Get INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Brake system Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

Brake system

REGENERATIVE BRAKE

HYDRAULIC BRAKE

The yellow brake system warning light

may stay on for about 60 seconds after

the “IG−ON” mode is enabled. It is normal

if the light turns off after a while.

When the brake is applied, the electric

motor used as a generator converts kinet-

ic energy into electric energy.

This brake system has 3 independent hy-

draulic circuits. If either circuit should fail,

the other will still work. However, the ped-

al will be harder to press, and your stop-

ping distance will increase. Also, the

brake system warning light may come on.

Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly

may turn on the red brake system warning

light and buzzer. It is normal if the light

turns off and the buzzer stops sounding

after a few seconds.

The regenerative brake works in the fol-

lowing operations.

1. When the accelerator pedal is re-

leased, the reduced speed equal to en-

gine braking in a gasoline−fueled ve-

hicle is obtained in accordance with the

running mode position of the shift le-

ver.

CAUTION

You may hear a small sound in the engine

compartment after the hybrid system is

started or the brake pedal is depressed

Do not drive your vehicle with only a

single brake system. Have your

brakes fixed immediately.

repeatedly. This is

pump pulsating

2. When the brake pedal is depressed

with the shift lever in “D” or “B”, the

regenerative brake works.

sound of the brake system, and it is not

a malfunction.

BRAKE ACTUATOR

In the following conditions, you may hear

a motor sound in the engine compartment.

The brake actuator uses brake fluid pres-

surized by the pump to power−assist the

brakes. If the brake actuator fails during

driving, the brake system warning light

comes on and buzzer sounds continuous-

ly. In this case, the brakes may not work

properly. If they do not work well, depress

the brake pedal firmly. If the brake system

warning light comes on, immediately stop

your vehicle and contact your Toyota deal-

er.

ꢀ The brake pedal is depressed when the

hybrid system is turned off.

ꢀ The driver’s door is opened.

ꢀ For

few seconds after the hybrid

system is “OFF” and about 90 seconds

have passed.

The brake pedal stroke may be short

when you press the “POWER” switch with

the brake pedal depressed.

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ANTI−LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM

Depressing the brake pedal on slippery

road surfaces such as on a manhole cov-

er, a steel plate at a construction site,

joints in a bridge, etc. on a rainy day

tends to activate the anti−lock brake sys-

tem.

CAUTION

The anti−lock brake system is designed

to automatically help prevent lock−up of

the wheels during a sudden braking or

braking on slippery road surfaces. This

assists in providing directional stability

and steering performance of the vehicle

under these circumstances.

ꢀ Do not pump the brake pedal if the

hybrid system is not operating.

Each push on the pedal uses up

your reserved brake fluid pressure.

When the anti−lock brake system is ac-

tivated, the following condition may oc-

cur. They do not indicate a malfunction

of the system:

ꢀ Even if the power assist is com-

pletely lost, the brakes will still

work. But you will have to push the

pedal hard, much harder than nor-

mal. And your braking distance will

increase.

Effective way to press the ABS brake

pedal: When the anti−lock brake system

function is in action, the slip indicator in

the instrument cluster flashes and you

will hear a noise. In this situation, to let

the anti−lock brake system work for you,

just hold the brake pedal down more

firmly. Do not pump the brake in a panic

stop. This will result in reduced braking

performance.

ꢀ You may hear the anti−lock brake sys-

tem operating and the vibrations of the

vehicle body and steering wheel. You

may also hear the motor sound in the

engine compartment even after the ve-

hicle is stopped.

The anti−lock brake system becomes op-

erative after the vehicle has accelerated

to a speed in excess of approximately 10

km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the

vehicle decelerates to

speed below

approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).

326

Anti−lock brake system is not de-

signed to shorten the stopping dis-

CAUTION

Do not overestimate the anti−lock

brake system: Although the anti−lock

brake system assists in providing ve-

hicle control, it is still important to

drive with all due care and maintain

a moderate speed and safe distance

from the vehicle in front of you, be-

cause there are limits to the vehicle

stability and effectiveness of steering

wheel operation even with the anti−

lock brake system on.

tance: Always drive at

moderate

speed and maintain a safe distance

from the vehicle in front of you.

Compared with vehicles without an

anti−lock brake system, your vehicle

30p002b

may require

longer stopping dis-

tance in the following cases:

ꢀ Driving on rough, gravel or snow−

covered roads.

ꢀ Driving with tire chains installed.

Vehicle sold in U.S.A.

ꢀ Driving over the steps such as the

joints on the road.

If tire grip performance exceeds its

capability, or if hydroplaning occurs

during high speed driving in the rain,

the anti−lock brake system does not

provide vehicle control.

ꢀ Driving on roads where the road

surface is pitted or has other differ-

ences in surface height.

Install all 4 tires of specified size at

appropriate pressure: The anti−lock

brake system detects vehicle speeds

using the speed sensors for respec-

tive wheels’ turning speeds. The use

of tires other than specified may fail

to detect the accurate turning speed,

30p007b

resulting in

tance.

longer stopping dis-

Vehicle sold in Canada

327

“ABS” warning light

A warning light turning on briefly during

operation does not indicate a problem.

BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM

When you slam the brakes on, the

brake assist system judges as an emer-

gency stop and provides more powerful

braking for a driver who cannot hold

down the brake pedal firmly.

The light comes on when the “IG−ON”

mode is enabled. If the anti−lock brake

system works properly, the light turns

off after the “READY” light comes on.

Thereafter, if the system malfunctions,

the light comes on again.

CAUTION

If the “ABS” warning light remains on

together with the red brake system

warning light, immediately stop your

vehicle at a safe place and contact

your Toyota dealer.

When you slam the brakes on, more pow-

erful braking will be applied. At this time,

When the “ABS” warning light is on (and

the brake system warning light is off), the

anti−lock brake system does not operate,

but the brake system still operates con-

ventionally.

you may hear

sound in the engine

compartment. This does not indicate

malfunction.

In this case, not only the anti−lock

brake system will fail but also the

vehicle will become extremely unsta-

ble during braking.

The brake assist system becomes opera-

tive after the vehicle has accelerated to

a speed in excess of approximately 10

km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when the

When the “ABS” warning light is on (and

the brake system warning light is off), the

anti−lock brake system does not operate

so that the wheels could lock up during

a sudden braking or braking on slippery

road surfaces.

Any of the following conditions may oc-

cur, but does not indicate a malfunc-

tion:

vehicle decelerates to

speed below

approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).

For an explanation of this system’s warn-

ing light, see “Service reminder indicators

and warning buzzers” on page 125.

ꢀ The light may stay on for about 60

seconds after the “IG−ON” mode is en-

abled. It is normal if it turns off after

a while.

If any of the following conditions oc-

curs, this indicates a malfunction some-

where in the components monitored by

the warning light system. Contact your

Toyota dealer as soon as possible to

service the vehicle.

ꢀ Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly

may turn on the light. It is normal if

it turns off after a few seconds.

ꢀ The light does not come on when the

“IG−ON” mode is enabled, or the

“READY” light remains on.

ꢀ The light comes on while you are driv-

ing.

328

INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Brake system for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

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