“The external system is not connected”

phc · 05-06-2009, 02:57 PM

Hello fellow hybrid owners.

The following message has appeared in two of my hybrid cars within a day of each other. One is a 05 Prius and the other is a 06 Highlander.

“The external system is not connected”

No:
Navigation, climate control, trip information and the radio is out in the Prius.

Has anyone here ever have this same problem?

And what was your fix.

Thanks for any and all help with this.

phc

Patrick Wong · 05-07-2009, 01:43 AM

Sounds like an MFD failure; interesting that this happened on both of your vehicles at the same time. The fix is to have the MFD replaced, however if your 3 year/36K mile warranty has passed then you might want to ask for a remanufactured unit to be installed (as a new unit will cost well into 4 digits.) Or, contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center to see whether they can offer financial assistance on the repair.

prius62 · 05-29-2009, 12:24 PM

I had this exact problem on my '05. The culprit was the "dice" unit Ipod/HD radio add-on. If you have one of these I believe all I did to fix it was unplug the dice unit and then plug it back in. If you do have the dice, you may want to search the forum and see if there is a more exact procedure for the fix. Oddly the problem appeared after a visit to the dealer to get the coolant pump replaced.

Good luck.

05-06-2009, 02:57 PM	#1
phc Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA Posts: 3 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	“The external system is not connected” Hello fellow hybrid owners. The following message has appeared in two of my hybrid cars within a day of each other. One is a 05 Prius and the other is a 06 Highlander. *“The external system is not connected”* No: Navigation, climate control, trip information and the radio is out in the Prius. Has anyone here ever have this same problem? And what was your fix. Thanks for any and all help with this. phc

05-07-2009, 01:43 AM	#2
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 4,052 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 21 Thanked 212 Times in 183 Posts Friends: 44	Re: “The external system is not connected” Sounds like an MFD failure; interesting that this happened on both of your vehicles at the same time. The fix is to have the MFD replaced, however if your 3 year/36K mile warranty has passed then you might want to ask for a remanufactured unit to be installed (as a new unit will cost well into 4 digits.) Or, contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center to see whether they can offer financial assistance on the repair.

05-29-2009, 12:24 PM	#3
prius62 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 42 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: “The external system is not connected” I had this exact problem on my '05. The culprit was the "dice" unit Ipod/HD radio add-on. If you have one of these I believe all I did to fix it was unplug the dice unit and then plug it back in. If you do have the dice, you may want to search the forum and see if there is a more exact procedure for the fix. Oddly the problem appeared after a visit to the dealer to get the coolant pump replaced. Good luck.

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