How To Deal With A Toyota Prius C1256 Failed Brake Accumulator Trouble Code

Hey, fellow Prius owners! It is good to see you back. As many of you know, I write about the Toyota Prius. I love to cover how great the car is and what you can do when failure happens. As good as Prius is, the vehicle is not without flaws.

In this article today, I want to talk about a costly repair we all know as the brake actuator. I want to cover what this problem is, what you can do about it if you encounter it, and how to avoid it. First, we will look at what the code is, then why you get a failure and wrap it up with what you can do to avoid it.

C1256 Low-Pressure Accumulator Trouble Code
The trouble code for your Prius sets when the pressure inside the brake unit can no longer be maintained. The trouble code C1256 is set, and there is a long buzzer from your car warning you that brake failure has happened.

The other thing that happens with this is that your Prius can no longer go into regen braking. That means if you continue to drive, you will likely over-discharge your hybrid battery.

Your best bet here is if you have a hybrid battery code and a brake code, take care of the brake accumulator first.

Why The Brake Trouble Code Happens
Gen 2 Prius is relatively bulletproof. It does have weak spots, though. Some shops even call these repairs "the big three" and the brake accumulator is one of them.

What happens in our Prius is that over time, tiny leaks in the accumulator cause pressure in the tank to drop. This action results in the motor having to run more often to maintain system pressure.

If you hear your brake accumulator running about every 15 seconds or so, you are close to failure. Listen intently as you get in and out of your Prius for the noise. Your brakes are very important if you have not noticed.

What You Can Do To Avoid The Issue Or What To Do If It Happens To You
I do not think that there is ever any mechanical device on our Prius that won't ever fail at some point. Everything has a shelf life.

Shelf life does have parameters, though. For instance, someone who does the routine maintenance on their car would know that changing brake fluid will significantly enhance the lifetime of your system. Removing old worn, water-filled fluid and replace it with suitable clean fluid, will have a massive impact on how long your brake actuator lasts.

There is no guarantee of how long it will last. I would hope that no, you never need to replace it. In case you do, here are some suggestions to help you stomach the cost.

First, only install new. The reason for avoiding used parts is many of the used units probably are either faulty or will fail soon after. If you just paid to have a new-to-you unit installed and then it fails, sorry. You will have to pay the labor again to do the same process. Buying new will get you into a unit that will work properly.

Second, shop around. While you Toyota dealer is charging $2000 to $3500 for replacement, a local hybrid specialty shop could be a better bet. I have seen prices right around $1850, which is high, but still less than the dealer.

Third, if you plan on doing this DIY, make sure you have the proper equipment to do the procedure the right way.

Conclusion
It sucks to have a failed braking system on your Prius, but remember if you take care of it, then it will take care of you. If you need help or have questions on your Prius, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter or Facebook.

That is all for today. I look forward to seeing you in the next story. Now Is The Time To Get Your Hands On This LImited Edition Toyota Prius

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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Instructor of Automotive Technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.