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2009 Errors, lights - easy fix?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Melody C., Dec 30, 2019.

  1. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    2008 Prius
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    ----USA----
    I’ve searched through and haven’t found exactly my situation with error codes. ABS C1256 C1391, ECM P0420 (Engine light went on but now off). Also have red parking BRAKE light won’t go off. ((!)) ABS and VSC all came on at the same time.

    when in park with engine on I get 8 click/knocks when the engine cycles on.

    Car has 195k miles and mileage is down to 36 mpg (but I do short trips). I haven’t had much trouble with the car and had my AC charged last year and once the year before. Had my computer changed on waranty a year or so ago which replaces the whole dash console. Oil change mechanic says brake fluid is fine and brakes hardware still good. He read the codes above with reader . Also wrote down : ABS 2, ECM 2, OBD II, along with Codes above.

    When the dealer charged my AC system a few months ago they left the high and low side caps off. Found one under some leaves near the windshield and the other is gone. The dealer knows I’m interested in buying a new Prius. Not that it’s related probably just tossed them and lost under the leaves.

    Also I have had a turkey call sound pretty much since I bought the car new when the car is stopped with brake depressed and not in park. No one knew why.

    Anyone help me make sense of all this, please? I’m handy so I’m game for easy repairs. Never had to do any on this vehicle though -very reliable until now.
    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    C1256 and C1391 both point to the brake actuator assembly having failed as it is not maintaining sufficient hydraulic pressure. P0420 points to a failed catalytic converter.

    I would not characterize replacing the brake actuator as an easy repair as the inverter must be removed for access and you will need Toyota Techstream to bleed the brake lines after the actuator is replaced. Of course the catalytic converter replacement requires getting under the car and removing a portion of the exhaust system, so you can judge whether you consider that to be easy or not.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    if that's jupiter florida, do you even need a cat?
     
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Nice job with the obd codes we hardly ever see anyone show up with codes that make sense.

    As pat stated the abs actuator has failed and is not easy to repair and will be expensive to replace. Forget dealer they will kill you on that the part alone is expensive.

    No matter what that part or parts cost keep in mind the fact that your seeing such poor miles and the age and miles tells us your hybrid battery will need to be replaced or rebuilt also. So bad news is given all the repairs it needs now in total the car may not be worth fixing. I wouldn’t.

    Please use the search forums blue tab up top and search

    Hybrid battery

    To see what everyone is going through with that.
     
  5. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    Turns out there was a waranty enhancement on the brake actuator assembly for 10 years from date of first use with unlimited miles and another 150,000 miles and more years. Well, I’m might over that time period by a hair (bought a 2009 in 2010). Real disappoint that I didn’t know about this earlier. It’s basically totaling out my car which so many people (even Toyota sales) claim can last 250k miles . Hope this helps someone else who may not have hit 150k miles or the time period!
     
  6. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    B7E28FAB-2D3D-4CC0-9502-834A7E3CCB30.jpeg One more thing, the reduced gas mileage could be related to the brake problem because the battery does regenerative braking in the front brakes. The front brakes are first affected by the brake actuator accumulator going bad. When regen braking doesn’t happen the battery doesn’t charge efficiently leading to reduced gas mileage.

    sure wish I had done the repair before the warranty enhancement expired! Now that I think about it this was probably stating to happen and the reason for the clicking noise when my brake is depressed and engine is running. Double darn!!! Attached is the waranty enhancement notice
     
  7. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    More goodies for y’all - Babi side of warranty enhancement ZG1
     

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  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    One possibility might be to have an independent hybrid servicer install a used brake actuator. You might be able to buy a used unit on eBay for $300 with installation costing a similar amount.
     
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  9. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    upon further inspection, I don’t have all of the warning lights shown on the back side of this warranty extension. So I’m back to wondering what is really the cause or fix for my car. I’m going to a mechanic tomorrow. They have been closed since Christmas so I’ve been trying to figure it out in my own.
     
  10. Melody C.

    Melody C. Junior Member

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    I’m not sure if it has completely failed yet. If it had I would think the brakes would not work and I’d get the triangle exclamation point. The codes do point to it so maybe it’s on the way out. It’s scary enough to get a rental to drive the kids around and take it to the mechanic.
     
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    You'll know it failed you will have no brakes.
     
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