VSC ABS and ! lights plus red (!)

Sounds like the skid control ECU (which controls braking) is having a problem. I suggest you bring along a digital camera and take a good photo of the warning lights next time they appear. Then visit your dealer ASAP since this is a serious safety issue.

 

My wife had something similar happen about a year ago. She was driving and I don't remember what color the ! was. We took it to the dealer and had the brake light switch replaced. No problems since.

 

I had a similar issue this morning on my new 2008 with 900 miles.

I was gently braking to a stop from about 25 MPH and the braking suddenly ceased for 1/2 a second or so. A light on the dash (yellow or perhaps orange ?) went on for a second or two and then went off.

Didn't happen again in the next 17 miles.

 

Your situation is different, yours was the ABS. It's touchy especially with the GoodYear Integrities and a bit of over inflation.

 

OK, I suspect you are right. I have a Touring with OEM Bridgestones and I had the tires set to 45/43 yesterday. Today I'm at 50/48 and will watch.

 

Hi All,

Odd lights behavior on the dash is a common indication of 12 V battery issues. Being the car is 4 years old, it might e time for a new one, or the terminals are just loose/dirty.

The fact that it goes away after the next start, might be due to battery self recharging while disused.

Michael Reid - your problem is different. As a durability feature (to avoid shock loads on the power split device) the electric braking will trip out if there is any wheel skidding. The car then uses the friction brakes, and ABS kicks in. The electric brakes have more power for the same pedal depression, so along with the ABS action, it seems like the brakes have stopped working. After a while you will instintively just push harder on the brakes when this happens. Which is the opposite of what people do with friction-only brakes. As the car comes to a stop, friction brakes tend to grab. So its instinctive to lift a little on the friction brakes in standard cars.

This happens with all Prius, but ones without a stiffening plate it happens to more readily.

 

OK, thanks. My last car had touchy ABS on bumps sometimes, but I've never seen ABS kick in at such a low speed, with such gentle braking and in dry conditions. I did NOT feel the buzzing/pulsating in brake pedal most cars give with ABS activation.

I was thinking that I was about the speed (7 MPH?) where regenerative braking stops and real braking starts (or continues if braking hard.) I was braking so super gently its not funny. There MIGHT have been some pebbles (or oil I didn't see?) on the road, but that's about it.

 

Hi Michael,

Now you may be able to appreciate why some owners are critical of the Goodyear Integrity original equipment tires. I believe that once you purchase decent tires, you will not see the amber skidding car warning light very often.

Before snow arrives in your area this winter, I strongly recommend that you obtain suitable winter tires.

 

I have Canadian base which is a Touring pkg 2++, so I have Bridgestone Turranza 195/55/16. Reviews on Tirerack are virtually just as awful as for the Integrity though; perhaps its a tiny bit better.

When the light went on, tires were at 45/43, now they are 50/48.

I'm planning to replace these before fall with Nokian WRG2, so I won't have to change tires twice a year.

 

Im so glad I found this site..those same lights have been appearing on my new 08 prius. only a week old...they are not very bright but do come on and off..I'll be taking it in to the dealership on Monday..thanks

 

How much have you driven the car during the one-week period?

If not much, I suggest that you first make sure that the 12V auxiliary battery is well-charged. You can do this by making the Prius READY, then leaving it that way for an hour or so; or else take a drive for that amount of time. If the VSC, ABS, and the master warning red triangle lights come on after the battery has been charged up, then a dealer visit is warranted.