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Brake - Brake Malfunction warning shut car down while driving - won't restart

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19K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  Kedelberg  
#1 ·
2011 Toyota Highlander Limited - 99K miles. My wife was driving the car today and it shut down while she was driving. I instantly thought about the alternator having gone bad based on what she was telling me. I checked the battery and it was completely shot, replaced it, when I hooked it up the alternator whisped a little smoke so I defintely think it needs a new alternator. My question is it has generated a Brake (in red) - Brake Malfunction warning on the small center notification screen above the radio and I cannot get the car to turnover when I have placed the new battery in it. Does anyone have any experience with this issue? I am planning to have the alternator replaced but wanted to know if there is possibly a larger electrical issue. Any advice related to this issue is greatly appreciated.
 
#2 ·
In order to start a limited you must have your foot on the brake pedal. If you're foot is on the brake first check to see if your brake lights light up. If not then you either have a bad brake switch or blown fuse. It's very common to get a popped fuse when jumping or swapping out batteries. Also some pts Toyota can be started without your foot on the brake. Push and release the start button once, then push and hold the start button. After 20 seconds or so it may start. I have not tried this on my limited, but I know it works on other models.
 
#3 ·
Just to close the loop on this error message post. I went back to where the car was broken down this morning to check the fuses and try the emergency start procedure referenced above (see owner's manual for steps) and was able to get it to start normally. The battery light is staying on which means it is not charging properly and is most likely the alternator. Last night when I was working on it a young man studying at the Nascar Institute stopped to see if he could help me and recommended that I leave the battery unhooked for at least 30 minutes to let the system disapate any residual charge and "reset". I reckon that worked b/c it fired up fine this morning. I will limp it back home on the battery and replace the alternator. It is worth noting that in the event this happens to you while driving there is an "emergency start procedure" in the owner's manual in order to get it off the road safely.

Thank you to the responder for suggesting the fuses, that was a real possibility that I had not considered last night when trying to get it going.