Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Mr. Ritter,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. To answer your follow-up questions, The toyota dealer said they couldn't read any codes and explained that they couldn't because their machine said "failure to communitcate" and it was therefore impossible to "pull the code" as they said it. The engine check light does not come on. The brake fluid is to "Max," and has been bled (after the lights were on for some time). Hope this provides the information you need.
Again,
Thank you
Tony Pabst
ABS and "brake' light continuously on. Took to dealer, they said the ECU "failed to communicate"
and everything else appeared ok. When I asked them to explain, i was told that there was possible an acutator malfunctioning.
This is a 2002, they said it would cost $1800 to repair. Seems funny that such a new car would have such a major problem. I'm very mechanical, anything I can do to either diagnose more carefully or save money on the repair (eg, is this an item I can easily salvage and at what cost)
Much thanks,
Tony
2002 toyota camry LE 4 cyl. no repair history
Welcome to post on Toyota repair message board
Answer -
If the ABS and the brake light came on there is a trouble code stored in the computer, I need this code in order to start helping you, the only thing I can help with at this time is to make sure that the brake fluid level is at the "MAX" mark, low fluid level can turn the warning lights on and this is very important, did the check engine light also come on and if so what was the trouble code? If I can have that information I will be able to help. The message" ECU failed to communicate" means that the ABS computer shut off the ABS system because of another problem and the ABS system is not functioning, so it is extremely important that I have all of this information.
AnswerThe "ECU failed to commumicate" is not an acceptable explanation to me, the fact is that there is some sort of problem with the ABS/VSC system or with the engine or the translate ECU, I hope I'm not getting to technical but maybe you need to get another opinion from another toyota facility because the one you are dealing with doesn't seem credible given the information you have provided so far, they said it would cost $1,800 to repair, to repair what?
Did they give you an explanation of what they are going to do to fix the problem, my guess is that they want to replace the ABS ECU but it should log a hard trouble code indicating that the ECU is the problem, toyota has also issued service bulletins that address this issue, but again, I can't make any recommendation without a trouble code and the dealer that is making this assertion may be wrong this is why I am telling you to get another diagnosis.
All I'm telling you at this time that it is extremely difficult to diagnose this problem with just dialogue from what they are telling you, this system is computer controlled and verbal communication means very little, I need DTC codes in order to even start helping otherwise I would be guessing what the problem could be.
