Audio Not Working Mystery - 2010 Prius

I had a similar problem, but not the same. My gps unit started changing sat radio stations, but not am or fm. My dealer covered the replacement of the entire navigation unit. The thing was all messed up, the gps DVD was stuck in the drive. I videotaped the problem when it was happening (because, like always, cars don't act up at the dealership). Anyway, it was covered under the extended warranty (although the dealer told me they would have paid for the part replacement because I was having an accumulation of problems replaced to the radio, nab unit and Bluetooth nd then one day the thing "flipped out" changing radio stations and not being able to find its way home.)


So BRING YOURS TOTHE DEALER AND GET ALL OF THE ISSUES LOGGED IN AND TAGGED. MAKE THEM WORK ON IT TIL IT'S FIXED. Don't LET THEM BLAME THE ISSUES ONTHE THIRD PARTY EQUIPMENT TOYOTA CHOSE TO USE (pioneer receiver for instance)

Good luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

My 2010 just started doing the same thing? Did you find the problem. It seems like it is a poor ground or a short. The sound also goes bad with the navigation at the same time?

I have a 2010 and the radio and nav started doing the same thing. Sounds like a short or poor ground. It starts to sound like the battery is dieing ? Did you get yours fixed?

 

How was mine fixed?
My entire unit was replaced: BLUETOOTH/GPS/SAT RADIO RECEIVER............. $4,000 (replaced on Toyota's dollar not mine!) MAKE THEM FIX IT.

Please note, mine did all of the same things you guys are describing. I accumulated lots of small events and then one day it shit the bed and started to change radio stations when I used the nav buttons.

Everything you guys are posting relates.........

 

I have a 2010 Prius with the JBL Audio system - no navigation. The radio is out of warranty because of my mileage. But it just started showing garbled display, not changing station, turning off whenever i hit any of the buttons... the dealership just said I'm out of warranty and it would cost a couple thousand to replace (without even taking a look at it).

 

I'm having the same exact issue and my 2010 Prius is out of warranty. Have anyone had any success having Toyota/JBL cover this common issue when out of warranty?

 

jfloat, did you have any luck replacing the amp? I am contemplating the exact same course of diagnostic action for my dying audio & nav system--hoping against hope....

 

Wow! That is good news. I will test the amp before going any further. I'm glad it worked out well for you, and thanks for the feedback.

 

2010 Prius - 87,000 mi. Sound cutting out started to happen when the weather warmed up. Would be OK at the start if the car was cool, then stopped working after 20 minutes or so. Now if the car sits in the hot sun, no sound at all from the start. No radio, CD, nav lady, touch screen beep or anything. Bluetooth phone use resulted in the person I called being able to hear me, but I could not hear the other person. If I ran the AC on super cold, it would come back on in about 20 minutes. Just got a $3000 quote from the dealer to replace the entire nav/sound unit! Called Toyota customer care and they said they have no service bulletin or recall about this. They opened a file, but I'm not optimistic. Anyone else have any luck with Toyota?

 

For $3000 it must be the JBL version head unit and amp? Your dealer quote would list what is included.
You could search ebay for used or online service that repairs factory head units (I recall seeing this service for Lexus amplifiers in the past). If you are a DIY then might want to chat with Crutchfield for a new $300-up replacement head unit option. BestBuy or local stereo shop could do the install for you at an additional charge. Good luck.

 

Like many others here I got nowhere with Toyota. I worked my way up to the regional service manager who was very snarky, saying hey, your car is six years old with 90,000 miles, stuff goes wrong. Tough. Took others advice and bough a jbl amplifier on eBay for $100. Just installed it and all is fine! And to think Toyota has the gall to tell be the entire mfd screen must be replaced for $3000!! Don't trust Toyota on this one. I've been a loyal Toyota owner since 1981. No more!

 

Adding to the log here of 2010 JBL audio amp Prius owners who had strange audio issues. Would work fine for 5 mins after being parked in cold garage then audio would get choppy. Best part was that the audio chopping was speed dependent With slowing down making it worse. Then 5-20mins later it would stop entirely.

Also noted the volume level would get stuck on whatever number it was on before audio cutting out.

Toyota dealer wanted to replace head unit for $1200+. I tried a different head unit from EBAY for $60 with no change. Success came when I bought a jbl amp (exact same model) from EBAY for $80. Easy to swap with four bolts on passenger seat then 2 bolts on amp bracket.

I suspect ours may have overheated with audio being blasted while we had stuff packed under passenger seat on a road trip when it originally started. The issue then progressed over months on how long it would run before cutting out.


Thank you much for this forum thread

J