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"DOH" Recall - Brake Booster Pump Assembly (Accumulator)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Den49, Aug 6, 2013.

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  1. Den49

    Den49 Member

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    I had the "DOH" recall for replacement of the brake booster pump assembly (accumulator) done last week on my 2010 Prius. It took one day to perform so I was given a loaner 2013 Camry. I had no symptoms before the recall was performed, but the brakes seem more effective now with less pedal pressure. Along with this being a serious recall that should be done ASAP is the side benefit that the brake fluid was flushed as part of the recall operation. I was planning to have the brake fluid flushed anyway, at what is now 60,000 miles on the odometer, so this was an additional benefit. I had the dealer flush the brake fluid previously at 30,000 miles for which I paid $130.00. Preventive brake flushes are a lot cheaper than replacing expensive Prius brake parts, as is evident from posts in this forum about thousands spent to replace failed hydraulic parts. Overall, I am very satisfied with the DOH recall.

    Anyone else have the DOH recall performed?
     
    #1 Den49, Aug 6, 2013
  2. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    Did you get a letter or just took it in for the recall?
     
    #2 gliderman, Aug 6, 2013
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    good ? i have not and plan to call the dealer to find out whazz up.
     
    #3 spiderman, Aug 6, 2013
  4. Den49

    Den49 Member

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    I did not receive a letter. I went online to the Toyota recall website: Toyota Safety Recall and Car Service Information
    in early June and found the "D1H" preliminary notice. End of July, I went on the website again and found the "DOH" remedy notice which said to contact the dealer and schedule an appointment to get the remedy performed as soon as possible.
     
    #4 Den49, Aug 6, 2013
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  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I read your post this afternoon and then went by dealer to get oil and filter. I asked the SA about the DOH recall and he said that they were doing the recall. I asked about scheduling and a courtesy car. He looked up the time and said it only listed 1 hour to inspect and 3 hours to repair if needed.

    He said they would not be offering a courtesy car since the time was not that long. When I mentioned the inconvenience due to work he offered to schedule me for a Saturday
    appointment!

    Interesting how different dealers handle these situations.
     
    #5 jdcollins5, Aug 6, 2013
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is the courtesy car billed to toyota?
     
    #6 bisco, Aug 6, 2013
  7. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I am glad to hear that they flush the brake fluid while performing the recall work. I was thinking about having them flush mine if it was not part of the recall.
     
    #7 jdcollins5, Aug 7, 2013
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Think I read there was going to be a notification letter in the mail... Hope that's still happening.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Aug 7, 2013
  9. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The Toyota Owner's website stated that a letter to owners would be sent out by the end of July. I have not seen mine yet and one of the reasons that I asked the dealer SA about it yesterday.

    I may decide to wait a little while to see if I receive the letter and give the dealer time to get a little more experience under their belts before doing mine.
     
    #9 jdcollins5, Aug 7, 2013
  10. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Flush the brake fluid? I've only heard about flushing the transaxle fluid at 30k miles, every 60k miles thereafter.
     
    #10 32kcolors, Aug 7, 2013
  11. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    I got my letter today in the mail, but it is just a preliminary letter. I will receive a letter at a later time "when parts are available" at the dealers to schedule the recall.

    Does anyone know exactly what parts are replace in this recall? Does it include the master cylinder? I remember reading about some master cylinder failures on Gen III Prius, and wonder if this recall has anything to do with that.
     
    #11 72fordgts, Aug 7, 2013
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    From the title of the thread above - Toyota will be inspecting and replacing the Braker Booster Pump Assembly (Accumulator) if necessary. This does not include replacing the Master Cylinder.
     
    #12 jdcollins5, Aug 7, 2013
  13. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    I know the letter states that they are replacing the booster pump assembly, but I wasn't sure if the brake booster with the master cylinder also had to be replaced as part of the process. I am not a Toyota tech, and thought that maybe someone who had the work done would know what parts were replaced. Sorry for asking....

    I was also inquiring if the previous reported master cylinder failures were related to these booster pump failures. Toyota's letter states that if the pump allows nitrogen into the brake fluid it can cause a low pedal or ineffective brakes, which is similar to the symptoms of a master cylinder failure.
     
    #13 72fordgts, Aug 7, 2013
  14. Den49

    Den49 Member

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    The service advisor told me that there could be additional parts that may need to be replaced under the recall, as necessary depending on the particular car. It is really difficult to determine what parts were actually replaced because this is such a nonconventional braking system and its unfamiliar parts are not easily viewable. This is one of those rare cases where I am trusting the dealer to do the job correctly without my direction. Like I said above, the brakes seem to be more effective with less pedal pressure required so I am confident the job was done correctly.

    The letter in the mail from Toyota is not required to go to the dealer if your car is under the DOH recall. You can print the information from the recall website that says your VIN number is affected and take it to the dealer. To avoid wasting a trip, call the dealer beforehand and ask if they have the recall part(s) in stock.

    As far as whether brake fluid flushes are prudent, that is one of those questions that is debated constantly on this forum so read the existing threads and do what you think is best. Brake fluid, like grease, is cheaper than steel, especially on a Prius.
     
    #14 Den49, Aug 7, 2013
  15. eliotb

    eliotb Junior Member

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    Re brake fluid: because the stuff is hygroscopic, I routinely bleed (or have bled) brakes at 2 years, sooner if the fluid is dark and no longer looks a light caramel color. If the fluid looks dark, it's because it's absorbed water which is bad stuff for brakes as it can boil under heavy braking and render your brakes ineffective.
     
    #15 eliotb, Aug 7, 2013
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    We got the letter too, same story, second letter coming when the parts are available.
    (was maybe sitting in the mail box at time of my previous posting, we were out of town)

    I'm hoping it requires brake fluid replacement, I'll ask. If not, I'm going to see if I can get that while it's in. Honda for one recommends brake fluid replacement every 3 years, no mileage component.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Aug 10, 2013
  17. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    My first letter came today. I don't want to be one of my dealer's first test cases, so I will wait a little while B4 I get the "inspection."
     
    #17 DavidA, Aug 12, 2013
  18. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Bob Wilson posted in another thread on this subject that his dealer changed the Brake Booster Pump and the Master Cylinder. So it appears that this recall does include the master cylinder as you questioned.
     
    #18 jdcollins5, Aug 13, 2013
  19. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    thats what I am thinking.
     
    #19 spiderman, Aug 13, 2013
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  20. Den49

    Den49 Member

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    Master cylinder replacement would indicate the need to flush/bleed the brake fluid; or, the master cylinder could still be good, yet the brake fluid needs to be replaced because the accumulator failed and leaked nitrogen gas into the brake fluid; or, the brake fluid may be flushed as a precaution regardless of evidence of accumulator failure. My paperwork shows that they used a quantity of "6" part number "00475-1BF03" bottles of brake fluid which are 10 ounces each. The only part listed as being replaced is a 0402-20247 "PUMP ASSY, BRAKE". Does that assembly include the master cylinder?
     
    #20 Den49, Aug 13, 2013
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