EMERGENCY help: brake failure, VSC lights, and continuous alarm?

[DirtySouth89]

I just drove my 2006 V8 to a corner store at the end of the block, 300 yards max. Everything was fine, as always. Then when I got back into the truck to go home, I noticed that the red E-brake light was on (not engaged though), also the orange VSC/trac lights. Then it began making a howling continuous alarm beep. Then about 100 yards into the trip I noticed the regular foot brakes DON'T WORK. I have no braking. Luckily the 300 yard trip back to my house is *slightly* uphill. I just gave it weak gas and crawled home, then let gravity stop at the curb in front of my house.

Help!?

 

[rdruss]

I'll ask the obvious, any sign of brake fluid leakage? How does fluid level in reservoir look?

 

[DirtySouth89]

I'll ask the obvious, any sign of brake fluid leakage? How does fluid level in reservoir look?

Oh sh-t. Yeah I would say this is some evidence. Good call. This is the driveway spot it was in until my recent drive.

 

[DirtySouth89]

And yeah the brake fluid reservoir is empty. WTF

 

[Too Stroked]

And yeah the brake fluid reservoir is empty. WTF

You have a leak in your (hydraulic) braking system. Easiest way to find it is to look for wet spots on the truck above where that puddle is. If you've never worked on a brake system yourself, have it towed to somebody you trust. Do not drive it.

 

[AuSeeker]

And yeah the brake fluid reservoir is empty. WTF

Find and fix the leak, refill the master cylinder and then bleed the brakes.

Just an FYI, learn how to use the parking brake, downshifting and slowing down ahead of time to be able to stop, it's a skill I and most everyone I knew growing up in the 1960s knew how to do, and it can save your life or at the very least help you avoid an accident!!

I had to use this skill about 4 years ago with my T4R on a late Thanksgiving night when a brake line burst on my driver's front wheel, nothing was opened and no wreckers were available, no traffic to speak of and I drove 90 miles home without any issues stopping and getting my truck home with no brakes other than the parking brake.

 

[aemravan]

damn.. how high is your life insurance policy??? :rofl:

jk of course. But on a serious note I'd be curious to find out what exactly failed.

 

[Billynath1988]

Check the hard lines at each front caliper, then check the lines on the left side above the rear diff.. then spread out from there..

 

[DirtySouth89]

Check the hard lines at each front caliper, then check the lines on the left side above the rear diff.. then spread out from there..

Thanks for the advice everyone but we are well beyond my wrenching capabilities. And with a life-or-death system (braking). I'll be having AAA tow this to a shop, then let you know.

 

[4r-4ever]

when i was checking my brake lines a year or 2 ago, saw some corrosion in the front brake caliper line and replaced it. removed the old line, went to store to buy the replacement line. also, last year, my rear brake lines were corroded too, had to buy it from toyota and replaced it. better to buy the toyota ones so that you don't have to waste time. just remove the old one and replace witht he new one. i had to replace the hoses in the rear too.

for everyone with old 4runners, check your brake lines for corrosion and replace it for your peace of mind.

Check the hard lines at each front caliper, then check the lines on the left side above the rear diff.. then spread out from there..

 

[Billynath1988]

when i was checking my brake lines a year or 2 ago, saw some corrosion in the front brake caliper line and replaced it. removed the old line, went to store to buy the replacement line. also, last year, my rear brake lines were corroded too, had to buy it from toyota and replaced it. better to buy the toyota ones so that you don't have to waste time. just remove the old one and replace witht he new one. i had to replace the hoses in the rear too.

for everyone with old 4runners, check your brake lines for corrosion and replace it for your peace of mind.

Anyone have the part number or link to replace the front caliper hardlines with braided lines?

 

[4r-4ever]

the hardline that connects from the caliper to the hose, you can get it from autozone or advance, just get the right length and correct fitting. i had to remove my old one and bring to the store so they can check the correct thread or fitting, then you just have to bend it, very easy. the hose, i'll check what i have.

Anyone have the part number or link to replace the front caliper hardlines with braided lines?

 

[Billynath1988]

the hardline that connects from the caliper to the hose, you can get it from autozone or advance, just get the right length and correct fitting. i had to remove my old one and bring to the store so they can check the correct thread or fitting, then you just have to bend it, very easy. the hose, i'll check what i have.

Yeah, im looking for an upgrade to not use a hardline and use stainless braided instead if its available.

 

[4r-4ever]

the hardline is quite needed. i've checked before thinking the same thing. just plug and play.

Yeah, im looking for an upgrade to not use a hardline and use stainless braided instead if its available.

 

[DirtySouth89]

So yeah, rusted brake line

It took me a week of it sitting before I got around to towing it to a Toyota/Lexus shop. Then it spent almost 4 weeks there waiting on the backordered brake line. I've now got it back fixed. Thanks everyone.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I just drove my 2006 V8 to a corner store at the end of the block, 300 yards max. Everything was fine, as always. Then when I got back into the truck to go home, I noticed that the red E-brake light was on (not engaged though), also the orange VSC/trac lights. Then it began making a howling continuous alarm beep. Then about 100 yards into the trip I noticed the regular foot brakes DON'T WORK. I have no braking. Luckily the 300 yard trip back to my house is *slightly* uphill. I just gave it weak gas and crawled home, then let gravity stop at the curb in front of my house.

Help!?

Glad everything turned out well. Just wanted to highlight something for all of us 4th Gen owners to be aware of: what you experienced was a brake failure warning as described in the owner's manual. So if your parking brake isn't on but the light is, and you hear a continuous beep or buzzer, chances are you have no brakes.

Have to love Toyota's irony in directing the driver to "stop immediately" in the case of a brake failure. LOL

 

[chili]

This is super disconcerting when it happens, but that alarm is there for good reason. Glad it didn't cause any injury or property damage and you were able to get it fixed.

 

[shoopdagoose]

Brake Fluid Leak and Alarm

Sounds like I should not be driving my car...

I have encountered the dashboard lights (e-brake, VSC OFF, ABS, VSC TRAC) and the loud continuous alarm inside the cabin, which will turn on for a while and come back on even after turning the car off then back on, as well as after disconnecting the battery. The lights and alarm have turned themselves off each time while driving, and I have not been able to get my car scanned while they are on.

I have a slow brake fluid leak from somewhere around the HBB or Master Cylinder. Brake fluid levels have remained within range because I top it off every so often. The brakes and brake pedal have seemed normal, allowing me to stop as expected, but my fear keeps growing that I will lose that ability.

When turning the car to on (not started) the pump motor runs for a bit then stops. If I press the brake pedal it will only turn on briefly, then back off.

I have found results explaining the lights and noise could range from a missing screw causing the wiring system to lose it's ground...all the way up to a $3-4k replacement of the entire HBB/Master Cylinder assembly.

I need help.
How can I locate the leak?

What do the lights and alarm mean? - Thanks to the poster above, it means my brakes aren't working...but they have been. I am now justifiably afraid of driving my car further, but so far, I have not been able to link my symptoms to a cause.

 

[Seymore Butts]

I need help.
How can I locate the leak?

What do the lights and alarm mean? - Thanks to the poster above, it means my brakes aren't working...but they have been. I am now justifiably afraid of driving my car further, but so far, I have not been able to link my symptoms to a cause.

Locating the leak shouldn't be hard. Look for a wet area where the brake fluid is coming out of your brake system. Start with the master cylinder and follow each brake line all the way to the caliper. Remove the wheels and check for wet calipers.

The alarm you hear means that your brake system is on the verge of failure. There's no fail-safe mode, so you'll lose your brakes once enough fluid escapes the system while you're driving.

 

[vonhughes]

While not on a 4Runner, my GX470 had a similar issue. All brake-related lights came on, constant beep tone. Felt like a MiG had a lock on me. LOL

Did not have a leak anywhere...but brake fluid reservoir was empty. Turns out pads in rear were so thin (non-existent) that the caliper hyperextended and sucked so much fluid trying to compress, it triggered the alarm.

Bad scene obviously, but the family member driving at the time was able to pull over. Had to replace all the brakes in rear, including calipers and of course bleed the system.

Can't recommend routine maintenance enough...but some family members don't listen!