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help? DTC C1256 Code

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by 2009 Rebuilt title Prius, Oct 23, 2019.

  1. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    Got this code from scan. 20191022_213621.jpeg

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    sounds like you need a new brake actuator
     
  3. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    Thank you! I appreciate it.
    how much do those run by? also where could I get one for cheap or cheap labor?

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  4. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they are around $2,500. at a dealer. some people have been able to find a local mech who will install a salvage unit for around $500. iirc.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are there any symptoms?
     
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    While you're admiring all the digits after that dollar sign, do think on following that workup procedure from SFO before you decide for sure that part is what you need.
     
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  8. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    wow that's basically a car but thanks for the info. It seems to be working fine though because did a scan because curious and recently bought it for 6k which was down the drain probably with this problem.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

    I don't really know the symptoms other then after driving it for 5 to 10 minutes and hitting a stop light or sign it starts revving up and down for a minute and I put it in neutral to stop it and the drive like normal in the morning.
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    #9 2009 Rebuilt title Prius, Oct 25, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 26, 2019
  9. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    that's true and the dealership told me a diagnosis would be $160 just to find out what's wrong and nothing else so I posted on here to see what's the diagnosis and save a dollar.
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  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, if you hadn't already posted the trouble code, that would be the first order of business, but you've already done that. SFO then posted the workup instructions for that code, which tell somebody how to find out whether the code was set because of an actuator problem or an ECU problem. That could help with deciding what to try to buy.

    Both parts are probably available on the salvage market for considerably less than new ones.
     
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  11. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    Thanks, if it ever comes to it, I'll head to the junk yard in hopes of swapping out for a good one.
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  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Have you been talked into figuring out what's broken before buying a replacement yet?
     
  13. tidesofthesky

    tidesofthesky Member

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    I replaced my brake actuator with one I pulled from the scrap yard for $75. It's a fairly involved process. And then the brakes need to be bled with the techstream software afterwards. Totally doable diy project, but it is somewhat challenging if I remember correctly.

    Make sure to walk through the steps to diagnose the problem before taking any action. I bought my car with the issue and it had the red triangle on the dash with a slew of other lights as well and wasn't happy that I was driving it. So yours may progress in that direction if that is in fact the issue.

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  14. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    I did a diagnostic with the Toyota dealership and they told me that the brake computer system has a current code (meaning can't be deleted) active and that the system didn't like how it braked in one put of it's lifetime and maybe need a replacement in the near future once it dies.
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  15. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    The car is working fine now but the Toyota dealership said it was a tickling time bomb and would probably end up like your car with the lights.
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  16. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    If you paid the dealership for a diagnostic, that would include them attaching an OBD2 scanner to scan the vehicle for any stored codes (DTCs) in the ECUs, could you please post all of the retrieved codes in this thread.
     
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  17. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    I'll give them a call tomorrow morning
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  18. 2009 Rebuilt title Prius

    2009 Rebuilt title Prius Junior Member

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    I contacted them and they stated the only code being C1256 and that the problem be addressed... not much help there from the call.
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  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Ok, so they're too busy with work they'd rather do than follow their own diagnostic steps in their own manual.

    Fortunately SFO posted those steps earlier.

    If you had a laptop with Techstream it could do the step 2 of testing (read the accumulator pressure sensor). The rest you can do with a multimeter.

    The name of the game (as you can see from the outcomes of those steps) is "decide whether to replace the actuator or the ECU".