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

2013 Prius Five Advice - Brake Booster Pump Replacement?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by TAPnAR, Nov 17, 2022.

  1. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Needing some advice. I have a 2013 Prius five. It apparently needs the brake actuator/pump replaced and wondering if it is worth it for a car that has 240k on it. I love the car, and just recently noticed the brake pump running more than it should. It looks like the parts cost are about $1200 for OEM new. I can do the work myself, just will have to find the tech stream software and dongle, but should be pretty easy job, just time consuming. What are your thoughts? I live in an area of the country that I rarely see a decent Prius come available for a reasonable price. The car is in good condition it is garage kept and I drive it like I am trying to save gas. It is not abused in any way.

    My next question is, if I decide to replace the brake parts what all will I need. The 2 main components of the brake system, Bleeder( Mightyvac) Gallon of Dot 3 Fluid and the Tech stream software and dongle and a helper :) and lots of shop towels. I have all of the other tools.

    Thank for any advice you can offer.

    Todd
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    7,787
    1,348
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    You won't need a mighty vac with the Prius if you're replacing both parts good on you no problem usually people isolate the problem and replace the part that's bad but both parts is great so they'll be zero miles when you put them in that's always good if you can manage and afford it TEC software is about all you need other than normal hand tools for the job seems to me it's a little faster on the Gen 3 than the two but I could be wrong about that looks like access is a little better in the three
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    if you can diy it, i would keep it. you'll need a battery someday, and other expensive systems, but its worth it
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    IIRC the Repair Manual instruction originally called for removal of the main cross beam, for access to the brake components. Dealership mechanics complained, and Toyota came up with Safety Recall work-around. It involved "special tools", which I believe are not mandatory, you can manage without. Still the Safety Recall (attached) is good for it's info

    I found this video a while back:



    Full disclaimer: never done this myself.
     

    Attached Files:

    Paul E. Highway likes this.
  5. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thank you for the responses. I think I will go ahead and order the parts. Can anyone tell me what version of Tech stream I will need to do this job?

    Todd
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There’s a pic in one of my attachments, shows label orientation on the revised pump item, and which one you want. Kinda funky: revised part no would be better.
     
  7. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I have the revised pump. I am trying to decide if I can just replace one of the parts. But cant seem to find any documentation to test them. Also not sure what version of Tech stream I need.

    A few things about the problem or potential problem

    Pump runs about every 15 seconds
    No warning lights or anything out of the ordinary
    No odd smells or any leaks of any type
    I noticed after the pump runs I see the fluid level to the minimum line.
    When it sits for a bit, the level goes back up to Max

    I am wondering if I caused the problem or coincidence when I had to make an emergency stop
    on drive pavement and activated ABS. Seems like I noticed it from then on. I hit the pedal pretty hard to stop
    and wondered if I blew out a seal or something.

    I really appreciate all of the help.

    Thank you

    Todd
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    There are a bunch of valves inside the actuator and some of them pretty much never have to do anything until ABS or TRAC activates.

    One of them may have been opened by the computer during the ABS event, and possibly got a small piece of crud lodged in it, and never quite completely closed again after that.
     
  9. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I might just need to flush it out and see if that works. I am not hard on the car at all. I am very gentle with it normally driving below speed limits. and using the brakes sparingly. I am having a hard time finding what version of the tech stream software to use. I cant seem to find a chart that specifies what versions are for what cars. And it appears some versions do not work for the ABS bleeding procedure.

    Thank you for all the great info. I have read several of your post
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Think that at least is normal. Ours does that, if I go in through passenger side, pop hood, raise hood, open/close drivers door and go quickly to watch level in brake fluid reservoir: it drops about 1/2 as the pump runs. Left for a few hours, level is back up.
     
  11. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Good to know, I bought the car with 180k miles and have driven it 60k. I am religious about maintenance 5k oil and filter changes with Mobil 1. Changed the plugs and drive train fluid. Cleaned the intake manifold, and egr system. It is garage kept, and I drive it like I am trying to save money on fuel. I regularly get at least 50+ MPG. It uses very little oil between changes (1/4 qt. in 5k miles). I will see if anyone in my area has a tech stream system I can use for a few hours to flush the system and see if it has maybe induced air into the system for some reason. I figure it would not hurt. The current fluid looks clear and does not seem to be discolored.

    Thanks again for all of your help

    Todd
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It’s a 2013, so still has low-friction rings, supposedly more prone to oil consumption. That’s very good to hear.
     
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    It is normal for the level to drop a little when the pump runs, and slowly rise again. It's the pump's job to pull fluid from the reservoir and force it into the accumulator, so the reservoir level drops. Then as the high-pressure fluid slowly escapes from the accumulator (over hours in a healthy system, minutes or seconds in a sick one), back to the reservoir is where it goes.

    But all the way from max to min is a bigger difference than the pump should make. The accumulator just doesn't hold that much fluid. There's another thing that affects the reservoir level, namely, how worn the brake pads are. The more worn the pads, the lower the level in the reservoir.

    The highest the fluid should ever get is when all 4 pads are brand new and the accumulator pressure has been fully zeroed down so all the fluid is back to the reservoir.

    The lowest you should ever see should be when all 4 pads are down to minimal thickness and the pump just ran. So the pump only accounts for part of that difference.

    The levels marked on the reservoir are meant to be checked when the pressure is zeroed down. So the very lowest level you ever see could be a little below min, if the pump just ran and the pads are very worn. After zeroing down the pressure you'd want to see it at min or above.
     
    CR94 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  14. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I just changed the front pads and checked the rears. The fronts were about 90% gone and the rears are about 50%. I noticed the level was a little low (Not below Min line) and thought pads were the issue. I did not add fluid, thinking it was because of the almost gone pads. If i can find the software for the brake bleed I will try that first. I figure it is a cheap option to see if it clears up. I will for certain be prepared to replace parts if it does not correct it. I have still not seen any type of warnings for the failing system.

    Thanks for all of the great ideas. I am fairly new to Prius (Bought my first one in Nov 2019, gave it to my SO after 1 year ownership and bought the current one. Oct 31 2020. I really love the car and it has been nothing but a pleasure to drive.

    Todd
     
  15. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Here is an update on what I have found out about my problem with the car.

    First of all I am going to keep it! Today I went to Harbor Freight and bought a $6 Stethoscope and pin pointed the leaking
    brake system. It is very obvious when probing with the stethoscope where the issue is (Master). I have ordered a dongle and Tech stream software to do a brake system bleed to see if possibly a valve is stuck when I had to go into ABS mode a few weeks ago. If that does not work then I will replace the Master unit. I will update again after the flush to see if it was indeed a stuck valve or leaking master.

    Thank you all for all of the great advice. It is very much appreciated. I hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

    Todd
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    All the best!
     
  17. 2010moneypit?

    2010moneypit? Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2021
    314
    122
    0
    Location:
    Beaumont ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Thank you for the update.
     
  18. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Update!!

    I got the new part and have it installed, but cannot seem to find all of the instructions to re-calibrate and clear all of the codes. It definitely fixed the constantly running pump. I am running a Version 16 of Techstream. Seems to be kind of working. I had a heck of a time getting the brakes bled, especially the stroke simulator. It kept telling me there was something wrong. I figured battery was too low. Charged it up but still was very finicky. Anyone have the instructions on replacing this Brake Actuator using techstream?

    Thanks again for all of the help.
     
  19. TAPnAR

    TAPnAR Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    35
    26
    0
    Location:
    Fayetteville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Last update!!!

    Ok it is in and working very well. Not sure why I had so much trouble with the software.

    Thank you so much for all of the help and guidance. I hope to pay it forward someday.


    Todd
     
    bisco and ASRDogman like this.