2013 Yaris 1.33vvt Brakes locked solid. Help needed.

[Sharkey22]

Hi, The brakes on my Yaris are locked on hard. The car is of course undriveable. Car was driving perfectly until the issue occurred out of the blue. The other symptoms are ABS and Traction control lights lit. The brake pedal is solid and the handbrake lever offers no resistance. My car has discs on the front and drums on the rear. Also I have no brake lights which is a problem I had earlier in the year which I rectified thanks to help from forum members and has been fine since. (Here is that thread just in case it is somehow relevant). Any assistance much appreciated. Thanks. 

 

 

[flash22]

Is it an auto or manual car ?

[Sharkey22]

Hi Bob, It is a manual, 6 speed car. To be clear front and rear brakes are locked on solid not just rear. The pedal is rock solid. The strange thing is I had noticed that brake lights were out again. I checked the wire repair which is still good so I will check relevant fuses. I'm unsue whether the 2 issues are connected or just coincident. 

Ian.

[Sharkey22]

Hi Ian,

It could be a few issues affecting your brakes, especially with the ABS and traction control lights on, a hard brake pedal, and no brake lights. First, the brake light switch may be acting up again. This switch not only controls the brake lights but also sends signals to systems like ABS and traction control, so if it's faulty, it could cause warnings or even lock the brakes.

The ABS and traction control system itself could be triggering the brake lock as a safety measure. It’s possible there's a fault in the ABS module, wiring issues, or even a blown fuse, so scanning the car with an OBD-II tool for ABS-specific codes could be really helpful.

The solid feel of the brake pedal suggests a possible problem with the brake booster or vacuum system, which assists with braking. If the vacuum assistance is interrupted, the pedal can feel hard to press. The handbrake lever offering no resistance might point to a seized or disconnected rear brake cable. Since your car has drum brakes on the rear, a jammed or corroded mechanism could be causing the brakes to stay engaged.

Finally, it’s worth checking the wiring and fuses for both the ABS and brake lights. A blown fuse or loose connection might be affecting both systems. Hope this helps.

[flash22]

well if the brake pedal is solid the brake lights will not work

I think your master cylinder may have failed

 

Edit, did you answer your own post 🤐

[Sharkey22]

I am fairly sure the brake lights failed prior to the system locking up but I suspect it's 2 parts of one problem. I removed the brake light switch from it's mounting to check my previous wiring and operating the switch did not turn brake lights on. Hopefully I will have a chance to diagnose the problem(s) over weekend.

I didn't really answer my own post. You replied to my previous comment via a Personal Message so I copied that message into this thread so that everything in the discussion is in one place. Hope that is OK👍 

[Red_Corolla]

I would think it's either an ABS unit malfunction or a stuck master cylinder. Might be prudent to hand it over to a garage, for safety's sake. Opening the bleed screws to relieve the static pressure should get it rolling again. One front and one rear wheel ought to be enough.

[flash22]

@Sharkey22 not guilty, it must have been another member

 

all I can suggest is to pull the ABS fuse or unplug it

I take it there is no loss of fluid

[Sharkey22]

Well this is embarrassing . I had removed and replaced the switch several times in the past without issue, but this time inserted it too far. It was preventing the brake pedal from returning fully and actually applying the brakes. Schoolboy error by me I'm afraid. Definitely a case of learning a lesson the hard way! Thanks for your input and apologies for wasting your time.

Ian.

[MikeSh]

38 minutes ago, Sharkey22 said:

Thanks for your input and apologies for wasting your time.

That's a handy bit of learning for everybody to be aware of. Thanks for coming back and owning it.

[flash22]

yes that will do it, at least it didn't cost you any money to sort it