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

Brake problem, with lights "Brake", Exclamation point, ABS, and VSC

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by steelva, May 30, 2023.

  1. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    2008 Prius, with 154K miles. I finished a 300 mile drive with no issues. Next AM, I went to move my Prius to drive another car, and right away I could feel the brakes were way off......soft, and nearly dysfunctional. I then noticed these warning lights: Brake, !, ABS, and VSC.

    I plugged in my ODB2 reader, but it pulled no error codes. I had a somewhat similar problem at the 108K mile mark 3 years back, but that time I got 2 codes, and I replaced the ABS actuator pump. At 145K miles, I had an error code and replaced the water inverter, as well as the brake pads.

    Any ideas? I have read where, at times, there can be an issue but with no error codes (unless taken to a stealership, which I have little interest in doing.)

    Appreciate any astute input or feedback. Thanx.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Did you replace the actuator with a brand new part of used part?
     
  3. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Good question. I hadda look it up in my maintenance log, as I couldn't recall. Yes indeed, it was a used actuator. (sigh.) Well, I reckon that's the culprit.....?
     
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I would at least verify codes before tackling that job. Does the pump run a few seconds, turn off and stay off unless the brake pedal is pushed? or does it run every several seconds even if the pedal is not pushed?
     
  5. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hi TMR, there are no error codes. (Granted, I don't have a Toyota-specific ODB2 reader.) These warning lights all light up on the dashboard within a few seconds of starting the car. Not sure if I've answered your question or not....? Thanx, Sv
     
  6. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    If there are warning lights, there are codes. We'll just need to find a code reader that speaks Prius.
     
  7. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    A-ha, I hadn't thought of it that way. I reckon yer correct. It dawned on me to ask ......is this car safe to drive to a mechanic shop? Just in my driveway, the brakes seem slow to react, and very wooden. (Perhaps I've answered my question....)
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,073
    14,979
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
  9. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    That's some neat info, Chappy. Thanks. I just arrived in Cali for a business trip, so I'm not at home at the moment to tinker with this. Very interesting and informative info. Much appreciated.
     
  10. steelva

    steelva Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2019
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello All,

    This issue has been resolved/repaired. I had the car towed to my mechanic, as I have free towing. My mechanic (not a stealership, of course) pulled the code....got an odd code for a stroke sensor. That said, he astutely drove it on a quiet back street, and could hear a variety of noise & rubbing on the passenger side.

    Lo and behold, the front pass. bearing/hub was shot. It had separated about 1/8", in fact, and this had basically gouged the rotor. That, then, seemed to set off the ABS light. They replaced the bearing/hub, and rotor, and that cleared the ABS warning light. Further analysis revealed a similar noise on the driver side, so we replaced that hub as well, as we had to replace the driver side rotor regardless.

    All fixed, and all good. This set me back $800 (would have been probably 3 times that amount at a stealership), with each hub costing $190 per. Much less costly than a new ABS modulator and the labor to install it. :)
     
    #10 steelva, Jun 14, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2023