FM Radio Dropout

shimma · 11-18-2005, 09:36 PM

11/18/05

I acquired my '05 on 8/8/05. About six weeks ago my standard FM1 radio started cutting out. On the highway, suddenly, the reception would quit for about a second or two, then resume, sometimes with a static sound, sometimes not. The CD was not affected

The first thing I did was to ensure the antenna was secured.

Then I took it to the dealer, Fremont Toyota. A Master Technician and I took it for a five mile test drive, but of course the intermittent problem did not present itself.

So, while I waited about 90 minutes, the mechanic removed the dash display to access the radio. He checked all the connections, and removed certain codes he said were entered into the radio during various construction phases of the vehicle.

The repair was virtually flawless, as I'd advised the technician that I was very, very allergic to damage to the fragile glossy plastic dashboard surfaces.

They set up some kind of a factory alert regarding my car, and asked that I monitor any further dropouts, noting the presence of high voltage power lines or large concrete surfaces. They requested my feedback within 10 days.

Happily, the problem desisted. Anybody out there have a similar experience?

Thanks. Shimma :P

Jack 06 · 11-19-2005, 12:06 AM

Yes, but my FM radio problem turned out to be part of a bigger problem, so it may not be related.

First I started losing the radio. Then I could make the radio work by turning it "off". Then I started losing the MFD (but the miles kept accumulating accurately, unseen!). Then the MFD turned into a slow pinball machine.

Long story short: they had to replace something in the MFD, but not the screen itself---and it related to the audio controls.

This was on my '04. Hasn't happened since.

Oh, and at first it happened only VERY intermittently---like once a week. Then twice...and not when the dealer was looking, of course...had to leave it overnight, as it turned out it usually did it just after starting in the morning...and it did...

hdrygas · 11-19-2005, 12:13 AM

My FM station and radio works well. I only listen to one station KPLU 88.5 in the PNW, but they are a strong station. Do you know where the transmitter is? Remember FM is line of sight and then after that the bounce pattern is weird, I get KPLU clearly in Astoria but not 5 miles out of town. All over the Puget Sound area I have no problem

oly_57mpg · 11-19-2005, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hdrygas@Nov 19 2005, 01:13 AM
I only listen to one station KPLU 88.5 in the PNW, but they are a strong station. Do you know where the transmitter is?

[snapback]158017[/snapback]

KPLU's broadcast antenna is on Tiger Mountain in Issaquah. It's a 100,000 Watt Tx. FCC max regulation.

I can hear it most of the way to Portland.

It's too bad 89.3 KAOS has a crappy transmitter that interferes with KNHC 89.5...

shimma · 11-19-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oly_57mpg@Nov 19 2005, 01:18 AM
KPLU's broadcast antenna is on Tiger Mountain in Issaquah. It's a 100,000 Watt Tx. FCC max regulation.

I can hear it most of the way to Portland.
It's too bad 89.3 KAOS has a crappy transmitter that interferes with KNHC 89.5...

[snapback]158080[/snapback]

shimma · 11-19-2005, 11:22 AM

Thanks for your feedback. I don't believe this was a transmission issue, as all stations were affected.

Actually, I think the dealer caused the problem. Two weeks earlier, I'd brought the car to them because the AC fan, when on high, began making intermittent rumbling sounds. They disasembled the fan assembly looking for the cause and probably left something loose. They didn't find anything amiss, although the rumbling stopped...

Needless to say, with two dealership actions within 90 days, my Prius flunked the J D Powers Initial Quality contest.

oly_57mpg · 11-19-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shimma@Nov 19 2005, 12:22 PM
Thanks for your feedback. I don't believe this was a transmission issue, as all stations were affected.

Actually, I think the dealer caused the problem. Two weeks earlier, I'd brought the car to them because the AC fan, when on high, began making intermittent rumbling sounds. They disasembled the fan assembly looking for the cause and probably left something loose. They didn't find anything amiss, although the rumbling stopped...

Needless to say, with two dealership actions within 90 days, my Prius flunked the J D Powers Initial Quality contest.

[snapback]158151[/snapback]

Sounds like one of the relays might be loose... Just enough to turn the radio on and off... Check the relays...

DanMan32 · 11-21-2005, 04:38 PM

What relay would that be? The only relays involved would be turning the ACC on for the whole car, or integrated into the radio itself.

Mauibound · 07-31-2006, 11:25 AM

I'm having this same problem, only it's happening on FM, AM, and the dealer installed Sirius satellite radio. Worked fine when I left the dealership. About a week later this started happening. Yesterday I was on the road for about an hour and got about 15 minutes of radio usage out of it. And I'm in the greater Los Angeles area, where signals are strong and this is still happening. Going to have to take it in.

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11-18-2005, 09:36 PM	#1
shimma Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 34 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	11/18/05 I acquired my '05 on 8/8/05. About six weeks ago my standard FM1 radio started cutting out. On the highway, suddenly, the reception would quit for about a second or two, then resume, sometimes with a static sound, sometimes not. The CD was not affected The first thing I did was to ensure the antenna was secured. Then I took it to the dealer, Fremont Toyota. A Master Technician and I took it for a five mile test drive, but of course the intermittent problem did not present itself. So, while I waited about 90 minutes, the mechanic removed the dash display to access the radio. He checked all the connections, and removed certain codes he said were entered into the radio during various construction phases of the vehicle. The repair was virtually flawless, as I'd advised the technician that I was very, very allergic to damage to the fragile glossy plastic dashboard surfaces. They set up some kind of a factory alert regarding my car, and asked that I monitor any further dropouts, noting the presence of high voltage power lines or large concrete surfaces. They requested my feedback within 10 days. Happily, the problem desisted. Anybody out there have a similar experience? Thanks. Shimma :P

11-19-2005, 12:06 AM	#2
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, but my FM radio problem turned out to be part of a bigger problem, so it may not be related. First I started losing the radio. Then I could make the radio work by turning it "off". Then I started losing the MFD (but the miles kept accumulating accurately, unseen!). Then the MFD turned into a slow pinball machine. Long story short: they had to replace something in the MFD, but not the screen itself---and it related to the audio controls. This was on my '04. Hasn't happened since. Oh, and at first it happened only VERY intermittently---like once a week. Then twice...and not when the dealer was looking, of course...had to leave it overnight, as it turned out it usually did it just after starting in the morning...and it did...

11-19-2005, 12:13 AM	#3
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,649 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My FM station and radio works well. I only listen to one station KPLU 88.5 in the PNW, but they are a strong station. Do you know where the transmitter is? Remember FM is line of sight and then after that the bounce pattern is weird, I get KPLU clearly in Astoria but not 5 miles out of town. All over the Puget Sound area I have no problem

11-19-2005, 11:22 AM	#6
shimma Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 34 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for your feedback. I don't believe this was a transmission issue, as all stations were affected. Actually, I think the dealer caused the problem. Two weeks earlier, I'd brought the car to them because the AC fan, when on high, began making intermittent rumbling sounds. They disasembled the fan assembly looking for the cause and probably left something loose. They didn't find anything amiss, although the rumbling stopped... Needless to say, with two dealership actions within 90 days, my Prius flunked the J D Powers Initial Quality contest.

11-21-2005, 04:38 PM	#8
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What relay would that be? The only relays involved would be turning the ACC on for the whole car, or integrated into the radio itself.

07-31-2006, 11:25 AM	#9
Mauibound Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newport Coast, CA Posts: 57 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm having this same problem, only it's happening on FM, AM, and the dealer installed Sirius satellite radio. Worked fine when I left the dealership. About a week later this started happening. Yesterday I was on the road for about an hour and got about 15 minutes of radio usage out of it. And I'm in the greater Los Angeles area, where signals are strong and this is still happening. Going to have to take it in.