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Sirus cutting in and out?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by tImmarcy, Oct 17, 2013.

  1. tImmarcy

    tImmarcy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2011
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    Location:
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I've got a 2011 five with the tech package and the satellite signal comes in and out every few seconds. Hiss, music, hiss, music. It does this until I turn the car off and on. Sometimes it takes more than once.
    Changing to FM, AM, USB and back doesn't fix it. Called XM and they reset it 3 times and it didn't fix it.
    It's been doing it at least once a week now :(

    Any suggestions?
     
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Are you in an open environment when this happens? If you are around tall buildings or tall trees this can block the satellite signal. The only time I lose the XM signal is when I am driving east with tall trees to my right, or south side.

    If you are in the open when this happens and are still within the 36k warranty period, take it to the dealer.
     
    jdk2 likes this.
  3. tImmarcy

    tImmarcy Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
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    Five
    I'm in an open area. Sometimes it works fine, other times it cuts in and out. I do get the same problem as you when I drive through tall trees and I think maybe its worse than it used to be. Maybe the antenna is bad?
    Unfortunately it's not under warranty anymore. Figured I'd bring it up at the dealer next time I get my oil changed. Just wondering if anyone had the same problem.
     
  4. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Advanced
    It happens to me all the time on US64 headed east toward I-95. Never put two and two together. Satellite must be obstructed in these conditions. Thanks for that.
     
  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    III
    Yes, the GPS satellites orbit around the equator so to our south.

    I was just on US64 going west between Rocky Mount and Raleigh on the way to Winston-Salem on Sunday! Growing up in Rocky Mount and attending NC State I spent countless hours on US64 !
     
  6. AnnaH

    AnnaH New Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    Three
    That used to happen with my 2011 Prius (I now own a 2013). But it only happened when I powered on the car in a location (my garage) where it obviously had an obstructed view/connection to the satellite. This initial obstruction caused a poor connection to Sirius similar to what you described - resulting in the hissing and cutting in and out. The solution for me - restart the car (as you also mentioned) or move the car out a the garage in a timely manner so the connection attempt could happen in the open air and result in clear play and prompt traffic data. Hope this helps.
     
  7. Steve terry

    Steve terry Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Three
    Saw this in the fourm somewhere a few months ago. It was the antenna connector in the cabin area. Not sure where but try searching. I never have luck searching here, to many unrelated post. But it did fix the problem.
     
  8. Steve terry

    Steve terry Member

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  9. afob3

    afob3 Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Also a 2011 here that just started having issues in the last two weeks of so. Was going to create a new thread but this OP's post looks similar.

    I'm getting static & 'no signal' message regardless of the channel. Have tried the resend signal stuff with no improvement. I honestly gave up on it (I'm on the trial & don't plan to subscribe.) until I went to Knoxville the other day. The Knoxville Nav Traffic market only give info along the I75 & I 40 corridors. I noticed along I40 that I was getting the colored nav traffic info on the screen & remembered that is a satilite radio feature. Tuned in to Sat radio and was able to hear the audio perfectly. As soon as I exited the interstate & got about a 1/2 mile away, I lost the audio signal again. I was able to reproduce the performance on the way home.

    Spoke with a rep who escalated me to a 2nd tier support. Walked me through a radio reset that required turning the car off & on. It didn't make a difference. He suggested I take it to the dealer as it is a 'hardware problem'. I'm still within warranty so I might mention it next time. I will take a look at that other thread first to check the connectors.