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I replaced the hybrid battery, now the traction control, ABS, and emergency brake light are all on

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Nathan Renner, Apr 9, 2018.

  1. Nathan Renner

    Nathan Renner New Member

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    The title pretty well sums it up. At 188,000 miles my dashboard lit-up like a Christmas tree. I ran the codes and they indicated I needed a new hybrid battery. I replaced it with a new from the dealer battery. The car now runs but the traction control, ABS, and emergency brake light are all on. I had a friend reset the lights and the came right back on. The are not always on. Sometimes they are on when the car starts and stay on. Other times the come on and then go off. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
     
    #1 Nathan Renner, Apr 9, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2018
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    you need go read the codes
     
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Who did the installation? Although unrelated, what were the costs?
     
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I agree with @tankyuong. If the brake fluid is OK, you need to read the codes to start the troubleshooting. There are several possibilities.
     
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  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    NO.
    First you need to test the 12 V battery.
    Because if it is weak it can cause false codes to be set.......including ones indicating that you need a new hybrid battery sometimes. :eek:

    After that, you read the codes and chase what problems are left.

    But.....unless you have experience working on ABS brakes with stability controls, that work is probably best left to a professional. Except maybe for checking the level of brake fluid.

    How long since the brakes were inspected and fluid changed ??
    The recommendation often is 2 years.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm guessing from his wording, and the subsequent DIY reaction to the trouble lights, that he did it himself. If so: the cows have escaped the barn, but anyway: for this, I'd be inclined to pony up for dealership to do the install, just to get:

    1. 3 year warranty.
    2. no core charge.
    3. no ambiguity as to what constitutes a "core".
    4. no ambiguity if there's a problem, no fingerpointing, it's up to the dealership to rectify.

    The US schedule, for complete brake inspection, is 36 months or 30K miles (as opposed to the visual inspection, at every service interval): on page 41 of the US Warranty and Maintenance Guide.

    Toyota USA is deathly silent on the subject of brake fluid change; apparently in the US there's a miracle brake fluid (comes from the same place as the lifetime transaxle fluid?). Since maybe 2012, Toyota Canada's been saying to change it every 3 years or 48K km's, on all their vehicles.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Apr 10, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2018
  7. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

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    Well was he scared off? No update since April or activity since his first post.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    iskoos likes this.
  9. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    He must have solved this problem.
    However updating us wasn't in his list. "Too bad" as Mendel states.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    one post wonder
     
  11. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

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    I did measure my 12v battery today before starting and it was at 12.6 . That good? Still the original battery
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is very good.
     
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  13. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    As Bisco said, 12.6 volts standing voltage (especially some hours later) is very good and normally don't indicate any problem. My 8-year-old Prius battery was showing 12.5volts most of the time (even hours after being shut off). But then it failed without a warning one day. I was able to drive it back home and when I measured it, it was still showing 12.5 something. But as soon as I turned the headlights on, the voltage took a dive. The battery was gone.
    On my other (non-hybrid) car, I also monitor the battery voltage. I am getting around 12.5volts right after engine shut down and it goes down to 12.3volts level over-night. However the voltage doesn't dip when put under load. It has been like that since 2015. It isn't on its best days but still has some life in it.
    What I am trying to say is that voltage could be a good initial indication but the best is the load test.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes: voltage is like the tip of the iceberg. Especially if the car's just freshly driven or charged it'll read optimistically high voltage. Electronic load testing (not the old school "toaster" load tester) is the way to go, and there are DIY level testers, around $50~100. I use a Solar BA5, works a charm.
     
  15. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

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    Good point , I need to look under a load.