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ABS, Traction Control and Brake Lights turned on

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by JOL, Jul 17, 2020.

  1. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    I've got a 2010 Prius, with about 174K miles. I was driving this morning, when the ABS, traction control and brake lights all turned on - was driving approx. 40mph on a flat residential road.

    IMG_9368.jpg


    According to this thread, it may be a bad ABS sensor. According to this thread, may be a bad 12V battery (my 12V was replaced in 2014).

    I do not know how to work on my own car (but I do have access to an inexpensive wifi OBD-2 reader), but I do have an independent mechanic I trust. Before I have it looked at (and before I spend the money on repairs), anyone have any thoughts of what might be going on? I was planning on replacing the car in the next 6-12 months, so don't want to spend a ton on repairs.

    Forgot to mention - not sure if it was all in my head, but the brakes felt softer than normal, like I had to press harder on the brakes.
     
  2. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    To get to a diagnosis, you'll need the error codes. Hopefully your code reader will work. If not, the codes can be made to flash, by jumpering two of the terminals of the DLC3 (OBD "port"). Refer to the repair manual, or search around here for more info.

    You can also look at your rear wheel hubs, and see if the connector for the speed sensor, or the wire, or the sensor itself, are damaged.
     
  3. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    While those lights are on, your hybrid battery will not be getting charged and your engine will eventually run longer and mpgs will go down.
     
    #3 AzusaPrius, Jul 17, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2020
  4. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    Unfortunately, the OBD-II reader didn't provide any error codes. Attached is what I see from the application. I drove around the block and did notice that the regenerative braking did not seem to be working.

    I'm not confident about fooling around with the car, so I'll just take it to the mechanic, and pray it's not something major.
     

    Attached Files:

    #4 JOL, Jul 17, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2020
  5. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Good idea. Hopefully it's just a speed sensor.

    Off topic, but have you cleaned your EGR system?
     
  6. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    As far as I know, no, the EGR system has never been cleaned. In fact, I don't even know what that is
     
  7. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    The exhaust gas recirculation system brings some exhaust gas back into the engine's air intake.

    There are many threads about the EGR system here, but the upshot is that its components get clogged over time. My 2010's EGR cooler was almost completely clogged at 175,000 miles.

    Read up on the issue. If you love your Prius and intend to keep it as long as possible, you'll probably decide to pursue cleaning or replacing some of the EGR components.
     
    ASRDogman likes this.
  8. SB6

    SB6 Member

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    Could be your brake booster. Get the codes read. Auto part stores like AutoZone will usually read codes for free, but my local one has refused, stating that they can't read codes on hybrids (or they said Prius, I don't remember). If that's the case for you, get the codes from your mechanic.

    There's a Customer Support Program ZJB that covers the brake booster issue, but only if you have certain codes. You might want to look into that
     
  9. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    You need an abs scanner
     
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Most code scanners will show you the DTCs from the brake system (though generic ones might give you incomplete or wrong descrciptions of what the DTCs mean).

    If you don't have a scan tool at all, you can still get the codes to blink out on the dash lights.
     
  11. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    Just received a call from my mechanic, and was told their tech determined it was the ABS accumulator (I forgot to ask him about the actual error code). He said his tech "relearned" it, and drove the car around, and everything seems fine. At this time, he does not recommend replacing the accumulator itself, as it can get quite pricey.

    They're also changing the oil on the car at the moment, so, when they call me back to pick up the car, I will ask for the error code itself so I can determine whether my car qualifies for the ZJB.

    FYI, I have no record of ever receiving any notification of Customer Support Program ZJB, and I'm pretty meticulous about maintaining my records. Since I'm past both the Primary and Secondary coverages, I am on the phone with Toyota to see if they will still somehow honor the customer support program, but I am not hopeful.

    Update: my case was escalated, but Toyota refuses to make an exception. According to the supervisor, their records indicate notice was mailed to me September 17, 2018. In any event, I would not have qualified anyway since I did not start experiencing the issue until I was already past the Primary and Secondary coverages, i.e., I did not experience the issue prior to November 27, 2019 (regardless of mileage), and, while I am 2 days away from 10 years of ownership, I did not experience the issue before my vehicle hit 150K miles.
     
    #11 JOL, Jul 18, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2020
  12. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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  13. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    I did check the Toyota Owners Site and there were no recalls or campaigns.

    im at the mechanic’s now, and was told it was error C1391. Was told they drove it around, ensured there was no noticeable vacuum leaks, and everything seems ok (for now). Plan was to get a new car by year-end, but my plans may be accelerated.
     
    #13 JOL, Jul 18, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2020
  14. SB6

    SB6 Member

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    Definitely save up, either for the repair if it's ever required, or for a new car. But if there aren't any issues right now, you may be good to go for a good while.

    On the topic of this car lasting you for a while, you may want to look into the EGR cleaning @pjksr02 had mentioned in post #5 and #7. There are also other preventative maintenance items you'll find around these forums, like cleaning the battery fan, cleaning the battery bus bars, replacing your coolant (if you haven't already done so), and replacing your transmission fluid
     
    #14 SB6, Jul 18, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2020
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  15. JOL

    JOL Junior Member

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    Thank you all for the tips. I do remember the mechanic doing some of the stuff you mentioned (I recall him talking about cleaning the battery fan, and replacing the coolant and fluid), though not the EGR cleaning. I feel like I've been pretty good about the maintenance on my car, as I have religiously had it serviced every 5K miles. It's been a great car for the past 10 years.

    When the day comes to part with it, and that day is coming soon, I'll definitely miss how reliable this car has been, especially in comparison to the German vehicle it replaced.
     
    #15 JOL, Jul 19, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2020
    SB6 likes this.
  16. dulguun gereltuya

    dulguun gereltuya Junior Member

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    SAME SHIT HAPPENED TO ME AFTER BUYIING USED 10 197K USED PRIUS MONTH AGO FOR 5G I CANT AFFORD 3K FIX IF I smart BUY USED smart PART FROM EBAY DO I HAVE TO REPROGRAM IT OR SOMETHING? CAN I INSTALL 13 14 15 PRIUS BRAKE BOOSTER? ON MY SHIT