Check Brake System - Stuck in Park

[BeachInsight]

Drove the car 1.5 miles to church this morning - no problem. Hour later wife starts it - won't shift out of park, "Check Brake System" on in the multi-information display and the brake idiot light is on. Hunted around and didn't see any similar posts - anyone see this before?

Two weekends ago put in the Performance sway bar in the back after seeing all the posts - can't imagine that would have screwed anything up and have put a couple hundred miles on since. Parking brake is definitely not engaged. Started the car myself and similar - as soon as depress brake pedal, warnings come on. With car off brake pedal feels solid. When running seems like it goes to the floor. While in the driveway and car running, used the "Shift Lock Release" to shift out of park and move car back and forth at very low speed and brakes appear to be working. Not anxious to try it on the road at higher speed...

[Zwolfe]

Sounds like the master cylinder is bad with what you describe by the pedal being solid when shut off but goes to the floor when running.

Checked the fluid, I figure?

[BeachInsight]

Forgot to mention that - I checked the fluid level and it looked fine. Looked around and no obvious sign of fluid anywhere. I think I'm going to try driving it to the dealer and dropping it off tonight.....

Drove it to the dealer. Everything seems to be working normally - braking and regenerative braking. Only thing out of the ordinary is, doesn't Auto Stop. Will update once the dealer diagnoses.

[Zwolfe]

Hope they get it sorted out.

[Cobb]

Id try an auto store to scan the system for any codes. I am guessing its sensing something that is not right. Does the petal go to the floor? Does it seem to brake ok? Its my understanding any problems in teh brake system you would see the parking brake light on. I guess they could of messed with the abs wire for the rear?

[circa1986]

Does anyone have any idea how the braking pedal works on the Insight? How does it decide whether or not to use friction brakes or regenerative braking? I think this is probably the key to understanding what is going on with his braking system. Sounds potentially very dangerous if it doesn't know which to use!

[BeachInsight]

Blown fuse 24. Blown fuse 24!?!? The service rep said the tech assumed it was a brake pedal problem (I assume that means a sensor) and that wasn't it and then discovered the fuse was blown. I don't have a wiring diagram but the manual says it's a 10A fuse for stop/horn.......

Uh oh. Did I mention I put in a small air horn to replace that whimpy golf cart horn? I never would have guessed could have been related or thought to look at the fuses, but I'm wondering if too much of a coincidence..... I chose to take my chances with not putting in a separate relay and fuse.

I'm a little surprised though - isn't that just the fuse between the horn button and a relay? Because I see a 20A horn,stop,hazard fuse next to the battery positive terminal in the diagram - I would have thought that would have been the fuse supplying current to the horn itself and the one to blow. Anyone know which horn fuse does what?

And it is interesting that it seemed the "normal" braking and the regenerative braking were all working normally as far as I coule tell, even with this blown fuse.

[Cobb]

Ah no, not another person shoe horning a train horn under the hood of an economy car. I just drive around the person in my way on either the right or left, who has time to blow the horn and see what happens? Its a hybrid, no one will obey it regardless of the upgrades.

Now, if you cant shift out of park, there is a small door to the left of the lever near the nutral position. Pop that open with a slotted screw driver and there is a button to release the shift lever from park.

If you must use a horn that causes fuses to pop and the lights to dim you should consider using a relay and powering it directly from the battery.