New Break Pads; Brake (!) ABS and VST lights on

Prius brake jobs require "precautions". I'm only conversant in third gen, where for DIY work:

1. It's good to disconnect the 12 volt negative cable before starting, and after everything's reassembled, tromp the brake pedal multiple times, BEFORE reconnecting the 12 volt. You basically don't want the car to detect excess travel. And you don't want to give it a chance to try to pressurize the system while the caliper's off the rotor.

2. If you're doing bleeding, without Techstream, there is specific "chicken dance" you need to do at the outset, to put it into "invalid mode", and certain actions you need to avoid, or you'll be dropped out of "invalid mode", and into a world of warning lights.

In short, they're unconventional cars, you can DIY the brakes, but you need to read up on the tricks.

 

You've posed your question in a useful way that really highlights the hard part of finding information by googling.

If you found sources saying three different things, and if you had to decide for yourself which information was right, how would you decide? Would you take the answer that came up most often? Would you weigh some sources as being more reliable for information on your year of Prius than others? Maybe even one source you would know is so authoritative on the topic that it directly settles the question? Do you know where to find it?

I'm sorry for talking in questions. The short answer is 4 and 13 (but, if you believe me, why do you?). It's just I was at a bar last night with a librarian friend who is studying the ways people use information resources, and she was surprised when focus groups with current students showed them at a complete loss when faced with conflicting information and needing to compare and weigh reliability. It was kind of scary.

Anyway, even if you just believe me about 4 and 13, once you've counted your blinks, you should really still go to the authoritative source to understand what they are telling you.

-Chap

 

As you have an OBDII code reader and even though you appear not to get any codes, you can still issue the clear codes instruction and it will clear all codes. If you still have lights after that, blink out the codes to see what you need to do next. Of course, for the most accurate source for finding out what the blink codes mean, you can't go past techinfo.com.

 

You can run a jumper between pin 4 and pin 13 (CG and TC respectively) and count the blinks of the ABS light. For example if it blinks 3 times, then pause briefly and then blinks one time, longer pause then repeats that would be a code 31.

To clear the codes, with the key off put your jumper (paperclip) between 4 and 13. Turn the ignition on, and press the brake pedal 8 times within 5 seconds. The light should now be a steady flash, rather than flashing with the code like above. Then just remove your paper clip and you're done

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Was the car "on" when you tested the battery?? 15.2 volts does not make sense: a battery in decent shape would be 12.4~12.8, depending on various factors. If your lights are dimming, the 12 volt is the smoking gun.

 

Something not adding up. It shouldn't be all over the map.

 

This ia a known common problem on some Prii. You should address the issue as it is not necessary for the car to ingress water.

See this thread: "Water leak...into spare tire area etc | Page 3 | Post 49 | | PriusChat" for details.

 

Could the water be shorting the battery?

 

Not unless it is completely covered. But there are some plugs, notably in the left rear that can get wet and cause problems. I'd be more concerned about the damage the water would be causing to the inside of the RR panel.

 

I'm thinking during hard braking or cornering, wather could be sloshing.

Must wait 27 seconds.

11 seconds.

Good to go.

 

Unlikely that it would get that full, but never say never. It would be a good idea to remove the drain bung once one is aware of the water pooling, until the leak is located and remediated.