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

Sudden Brake Failure But No Codes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by benjita, May 15, 2021.

  1. benjita

    benjita Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    40
    9
    0
    Location:
    Fairfax, VA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My brakes on my Gen 2 completely went out today while driving. Fortunately it happened on a low volume road and I was able to safely pull over. A high pitched sound and the VSC, ABC, and Brake warning lights came on. I was able to pull over and turned off the car. When I turned it back on the alarm and all warning lights turned off.
    From what I read online it sounds like its a bad ABS Actuator. I'd like to verify before I spend some $$$ but no codes are coming up with my basic Acrtron scanner. Would another reader be able to read what I assume are stored codes?
     
    #1 benjita, May 15, 2021
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,309
    15,098
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Even the Actron might have seen them if you had scanned before turning the car off.

    The jumper-wire-and-count-light-blinks method is a convenient way of getting your trouble codes quickly, in case something happens when you don't have a scan tool with you.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, May 15, 2021
  3. benjita

    benjita Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    40
    9
    0
    Location:
    Fairfax, VA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, I didn't know that was possible. Will read up on it. Assume it only works with active codes, rights?
     
    #3 benjita, May 15, 2021
  4. Moses Bruh

    Moses Bruh Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    97
    29
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Have you also checked your engine oil level? Low oil can starve the engine and cause it to do that and lose all brake power.
     
    #4 Moses Bruh, May 15, 2021
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,309
    15,098
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    How?
     
    #5 ChapmanF, May 16, 2021
  6. benjita

    benjita Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    40
    9
    0
    Location:
    Fairfax, VA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Taking it in to dealer to pull codes now. Engine oil was low but the same warning lights and buzzer came on after filling it.
     
    #6 benjita, May 18, 2021
  7. jkisf

    jkisf Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    38
    5
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    any noise with the actuator did it give a sign that it was going out i.e. loud barking when pressing the brakes and holding it or it constantly running? Any loss of brake pressure?
     
    #7 jkisf, May 18, 2021
  8. benjita

    benjita Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    40
    9
    0
    Location:
    Fairfax, VA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Zero barking though I've had a noise for while from the actuator when I would press the brake pedal sometimes. The noise was similar to the coolant canister filling up and would occur when I would press the pedal and start the car or shutting it off. Took it to dealer today and they confirmed it's a bad actuator and quoted me just over $3k for repairs. I found the Toyota part online for 1,100 and a local mechanic will install for $400, including bleeding the breaks.
     
    #8 benjita, May 18, 2021
    Moses Bruh likes this.
  9. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,504
    3,772
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You might ask her/him to be more careful and not break anything in the first place! :ROFLMAO::cry::D:p

    Seriously though, does this local mechanic experience doing this job and does s/he have Techstreeam or a professional level equivalent that will allow her/him to run the bleeding and initialization procedures for the new brake actuator unit?

    Does your new unit come with the matching resistor? The resistor is installed behind the dash.

    Images of the brake actuator and resistor in this post here.
     
    #9 dolj, May 19, 2021
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)