Got my 2010 Prius II : problems

Welcome. All issues have been discussed to great lengths here. Search function really helps (upper right-hand side).

I had (iii) above happen once myself. Nothing since. Do you remember hitting anything when it happened? Did you hear any beeps? See any indicator lights?

 

We finally took our 1st test drive yesterday and don't own one, yet! But I've been doing research and the wife found this. Can't post a link. Look at toyota dot com slash recall slash abs dot html. You could see if it applies to you since you have a 2010. I hope to have mine before the end of the month.

 

I would check to make sure the emergency brake is not depressed any. I had a Camry that had something similar going on. Turns out the emergency brake was barely pressed, maybe at the first click, but not enough to make the light come on.

 

Check the area it happened to you again and see.

Last March I think it was I was approaching an insection that had heated sidewalks. There was a sharp ridge of ice just before the sidewalk about 3-4" high. I was riding the brake lightly coming to a stop (~10-12mph) and as soon as I hit the ice, the brake pedal sank all the way to the floor, there was one or two beeps and one or two lights came on. Fortunately there was no one in the sidewalk as I glided into the walkway. I didn't not pump the brake (that might have help to regain additional braking). Anyway, I had the ABS update done after that and have to experienced it again. I sure do keep aware that it could however.

 

Hi W..B...,

The whine during braking is the electric motor regenerating electicity back into the battery - no problem, totally normal.

Not sure what you Number 1 is?

But Number 3 is a simply a matter of getting used to the Prius brakes. In traditional cars we subconciously apply less pedal pressure as we come to a stop, to prevent the brakes locking up. This is a learned behavior. In the Prius, you need to do the reverse and push harder as car slows through 7 mph. This is where the electric brakes turn off, and the friction brakes (cold friction brakes) turn on.

If you hit a bump while electically braking, the car will switch to friction brakes, and you will need to push harder on the pedal to get the same decelleration. Just keep an eye on the road, and get ready to push harder if your going to run over a pot hole, or crack in the road. Again, this is the opposite of brake pedal application practice in traditional cars. Where one will subconciously reduce braking pressure over a pot hole, to avoid skiding the tires....

 

But Number 3 is a simply a matter of getting used to the Prius brakes. In traditional cars we subconciously apply less pedal pressure as we come to a stop, to prevent the brakes locking up. This is a learned behavior

Have to agree with this
I drive 3 different vehicles, 2010 Prius, 2000 BMW 323 and 2003 GMC extend cab. Each is different and takes a couple of seconds to get use each vechicles brakes

 

Actually I have to disagree a bit with the two previous posts in this specific situation. As the OP described it and what I experienced is the brake pedal sank to the floor. There was literally no pedal left to apply "more" pressure. Now with that said the car continue to slow but I/we were unable to apply additional braking force since there was no more pedal. Had I released and reapplied I suspect I would have had full braking power although I also suspect I would have increased the braking distance as well.

I realize this has to do with the switch over but I also believe the bump in my case caused some kind of fault. Will it happen again, doubt it, I am worried about it, no but will keep it in mind that it could.

 

Hi spidey,,,

The brake pedal on the Gen III does have a higher pedal, more travel, and is spongier than the Gen II. I alluded that to the rear disc brakes. I have never had a car with rear disc brakes before. My brakes come close to the floor but I have never had to push them so hard that I hit the floor.

 

I think we need more information as to what you mean with your first item. Bump while braking is kind of vague, we need more details - speed, etc.

There's nothing you can do about the electric motor whine, it's the nature of the motor.

 

I would agree with that assessment. Our 97 Camry also had drum on the rear and felt spongy... much more than the Prius for sure.

Not to draw this out much longer, I just wanted to add that I did not apply more pressure to the brake pedal when I hit the bump... it simply sank to the floor and bottomed out. There was no more travel, period. There was the same amount of braking force as I had just before the bump (in other words I didn't loose any braking force).

 

I'm driving a 2010 III and I have never experienced this noise that you mention.

 

I've never experienced either of these issues in my 2010 III. Once in a while the car will slip for a millisecond while braking over a bump or manhole cover as reported by a few others. No big deal. Any good driver gets used to the quirks of his/her car quickly.

 

Hi spidey,

I think we are backwards. I alluded the stiffer Gen II pedal to its drum rear brakes.

 

Hi w...b...,

Back off the cars in front of you and take a longer time to brake. This requires less powerful braking, and results in a quiter motor regeneration.