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2013 Prius 3gen , ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights came on suddenly?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Skanga, Jul 5, 2024 at 11:31 AM.

  1. Skanga

    Skanga New Member

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    I have a 2013 Prius third generation with 185,000 miles. I was driving the interstate and all of a sudden the ABS, traction control, and brake lights came on the dash. ABS must be off because the brakes are squishing and I am not getting any regeneration of the battery when I brake. I made an appointment at my Toyota dealer to get it checked out and on my way to the shop two days later the lights suddenly shut off and everything seems to be working just fine. I decided to have them look at it anyway. Should I be taking this to the dealer or should I just go to a regular brake shop if I need to get anything repaired being that it is more than 10 years old and has more than 150,000 miles. Give me suggestions on what I should do with this problem. I will keep you informed on what Toyota diagnostics tell me.
     
  2. Skanga

    Skanga New Member

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    I just got back from Toyota dealer and they said I had a C 1391 code stored. They then recommended replacing the master cylinder and pump assembly for a total cost of $2950 that includes labor and tax. I assume that the $2950 price includes the master cylinder part the pump assembly part and all the fluids and the bleeding of the brake system and all labor required to do so. Does this seem accurate? Should I take this anywhere else to get a quote or should it be a Toyota dealer or at least a mechanic that has Toyota tech stream software as I’ve heard that bleeding the brakes is difficult without tech stream software which would have to be done with this repair. The funny part is …1 mile from the Toyota dealership. All of the dash lights turned off in my breaking and regenerative system seems to be working just fine now. Should I wait until it codes again and all of the lights come on the dash, or should I get this repaired ASAP? I really need some advice, $3000 is a lot of money I want to make sure that I am spending it correctly for the right repair. $3000 is less money than any car I could get to replace it but it is a 11 year old Toyota Prius with 185,000 miles on it. What should I do? Here is a picture of the very general quote. IMG_2394.jpeg
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    That's what you're up against for one with this model then there's some other issues that are getting ready to happen close to this mileage If you think $3,000 is something you're spending what are you going to do in the head gasket blows or it takes out the connecting rod or what have you that's 5 or $9,000 or somewhere in there depending upon where you live and who you contract to do this work so you can easily have 15,000 in a generation 3 Toyota Prius for absolutely no reason other than you own the car and you think you should spend the money because you need to drive to work and it seems this is where people are left so there's always that if you think of 2012 or 13 car is worth about $7,000 worth of work You're looking at three of it right now when the engine goes it's another 28 to $4,500 so you add up your brake job and then your engine job and then look at your car overall and you just spent $7,000 some dollars on this 2013 car that's how old now well there you go That's something only you and your mind can maul over what I do it absolutely not No sir but I have many ways to get to work so I'm not under any pressure when something breaks I can take my time assess the situation and do whatever it is I'm going to do without any worry of how I'm going to get anywhere because outside of my window there's a field of cars motor scooters bikes and everything that work impeccably so when one breaks it's not a catastrophe here with most people when their car breaks it's a major disaster that has to be dealt with immediately That's how the industry wants that to be so you make silly choices and bad choices and spend lots of money keeps you working and the country moving I guess they're not doing that with my money so you've got lots of things to maul over here but this is a common thing you could have read about all this long before you bought the car I'm sure the car was pretty You needed a car and here you are You want to get out of this real quick Go grab yourself a Toyota Yaris or a generation 2 Prius and probably never have to do any car work again as you're starting to know it anyway completely different animals and different experiences completely but only you can come up with those things Good luck my friend I'm sorry you stepped in this pile.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sadly true.

    How long have you had it?

    EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system ever been cleaned? If not, head gasket is likely to let go soon. If you’ve just recently acquired, it might be held together by stop-leak product.

    Head gasket failure typically manifests as shaking at cold start-up after sitting overnight. And coolant loss.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jul 6, 2024 at 9:49 AM
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2024 at 9:54 AM
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If the lights went back out before you got the trouble codes, then what the dealer says they saw is the best information you have to go on.

    If those lights come back on, you can retrieve trouble codes yourself, this way:

    Blink (a/k/a Flash) Codes – How to. | PriusChat

    Of course, they might only confirm what the dealer has told you.
     
  6. Skanga

    Skanga New Member

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    Yes I have had the EGR system cleaned about 6 months ago. I have had this for 3years. Thank for the info on the head gasket. I do have to check and add oil between changes. Do you think this price was fair for the master cylinder replacement and pump assembly? Should I be looking for a different Prius? If so what do you suggest finding? I am not afraid of buying one with 90,000+ miles. I just love the mileage, I drive 100 mile daily to get to and from work. I have experienced the shaky cold start a few times, but not in a long while.

    Thanks for the glumly outlook. If I choose to find a different used Prius… what do you suggest? I love the mileage as I drive 100 mile per day to get to and from work. Your advice is much appreciated.

    If I choose to get the brakes fixed should I take it to Toyota or can any shop do this repair? I heard that properly bleeding requires Toyota tech stream.
     
    #6 Skanga, Jul 7, 2024 at 11:39 PM
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 8, 2024 at 3:41 PM
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes I have had the EGR system cleaned about 6 months ago. I have had this for 3years. Thank for the info on the head gasket.

    Would you say the cleaning was thorough? Did they do the intake manifold too? Considering the miles when you did this, I'd still be "cautiously optimistic"; that's a long hiatus. Research head gasket replacement too, and who can do it near to you. There's some links in my signature on head gasket repair, and the bottom link is the full engine section of the Repair Manual.

    To keep the EGR system behaving like new every 50K from day one is optimum. It slow-but-sure cakes up with carbon, the EGR cooler doesn't do much cooling with a carbon layer, and the intake manifold EGR capillaries (one at each port) clog unevenly, with cylinder one tending to clog up first (the cylinder at passenger end, as you stand at front of car).

    Do you think this price was fair for the master cylinder replacement and pump assembly?

    Yeah seems reasonable.

    Should I be looking for a different Prius?

    I would just wait and see.

    I have experienced the shaky cold start a few times, but not in a long while.

    That "can" be indicative of head gasket leaking coolant into cylinders. Can also be due to short run previous day leaving water in the intake of EGR passages. Any trouble lights?