Dealer wants $4500 for brake repair.... WHAT?

I gave the link already. The OP is hesitant to do it. I don't understand why.

 

He wouldn't hesitate if it resulted in an accident,that's for sure. Sorry about the repeat on the NHSTB link. More is better sometimes.

 

I agree with you, having worked on brakes on a variety of cars over the past 30 years, but the Prius master cylinder is not the same as other cars. It apparently integrates the ABS and regenerative braking command functions along with the normal hydraulic brake function, plus a power brake assist function not relying upon vacuum as in most cars. If you had to replace all those components simultaneously, the bill would probably run into the thousands of dollars on a lot of cars.

Toyota tried to cram too much into a single unit and didn't engineer it for a multi-hundred-thousand mile lifetime. One would think that after selling these cars for ten years, the brake master cylinder design would be absolutely bulletproof.

The Prius brake master cylinder replacement and the subsequent brake bleeding require a laptop with Toyota software to complete plus Toyota service instructions. It isn't something that a backyard mechanic (lacking these resources) should attempt as far as I know.

 

That is what they would have you believe. The master cylinder is essentially no different than any other car, just cups in a cylinder. It is simply immposible for ALL the components to need replacing at the same time. They either don't know what their doing or are scammers.. As for bleeding the system, yes he can do it, nothing special there either. I've done it dozens of times. No TECHII requirement to carry out a system bleed. In fact it would surprise you what can be done without the big T on these cars. Everyone runs for cover when these play up, they aren't that scary. In a stationary state, the regen is cancelled out and the usual brake system employed to hold the car, so to put it in park, foot on brake will allow the master cyl to pressurise and you can bleed it. My attitude is really, what does he have to lose? The bill isn't going to get any worse now is it! I have seen these types of issues rectified by flushing before, all it takes is gunk under a check valve or similar to throw a code and cause system malfunction. I would certainly try it before handing over that sort of cash.

 

Let me ask you, have you seen that part in the first place? Have you bleed brakes in a Prius.

 

Yes. I am 8n fact a qualified mechanic and toyota factory trained on prius. So yes I do know a thing or two. Ppl over complicate things. A little knowledge can be dangerous. It has a master cyl just like any other car you care to mention. The control unit is essentially the same as many other cars. It is controlled by very complex software but mechanically they are not that complex at all. Let me guess, you're not a qualified tech?

 

As much as I would like to believe you, does it look like a typical master cylinder?



from: The $3000 Brake Job | PriusChat

 

No but the principal of operation remains the same. Wether or not you believe me is of no concern. My cars fine and I kow how to fix it, I'm good. If you just have to be right, then good for you. Petty ppl....they never cease to amaze me.

So, back to my original point. Is this not a "master cylinder"? Can the sytem not be bled like any other? You asked me if I was the real deal and I answered, now it's your turn. Have you actually ever, done anything more than troll car sites and collect magazines, like many ppl here? If they do not have a master cylinder, then what is connected to the pedal?

Your turn.....friendly_jacek

 

I don't appreciate your insults, Bruce.

I simply disagreed with your statement:

The member Dark_matter_doesn't clearly showed that 2010+ Prius master cylinder is not a stand alone part and it's combined with a lot of other brake hardware.

If you don't understand that and claim to be actually working in a dealership and fixing Prius, that makes one wonder a lot.

 

i thought you needed techstream to bleed?

 

Bruce is correct. There is a method for manual bleeding that is outlined in the service manual.

However, if you screw up and set some faults, it may be difficult to recover without techstream.

 

Anyone take their 2010 in for the recall service? Any out of pocket costs? Thanks.

 

Please don't take it all so literally. My point is simply this. It has a master cylinder, yes it's unique in some respects and appears somewhat complicated I agree. It can however be bled like any other system. It may throw codes if done manually, but he could disconnect the batt to overcome that. I simply hate to see poor folks get stung, it eats me, always has. I have had many clashes with dodgy, cheating service advisers and managers when I've attempted to help customers with honesty and integrity. If I can help this fellow to solve this problem then win, win. Nothing more than that. I've seen disgusting things done to ppl in dealerships, talked out of perfecdtly good cars only to see them on the lot a week later...I am legitimatley what I say I am...a qualified tech in my own business. Yes I was trained at Toyota headquaters in Australia on the Gen 1-2 Prius. The master cyl in question is an intergrated design, but despite regen and modulation it shares many design features with simpler or seperate component designs. I simply want to encourage the owner to question the sealership and force them to justify the quote. I also would like to see them pinpoint exactly what it is the say has failed, for clarities sake. I suspect he is being taken advantage of and I don't like it. Does that clear it up?

 

Yep. No hard feelings. Thanks for helping.

 

I know it's disappointing to hear that very expensive things can brake in prius, even if rarely. The good news is one can buy these things cheaply if used and DIY to avoid being ripped off by a dealer. I have been doing this with my own cars for many years now. The many things I replaced in my lowly corolla for a couple of hundreds would have cost me many thousands of dollars if I didn't buy used parts and DIY.

The part in this story that upsets me the most is the safety issue. Brakes should be engineered in a way that loss of braking should not happen, period. Sounds like bad engineering to me.

 

Hey Hienz,

I wish I could do more to help. I am alarmed at the assertion that it is a result of driver abuse. I promise you these guys are talking absolute sh#t. There is nothing...NOTHING, a driver can do to "abuse" the braking system and cause premature failure of the unit in question. It sounds like it has been well maintained. Does that sound like the sort of owner that trashes the car? Do yourself a favour, take it elswhere, these guys sound like bad news. Even if the po did drive the thing like a maniac, it would just require pads and rotors a litlle earlier than usual, nothing more. I still have mates in the Toyota franchise network here, I'll see if I can investigate re recalls etc. you may have an avenue of recourse. You could still try and have an independent mech bleed the system, it will likely throw a code, but disconnect the 12v battery for a minute or two to clear it. If one of the check valves is gummed up and bleeding off pressure or similar, it may flush it out. It is highly unusual that such a young car should suffer such an issue though. Brake fluid attracts moisture form the atmosphere, and it then reaches a point where it can become corrosive and cause problems. I doubt this gen3 is old enough for this to have occured though. I think Patrick Wong recommended another dealer in your area. That could be worth a shot...the dealer you're currently dealing with smells bad to me, having seen behind the scenes and their tricks. They love to baffle ppl with jargon and then rip them off.

In addition, I have had a mserious issue with a new car I bought some years ago. The dealer was bad news. I contacted the state service manager, the guy that oversaw the dealer network for the entire eastern Australian dealer area. After some discussion he got action. I had a new engine fitted to my car within 3 days, nil cost to me. I had previously spent weeks fighting with the dealer with no results and they tried to charge me labour for diagnostics which ofcourse is in breach of tghe warranty conditions. I only share this as an example of what goes on in my industry and how ppl get taken for a ride when they don't kniow their rights.

 

congrats! what was the final damage?