed to be lower and needs charged by driving. I'm going to research this now. What do you think?
     
    #42 Renee Thomas, Oct 11, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    (a) It wouldn't hurt at all to replace that battery.

    (b) If you are thinking that might fix the brakes, that is almost certainly wishful thinking.
     
  4. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    Lol, thank you so much. I do appreciate the insight.
     
  5. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    Does everyone agree the 12V Optima "yellow top" battery is better than the OEM? It looks like I can change my own battery pretty easily. I'm trying to decide if I should do it myself, go to the dealer (future support if needed!), or wait for my local hybrid expert to do it later this week (only $189 so it can't be an OEM or Optima battery).
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I've only gone OEM myself so I don't have a personal opinion, but if I remember right what I've seen around here, it was bullish on the Optima in the early years, but sentiments really seem to have soured on them since then.
     
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  7. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    That's what I've found online recently. I just called the dealer and they want $286 to install the Exide brand (lifetime warranty) vs $309 for OEM (not lifetime, I forget how many years). Both plus another 7% sales tax. I'm now reading the Exide vs Optima discussion on PriusChat. I can't resist reading the comments. If I buy the Optima, it's at least $250 and I have to install it myself. It's very tempting to run over to the dealership, pay the $286 for a quick install and have myself a lifetime warranty!
     
  8. koco

    koco Member

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    Nine years is a long time to use a car battery; you are lucky it lasted so long.

    Optima batteries are not as good as they used to be...not worth it IMO. Johnson Controls makes the OEM "Toyota" battery along with a significant portion of car batteries on the market.

    As long as you use an AGM battery with the right terminals and dimensions to fit the compartment, it will last a while.
     
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  9. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @koco - thank you for the comments, they are greatly appreciated. I had read so many comments that Optima batteries aren't what they used to be that I decided the brand wasn't so important after all. I ended up going to the Toyota dealership today for a new battery. I took the offer for their lifetime battery (no proration, no deductible, etc.) that is also transferable if I sell my car. I actually plan to keep my car but I was just curious about that so I asked. They said Exide makes the battery for Auto Nation and they are my dealer - it seems to me that Auto Nation is competing with Toyota's OEM, but it was an option I couldn't resist. They also gave me a good price, so no complaints there. And, yes, I feel really lucky that I had no problems with that 9 year old battery before changing it out today. I also took a look at the new battery when I got home. I know from watching the video online that it would have been easy to replace it myself but I would have spent $200 on a battery (knowing myself) and I wouldn't end up with a lifetime warranty!
     
    #49 Renee Thomas, Oct 11, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
  10. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    I'm replying to my own post because when I had an "event" on Thursday night, I posted that the brake booster failed. But it was not the brake booster failing! It was my hybrid electric water pump (aka inverter cooling pump) failing. I got that fixed a few days later.
     
  11. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @jerrymildred @vvillovv @ChapmanF - I'm back to square one (my original post). I've replaced the hybrid electric water pump (aka inverter cooling pump) and the 12V (auxiliary) battery. I probably saved myself some future inconveniences taking care of those right away. So now I still have the buzzing (lasts for 5 to 8 seconds) and it repeats while I drive. It buzzes a good few minutes after I turn off the car. The brakes "bark" if I push on the pedal at a stop sign/light. Other than that, the car operates perfectly. There are no codes for a failed brake booster/accumulator/actuator. It is such an expensive fix that I wish I could see a code. No one can tell me that the buzzing is indeed that particular problem. I'm going to research a bit more on the subject. I wish I could upload the short video of the sound. Maybe I can find it on the internet.
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Do you have a phone you could record it with and post that? I mean, sure, it's worth a try, maybe I will hear it and it will clearly be something other than the buzzing sound I am thinking of.

    But if you're describing a buzzing sound, that lasts 5 to 8 seconds, and repeats while you drive, and you have barks to go with it, I'm afraid the odds are quite good that it is the sound I am thinking of, as much as you might like it not to be.
     
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  13. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    I have the recording, I just can't attach it to the thread. I think only videos from certain places are allowed. I could put it on YouTube, then attach it, I think.
     
  14. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    OK, I put the video on YouTube so hopefully you can hear this. Turn up your speakers. This is the sound it makes after I turn off the car.
     
  15. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @ChapmanF - OK, here is a second video. This particular video is the sound it makes when I sit in the car and push on the brake repeatedly. You can hear the buzzing noise every time I push the pedal. You can also hear the brakes "barking."
     
  16. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Umm, yeah ... if no one else can tell you that's indeed your brake actuator, I'll do it.

    It is not an early stage.

    I'm sorry.
     
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  17. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    @ChapmanF - I want to add that while driving, it makes just the buzzing sound for about 5 to 8 seconds, then repeats. I haven't recorded while driving because that isn't safe.
     
  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    No need.
     
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  19. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    Oh, well, that makes me feel better about spending $2350......I wish I had a code to go with it. I do want to thank you for taking your time to respond to my many posts. I really appreciate it very much! I'll call the local guy, Ken, at Dynasty tomorrow and just move forward with this. I am keeping the car....going for at least 200,000.
     
  20. Renee Thomas

    Renee Thomas Junior Member

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    This is a link to a Gen 3 Prius with a very similar sounding bad brake booster. Ugh. My fate is sealed.