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2015 Prius brake VIDEO noise, bark buzz grind

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by kyle64, Dec 11, 2017.

  1. kyle64

    kyle64 New Member

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    brakes are making this noise when completing stops. also will sometimes make same noise when releasing pressure off of the brake when transitioning back to accelator. not sure what’s causing this. any help is appreciated!
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    how many miles on her?
     
  3. kyle64

    kyle64 New Member

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    47,600 miles. been a great car so far. this is the first issue.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds like the classic 'barking' from the actuator.
     
  5. kyle64

    kyle64 New Member

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    OK. thanks! from other forums i was under the impression that was a gen-2 problem.. but sounds like it persists 10 model years later on gen-3(?)

    well, sounds like around $2k fix(?) how important is this to fix as far as safety is concerned? i can ignore the bark for $2k!
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My 2015 did that a few times, after it sat for a week.
     
  7. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Men, I'm surprised to learn that this barking brake problem has extended beyond the gen2s.

    I had a hybrid Highlander constantly doing that crab more constantly, say, more than 2minutes, the actuator motor keeps making that hell of a noise. Each time the abs motor relay was removed, it stopped. Replaced same relay, that constant noise, reduced to say, 5seconds. Brakes are perfectly OK now, but you've for the check VSC lights on the dash.

    In my case as regards the Highlander hybrid, I suspect the actuator motor is shorting internally. But for the meantime, we're using the brakes that way, pending when we can cough out thousands of $$$ for the actuator replacement.

    Yours might be an isolated case.
    Have it scanned if there are codes related to the relays.


    Dxta
     
  8. kyle64

    kyle64 New Member

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    thanks! it seems to be isolated to harder stops for now.. and seems to be only after a couple harder stops in a row. this was me purposely replicating the issue with repeated hard stops.

    as you see in the video though, the stops were nothing crazy.

    i’ll keep it updated, hopefully we’ll save the $2k in the long run and it’ll just go away or not get any worse. i’ll look at getting it scanned but it’s not throwing up lights (unless the ABS kicks on).

    i’ve lived with worse noises on other vehicles for over 100k miles.

    i appreciate the help! i’m fairly mechanically inclined and handle most of my own maintenance.. but these hybrid brakes had me stumped!
     
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Our 2011 with 84k miles is doing it too. I will probably try to get it repaired using our extended warranty before it expires next April.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  10. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

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    Hi @xliderider @kyle64 did you guys figure out what was the issue? I have the same sound when braking and sometimes in about a minute after I turn off the car
     
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I inquired about the software flash at my last maintenance visit. The service advisor said that because it's a TSB and not a recall, they would charge $140 just to run the diagnostic (connect Techstream?). So I told them to forget about it.

    SM-N910V using PriusChat mobile app
     
  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Did the extended warranty cover the expenses?
     
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It's going to be difficult getting it addressed because it's intermittent and there aren't any error codes or warning lights generated when it does it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    I just wanted to drop a note here and let you guys know that my wife's car was "barking like a seal" as it relates to the brakes.

    I bled the brakes following the procedure here 2010-2015 or 3rd Generation Prius Brake Flush Video | PriusChat
    and it fixed the problem. No more barking brakes. So if you have this problem, do yourself a favor and bleed the brakes before you replace the actuator and save big $$.
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I've done the bleeding and it fixes the problem for about a month. Then it returns. The fix is to replace the actuator.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  16. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    Well if it returns then I will do a bleed before I trade it in in a couple years. Everything I have read on the subject, it doesn't effect the brakes,, it's just annoying.
     
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I got it replaced under warranty, not sure I would do it if I had to pay thousands of dollars to do it.
     
  18. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    I don't think it would be covered warranty for us. Her CT is a 2012 and has over 100K miles.
     
  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If I had a Gen 3, and especially if I had a 2010 or 2011 (which I do), I would start by checking the firmware version in Techstream to see if I had the updated version (I didn't), and if not, get it flashed (I did, and drove home from the dealer in quackless serenity).

    If I had continuing quacks, and especially if I noticed that bleeding the system made them go away, but then they came back, and no vandals were seen sneaking around my neighborhood pumping air into my brakes, I would seriously consider replacing the accumulator.

    The accumulator is where the pressurized nitrogen is. If gas is bled out of the lines, and a month later it's there again, it didn't come from the actuator.

    If the car were a Gen 2, the accumulator and actuator would be combined in one assembly, but in a Gen 3, they're not.
     
  20. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    I had Techstream to assist me. The brakes had never been bled before so I flushed 32 oz of brand new DOT 3 Fluid through the brake lines and master and slave cylinders. The TSB says to flush the system first and if that doesn't fix the problem then replace the actuator. I have my fingers crossed that the actuator is good. It just started doing it recently (barking) the wife didn't notice but I heard it and continued to monitor. It wasn't my imagination, it would occasionally bark. Now it's quiet. Not sure now if it would be the accumulator or the actuator but I wouldn't want to do that myself.