MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

[patsparks]

jjksutton, you bought me happiness when I read that last post, I really don't know why but I broke into laughter, well done and here is hoping she never lets go again.

[jjksutton]

your previous post provided some of the motivation to get moving that morning, so you derserve some credit too...

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by jjksutton

your previous post provided some of the motivation to get moving that morning, so you derserve some credit too...

Well glad I could help.

[BumperCar]

Thanks everyone for these post. I just found this forum (looking for info on my keyfob battery) and it's great. My MFD died about a year ago (on an '04 Prius), just before my extended warranty ran out. The dealer repair shop stalled just long enough to not cover it, which is sad. I'm not technically inclined and don't know anything about soldering or anything else. I'm wondering if anyone has tried taking Hobbit's instructions to a Toyota mechanic?

[jjksutton]

I think you would better off taking the MFD out (very easy to do, 5 minutes tops) and going to a PC repair shop. They could probably do it easy (like patsparks had done)

[patsparks]

If they cant fix it at a PC shop they will know someone who can.

[Optimus]

Has anyone ever seen this MFD problem in a G1 Prius? Our 2002 did something goofy yesterday and it sounds a lot like the problems I've read on the G2 MFD.

Our symptoms: Car was started yesterday morning, first start of the day. Everything seemed normal about the car, except the MPG real-time bar spiked to 99.9 immediately even though the ICE was still running. The MPG numbers themselves read 99.9. The outside air temp reading was blank. Switching to the energy screen, there were no arrows, no battery charge status, nothing. The car was driven for 10 minutes, car drove just fine. The mpg bar graph showed two bars at 99.9, and the real time bar was still pegged at 99.9 and the reading below was 99.9. The energy screen was still the same. The radio display stated the radio was off, but it actually was. I turned the FM radio on, and it worked fine. The heater/ac motor seemed to blow fine.

We got to a stop light, turned the car off completely, restarted, and all was normal.

This has only happened once, though we have only had our 2002 for 3000 miles and a little over a month. It has 125,000 miles on it now.

[mjonz]

Well add me to the list... Just got yesterday while on our way over to pick up our brand new Sienna. Talk about being able to cut the irony with a knife. Found out about the issue, the TSB, and was quoted $1000 to replace the part.
Sent the email below to Toyota so we'll see where that gets us... (it's a bit dramatic, but to get hit while we were on our way to get our third Toyota?!?!?)
To Whom It May Concern,
Yesterday (June 16th, 2008) the MFD on our 2004 Prius failed and, on taking the car to the service department at our local dealership, we heard for the first time about this issue and Toyota Service Bulletin EL002_05. He informed us that we needed to replace the unit at a cost of $1000.

Researching further, I discovered this is a KNOWN manufacturing defect with hardware within a part that is not subject to extreme usage, mileage, or exposure to the elements and yet Toyota Corporate had not seen fit to recall the part or to take ownership of this issue.

As the loyal owner of a 1999 4Runner, the 2004 Prius, and as of yesterday, ironically the same day the MFD died, a 2008 Sienna, I am astounded and offended at the lack of loyalty Toyota has shown regarding this issue.

At each stage of my life I have trusted in the economy and reliability of Toyota vehicles, my question to you is whether or not that trust has been misplaced.

During our service appointments and when buying the Sienna, we were asked again and again how Toyota could earn our business. This is how, back your product. Please contact me as soon as possible with a response and an explanation.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by Optimus

Has anyone ever seen this MFD problem in a G1 Prius? Our 2002 did something goofy yesterday and it sounds a lot like the problems I've read on the G2 MFD.

Our symptoms: Car was started yesterday morning, first start of the day. Everything seemed normal about the car, except the MPG real-time bar spiked to 99.9 immediately even though the ICE was still running. The MPG numbers themselves read 99.9. The outside air temp reading was blank. Switching to the energy screen, there were no arrows, no battery charge status, nothing. The car was driven for 10 minutes, car drove just fine. The mpg bar graph showed two bars at 99.9, and the real time bar was still pegged at 99.9 and the reading below was 99.9. The energy screen was still the same. The radio display stated the radio was off, but it actually was. I turned the FM radio on, and it worked fine. The heater/ac motor seemed to blow fine.

We got to a stop light, turned the car off completely, restarted, and all was normal.

This has only happened once, though we have only had our 2002 for 3000 miles and a little over a month. It has 125,000 miles on it now.

I'm not sure this is the same problem because when the 2004> play up they don't display any information like no consumption bars no outside temp, no AC settings, in fact you will get a message to "check the AC connection" and the audio screen will have a pic of 2 speakers and words to the effect "Audio off"

The easy way to describe it is there is a template for information on consumption and energy screens but there is no information in the template.

It may have just been a poor boot up, lets hope, but if it keeps doing it good luck finding the problem.

[patsparks]

Mjonz, good luck with your MFD, I hope you get good service and a good resolution.
If not use the information on PC to fix it without rewarding Toyota for not fixing a known problem. Crying shame and a blot on the record of a great company.