06 Prius Brake light, ABS light (!) thrown after -5 temps HELP!

Has anybody anywhere in the world ever said what the ever-lovin' trouble codes are yet?

 

I'm not sure how a bubble in a brake line would be connected to the temperature, but yes, let's see if it comes back.

The good news is that code by itself does not necessarily mean anybody needs an actuator.

 

Maybe ice in the brake fluid? If there is water contamination I can easily believe that the ABS would malfunction when it tries to open or close a valve and finds crunchy solid stuff in the way. On the other hand, if there is just water, which is a fluid and not a solid, it could easily work just the same as if it was brake fluid.

 

Good thought but unlikely.

Brake fluid absorbs water and disperses it throughout over time. That will affect boiling temperature and will cause corrosion inside the system.

Since DOT 3 freezes at -40°F I imagine it would take a "huge" amount of water contamination to cause problems at the noted temperature.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I'm not sure how a bubble in a brake line would be connected to any of that, but yes, let's see if the code comes back, whatever was actually going on.

 

How did the car do when the weather warmed back up again? How does the brake fluid in the reservoir look?

Before spending big $, I'd try replacing the fluid in the master cylinder and bleeding all 4 brakes. (I've only done this the old-fashioned way which pisses off the ABS computer - which takes a bit more than the bottom-end OBD2 tool to clear the codes.)

 

Good news is the hybrid mechanic, cleared the code and gave you back your Prius. Even if he's told you he's not exactly sure what the issue is yet, he also mentioned if the code or ABS light come back to bring your car back and he'll investigate further. Seems reasonable to me.

Stay Safe, happy and warm.

 

I was just about to mention that, brake fluid absorbs moisture out of the air. I believe your suppose to replace every 3 - 5 years, depending on humidity in your area.

 

Just for giggles jack up the rear and see if the wheels spin semi-freely, with the parking brake off.

 

There's a moisture sensor tool that you dip into your brake fluid to see if it's still good. The color of the brake fluid should be a light amber color; like a light pilsner beer - not light brown.
Whenever I buy a used car; I always flush-out the brake system and replace the fluid. You'll be surprised how well the braking system responds; because the deterioration is so slow it usually isn't noticeable.