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2005 Prius makingnloud screeching noises and VSC light engaging while breaking

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Miguel Olivares, Jan 19, 2017.

  1. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    IMG_3654.JPG IMG_3653.JPG IMG_3652.JPG I have noticed this only happens when it's wet outside.

    Driving it is no problem, but breaking is a hassle. Whenever I get the car to be under 10 mph, the car will make screeching noises from the brakes and then they will completely close(the breaks) at about 3 mph.

    This morning, I even had them lock up while breaking and had to press gas to unlock them. Also, if I moved around the car very hard, the brakes would open up and the car would move.

    I heard this is a problem with Prius breaks during wet whether. I am somewhat afraid of driving it to school.

    What do?
     
    #1 Miguel Olivares, Jan 19, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2017
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Our Prius friction brakes suffer from lack of use. This causes rust to build up on the rotors and slide pins. You can keep the rotors clean by periodically getting up to 25-30 MPH, putting your Prius in neutral (shuts off regenerative braking) and lightly engaging the friction brakes. Repeat until the brakes stop making any noise.

    The slide pins need to be cleaned and lubricated periodically as a preventive maintenance item. Any mechanic can do this for you at a low cost.

    JeffD
     
    #2 jdenenberg, Jan 19, 2017
    SFO likes this.
  3. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    There may be a problem with a sticking front caliper or something broken in the rear brakes. Get to a brake shop immediately to get them checked and get an estimate on repair. Bad brakes are very dangerous. If a brake shop does any work, be sure they know to disconnect the 12 Volt battery on the Prius to avoid getting trouble codes.

    By the way, look up the difference between "break" and "brake." I hate to be the spelling Nazi, but it can be distracting when your car is breaking.
     
    #3 andrewclaus, Jan 19, 2017
  4. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    I am gonna take it taken. Sorry, I was typing it on my phone and wanted to get the info out there. I know the differences between break and brake haha.
     
    #4 Miguel Olivares, Jan 19, 2017
  5. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    I took it to a brake shop, and they couldn't tell me why it was making the noise or the jerking motion.

    They used their own code reader and nothing showed up..(even though my techstream shows a variety of codes)..
     
    #5 Miguel Olivares, Jan 22, 2017
  6. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    Does my 2005 have the sliding pins in the rear?
     
    #6 Miguel Olivares, Jan 22, 2017
  7. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Miguel,

    Slide pins are part of disk brake calipers, not drum brakes. Luscious Garage in SF is a reliable, independent, Prius specialist. You can rely on them to find your problem.

    JeffD
     
    #7 jdenenberg, Jan 22, 2017
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  8. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    I appreciate the recommendation. I go to school and teach at Hayward so usually I don't have time to take it parts out there, especially with the brakes not really working.

    I am going to try Arts Automotive since they are a bit closer and I'll be driving with my hazards on to there.
    My dad and I are simply trying to do the little things to see if we can make it work.
     
    #8 Miguel Olivares, Jan 22, 2017
  9. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Arts is also a reliable Prius repair facility. Good luck.

    DoctorD
     
    #9 jdenenberg, Jan 22, 2017
  10. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    So they took a look at it and the same codes I had mentioned they also brought up.


    They cleaned the front rotors/drums/brakes by accelerating the car to 50-60mph and then shifting to neutral and easing in the brakes.


    The brakes work like a beauty now.

    They also said the aux battery is pretty much ad and suggested I get a new one.
     
    #10 Miguel Olivares, Jan 26, 2017
  11. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Wasn't that my suggestion in post #2 in this thread? :)

    JeffD
     
    #11 jdenenberg, Jan 26, 2017
  12. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Did they clean and lubricate the slide pins, also?
     
    #12 dolj, Jan 26, 2017
  13. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    I did it up to 30mph but didn't notice a difference, then again it hasn't rained in 2 days..

    Also where are you a profesor?
     
    #13 Miguel Olivares, Jan 26, 2017
  14. Miguel Olivares

    Miguel Olivares Junior Member

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    No idea, don't think so :/
     
    #14 Miguel Olivares, Jan 26, 2017
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Do you ever get a brake service? Periodically, say every 30K miles (or tri-yearly), someone should: pull the front calipers off, lube the caliper slide pins (SilGlyde or equal), lube the shim and pad contact points (Molybdenum Anti-Seize compound), check pad thickness. If there's any pulsing issues, they should also check rotor runout and thickness, with dial gauge and micrometer. In the rears: the shoe restraining clips should be removed, the shoe bearing points (3) with backing plate should be relubed (Moly again), carefully, and clips reinstalled.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Jan 26, 2017
  16. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Fairfield University in Connecticut.

    JeffD
     
    #16 jdenenberg, Jan 27, 2017
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