2005 Multi-function Display blinking

[kellykungfu]

Hi Everyone,

What a great website and forum. I just got my 2005 last month and love the car. Unfortunately, yesterday the MFD started to act up. After I started the car, the MDF blinked back and forth from the opening screen to a blank screen. This would occur for about 15 minutes and then stay on the opening screen.

I did a quick search and didn't quite see any other posts about this. I called the dealer and they never heard of it either. I was wondering if this has happened to anybody here and what was done to resolve it (I just wanted to be up to speed before going to the dealer on Tuesday).

Have a good day and God bless.


Thanks,
kelly

[efusco]

There have been many reports on this, though, if yours is an '05 it's the first one of this generation I've heard of. Your MFD needs to be replaced.

Here's one thread on the topic, there are more if you wanna do a search. Anyway, there's a bad connector and the only way to fix it is to replace the MFD.

[efusco]

Another thread

[efusco]

And a third one

[kellykungfu]

Okay, the dealer called back and has to order a new display.

I have two new questions. Should I go for the extended warentee(does it cover the MFD?)? And secondly, the dealer put a big scratch on my bumper. What sort of compensation should I ask for?

Thanks,
kelly

[paprius4030]

Kelly, if the dealer put a scratch on your bumper I would make them FIX it. If they don't have a body shop themselves they must have an ongoing realtionship with a body for there used cars ect. I would MAKE the dealer fix it when they replace your MFD. If your going to keep you car for a long time I would certainly get the extended warranty for 100k mi. With all the computers and electronics in this car, it would make lawyers rich arguing which component that failed is tied into which system. ie. argiung if this is associated with the hybrid system or the regular gas engine and which warranty applies. I would just get the 100k. mi. warranty from Troy then you know the WHOLE car is covered for 100k. miles.

[kellykungfu]

Hi Everyone,

Heres the late update. The dealer did replace the MFD. They didn't offer me too much for scratching my bumper. However, it looks like they repainted it to the point that I couldn't tell there was a scratch. On top of this they left the back right window cracked open and of course it rained and the interior was wet.

The only thing I was able to get was three free oil changes...

[TonyPSchaefer]

What kind of irresponsible dealer leaves a window cracked and parks a car outside. Forget the rain, what about security?

Holy cow! I think it's time to call the Toyota Experience number. Unfortunately I don't have it on me.

[xevious]

My dealer (Kendall Toyota in Eugene, Oregon) left a nice, long scratch on my hood and refused to fix it.

("There's no way that we could have done that" said they. "I've only driven this car for 80 miles - directly from the dealership to the ClearBra installer - where, then, did it come from?" asked I. "We are infalliable. Go away" insisted they.)

Called Toyota, complained, gave bad marks to the dealer in the appropriate places on the Toyota corporate sales survey card. In the end, neither offered to fix the problem, but the ClearBra installer took pity on me and buffed it (mainly) out.

Did I mention that the offending dealer was - ahem - Kendall Toyota of Eugene, Oregon? Shoulda driven down to SoCal to get one from Dianne at Carson...

Ranting over. Two opinions: first, if your dealer is THAT incompetent, I'd recommend changing your own oil or taking your Prius elsewhere. Free oil changes are NOT worth finding out what else they can destroy on your precious vehicle.

Second, I agree with paprius - get the extended warranty. You can purchase it at any time during the first 36,000mi/3yr, and given the relatively small cost (purchase it through this web site for a very good deal) it'll probably offer better odds than a similar amount of state lotto scratch-its.

Toyota produces the most reliable vehicles on the planet, and the Prius is no exception. However, the fact is that the Prius is jammed full of completely new technology, most of which is very expensive. Although it is possible that Toyota might stand behind a failure such as your faulty MFD after the warranty period, as time goes on and Hybrids become more of a mass-market item, this possibility greatly decreases. One MFD replacement (or similar problem fixed) is probably equal in cost to that 10yr/100,000mi warranty.