My brakes on my Gen 2 completely went out today while driving. Fortunately it happened on a low volume road and I was able to safely pull over. A high pitched sound and the VSC, ABC, and Brake warning lights came on. I was able to pull over and turned off the car. When I turned it back on the alarm and all warning lights turned off. From what I read online it sounds like its a bad ABS Actuator. I'd like to verify before I spend some $$$ but no codes are coming up with my basic Acrtron scanner. Would another reader be able to read what I assume are stored codes?
Even the Actron might have seen them if you had scanned before turning the car off. The jumper-wire-and-count-light-blinks method is a convenient way of getting your trouble codes quickly, in case something happens when you don't have a scan tool with you.
Thanks, I didn't know that was possible. Will read up on it. Assume it only works with active codes, rights?
Have you also checked your engine oil level? Low oil can starve the engine and cause it to do that and lose all brake power.
Taking it in to dealer to pull codes now. Engine oil was low but the same warning lights and buzzer came on after filling it.
any noise with the actuator did it give a sign that it was going out i.e. loud barking when pressing the brakes and holding it or it constantly running? Any loss of brake pressure?
Zero barking though I've had a noise for while from the actuator when I would press the brake pedal sometimes. The noise was similar to the coolant canister filling up and would occur when I would press the pedal and start the car or shutting it off. Took it to dealer today and they confirmed it's a bad actuator and quoted me just over $3k for repairs. I found the Toyota part online for 1,100 and a local mechanic will install for $400, including bleeding the breaks.
You might ask her/him to be more careful and not break anything in the first place! Seriously though, does this local mechanic experience doing this job and does s/he have Techstreeam or a professional level equivalent that will allow her/him to run the bleeding and initialization procedures for the new brake actuator unit? Does your new unit come with the matching resistor? The resistor is installed behind the dash. Images of the brake actuator and resistor in this post here.
