1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Weak FM radio reception in 2010 Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Milo'sPrius, Sep 30, 2009.

  1. LeadingEdgeBoomer

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    289
    29
    0
    Location:
    New Mexico
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Perhaps that is all that's available in Germany, but here are some quotes from my paperwork.

    From the dealer's repair invoice:
    INSTALL NEW NAV RADIO UNIT

    From the TSB:

    NOTE
    Radio MUST be obtained from the exchange program to qualify for warranty coverage.

    Parts Information
    RADIO ID E7022
    PART NAME Receiver Assy, Navigation

    Required Tools and Equipment
    Plastic Pry Tool Set

    Repair Procedure
    1. Confirm the poor reception condition.
    2. Replace the radio receiver with the updated part.
    3. Confirm that the condition has been corrected.


    Now, software may be involved, but if that is all they do it is a software update they would not be sending out replacement radios just for that, eh?
     
  2. evil_attorney

    evil_attorney New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2005
    33
    1
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    In the US they are replacing the radio unit. I had to wait a week until it was shipped and I had them confirm that the new radio unit was actually new (not an old model). They did say that they had to upload software into the new radio, which didn't quite make sense to me.

    By the way, I was having trouble with my Nav giving me intermittent "no Nav DVD" after installation of the new radio. I ejected the nav DVD and discovered that someone put a huge, dirty thumb print on the data side. No wonder it was having problems.
     
  3. Downrange

    Downrange Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    365
    195
    2
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    SE
    I'll ask one more time. Anyone been able to get a base radio (II) replaced??

    It sux too, y'know.
     
  4. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    1,610
    246
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    To date, there is no TSB for the base II - so you are out of luck right now... It would seem they are taking the high road, and fixing things (Toyota does have decent quality/commitment)...

    As of today, all you can do is complain to your dealer/Toyota.

    I think this is not a high priority on their part - so good luck... The issue has been known since the thing came out well over a year ago...
     
  5. Downrange

    Downrange Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    365
    195
    2
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    SE
    Yep, and the current "fix" is NOT, apparently.
    Oh well, I don't really listen to much Fm for music anyway, and the II base unit works fine through the Aux jack...
    Toyota deserves to lose some customers from this fiasco, though.
     
  6. jayvee

    jayvee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    341
    89
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Not true. The software may be resident on only one of the circuit boards inside the radio (ROM for a DSP chip or slave processor, etc. - this is very common these days. ) Depending on the design, there may be no way to update board software other than a board swap. And since dealers don't do circuit board replacements in radios (a very good thing), they replace the entire radio.
     
  7. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2009
    2,173
    1,312
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Well, if they continue like this, dismissing the issue and clearly providing second class solutions that don't work, they lost me already.
    I mean, we are talking of an FM radio, not some 22nd century technology! They are going cheap on this or they have *huge* problems - in both cases they did it lightly and the fact that Toyota is not addressing this publicly is also very bad.
    I wonder how many reported cases they have worldwide of FM radios that do not work. If we are 1% of all purchasers, then we are screwed - it will *never* be fixed. Never. Unless you guys in the US start a class action suit for selling defective radios.
    I don't know why nobody started this already in the US.
     
    1 person likes this.
  8. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2009
    720
    96
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    V
    I have no solid basis for this but I can't believe that they are using repaired radios in this "fix". If so, then I could go back in next week and under the terms of the TSB they would replace that radio too since the serial number would be old.

    I got some improvement, not a whole lot but they seem to be trying.
     
  9. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2005
    4,067
    687
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I assumed that they might be using rebuilt radios because the TSB states that, "Radios MUST be obtained from the exchange program to qualify for warranty coverage". To me an exchange program implies the radio would be exchanged for another, then repaired or upgraded and returned to an exchange pool. Perhaps my assumption is wrong. I also noticed the TSB only mentions the VIN but not the radio serial number.

    If they work as advertised it doesn't matter if they are new or older units that have been upgraded, but apparently some of them have problems. I have seen these kinds of issues with equipment coming out of exchange programs before because they frequently are not repaired or aligned correctly.
     
  10. jayvee

    jayvee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    341
    89
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    +1

    You could walk into the Wal-Mart car audio section and buy a radio with better FM reception.

    Pathetic.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. jayvee

    jayvee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    341
    89
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Trust me, they are. I pulled my replacement out and it had yellow "remanufactured" stickers on it. Or don't trust me, and pull your own out - I'm sure you'll see the same.

    But I wouldn't care at all if it was remanufactured, if they had solved the problem - but they didn't!
     
  12. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2009
    720
    96
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    V
    I believe you. At least to the extent that I am not about to remove the radio when it is working, which mine is.
     
  13. putty

    putty Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    147
    39
    0
    Location:
    somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    any update on this mini cooper antenna?
    thanks
     
  14. GasSaving

    GasSaving Saves $1,000/yr on gas

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2010
    52
    15
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My reception seems to be fine. Or as good as the prev 6 cars I have owned. But next time I drive to the boonies, I'll check and post my results.
     
  15. josh2008

    josh2008 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2008
    365
    144
    0
    Location:
    Princeton, WV
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You all didn't hear this from me but there's a TSB coming for this issue in non-JBL cars. :) We're also actively working on the "suspension clack" noise. Will keep you all posted.
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^ cool. Say if someone removed their HU and replaced with an aftermarket, would they still replace the unit (out of the car)?
     
  17. pixelmixer

    pixelmixer New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2010
    102
    10
    0
    Location:
    Seal Beach CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    The "clack" is from what are apparently Corolla calipers rattling around. The dealer indicated they were working on a fix; I am anxious to get this embarrassing racket eliminated.
     
  18. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    1,610
    246
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III


    Can I ask a quick one on the suspension 'clack'...

    When I go over little 'bots dots', Iif the widnows down there is a huge 'rattle' - like something is loose below. Haven't taken it in yet - but am wondering if thiese loud noises over little bumps are the 'clack'...

    TIA!

    Rolf
     
  19. pixelmixer

    pixelmixer New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2010
    102
    10
    0
    Location:
    Seal Beach CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Yes; it is almost certainly the brake caliper rattle. Toyota should have a fix for this by now. Toyota????
     
  20. jayvee

    jayvee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2009
    341
    89
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV