MFD Malfunction - BLANK SCREEN

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(canuckican @ May 30 2006, 11:54 PM) [snapback]263220[/snapback]</div>

Does it come on when you press the Audio or Climate button?

There is a button on one of the display screens that turns off the monitor, but it still turns on when you press one of the buttons, such as Audio or Climate. If this is the case, then pressing the Info button on the steering wheel will bring it back, if your car has such a button, or pressing the Info button on the MFD and then selecting the onscreen button to display the energy or consumption screens would do it.

This may not be your problem, but the fact that you say it displays the startup splash screen leads me to think it could be this.

 

Yeah, what marlin wrote. I was panicked for 30 seconds by the same symptom after getting the 50P recall service... and then realized that the MFD must have reverted to its default behavior when power was removed. With any luck your MFD just got turned off inadvertantly. Try turning it on again using the menu under the console INFO button.

 

There was a TSB out about that at the end of 2004 model. Our MFD died on our old 2004 and got replaced by the dealer- you have to order the part and wait for it to come in.
I assume you have a 2004?

 

The symptoms you describe are most likely the backlight failing. Take a flashlight and shine it into the display at an angle. View the screen from the opposite angle and if it is the backlight, you will be able to slightly see the data on the screen. If you can't see any data, the whole screen is dead. Either way though, you'll have to get the whole thing replaced.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(unruhly @ May 31 2006, 11:50 AM) [snapback]263405[/snapback]</div>

Unless I'm highly mistaken, there is no backlight on the MFMFD.

What he most likely is experiencing is a loose connection.. some days it's making a connection, some day's it's too loose to connect properly.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ May 31 2006, 10:53 AM) [snapback]263407[/snapback]</div>

Why isn't there a backlight on the MFD?
It sure seems like there would be, most LCD panels are backlit. Some are frontlit, but usually not ones that are touch screen.

And I'm certain that the MFD is not based on OLED technology, so it shouldn't have the inherent lighting from that type of technology.

 

This is unlikely as it's pretty obvious but I'm throwing it out anyways...
Several months ago the MFD on my '05 started randomly acting as if it had a connection problem. I would black out then come back on, sometime briefly sometimes black for long periods of time. The solution was to remove the flat plastic characters my wife had placed in front of the MFD. They were only about 2" tall but apparently having them leaning against the screen made it go wacky. I would have never thought they would have affected it but it has been fine ever since I tossed them.

 

Are you still within your initial 36,000 mile warrenty? I am worried this is going to start happening with my 2004, and I am almost out of my warranty. I heard it happens mostly when it is very cold out, and I rarely have it parked outside in extreme cold.

 

Unhappily, it seems that I'm the newest member of this rather exclusive club. The MFD on my 2006 with 5000 miles stopped working today.

 

I'm reviving this old thread because my MFD did not wake up today. It worked fine yesterday, but today - nothing. It's like looking into a black hole. No backlight, none of the buttons will bring it back to life. No sign of life when the car starts. Handsfree phone (bluetooth) is dead too, but the stereo still works.

Going to the dealer tomorrow, it should be a warranty job. Anyone else with a dead MFD?

Update: dealer is going to discuss it with his Prius specialist, if he agrees they will order a new MFD without even seeing my car. They had another Prius with a similar problem before and had to put in a new screen in that one too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowlander @ May 8 2007, 04:38 PM) [snapback]437740[/snapback]</div>

Problem just started with 51k on my 2004 and no xtnd warranty. . talked to a lady who had the same problem and got hers replaced. that dealer said they replaced hers becuz of xtnd warranty and quoted 4k repair to me. :angry: service guy said why didn't you buy xtend warranty. I said becuz its a toyota. He said well ther is a lot of electronic equipment on those babies.

Talked to toyota. they said tough noogies.

decided to try trading in. Dealer offered 9k for my beautiful salsa red prius. nasty words

need to fix screen. Anyone really able to get a rebuilt one, get it repaired, or get toyota to cover?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(myothercarisajeep @ May 13 2007, 01:10 AM) [snapback]440912[/snapback]</div>

It sure does seem like quite a few of the screens go bad. Seems like this should be covered under a longer warranty period, kinda of like the dash lights. How are you supposed to operate most features without that screen? I guess this screen does not have the old Toyota Reliable trait.

I hate that I am going to have to buy a warranty for a brand new car because of computer parts that should be reliable by now.

 

http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?t...asc&start=0


Follow this thread - Interesting. Seems getting one replaced is a crap shoot.

 

Update: My MFD has been replaced under warranty today (standard 3-year coverage). As promised, they ordered a new one without even seeing my car and replaced it today. I've looked at the other threads, but this failure was different. It was a completely blank screen, like the OP of this thread had.

All my settings are still there, except for my phone book, it's empty. And my Windows Mobile 5 smartphone can only transfer one contact at a time, 160 contacts will take forever. Going to try to park near my PC and see if I can transfer them in one go using the PC and a bluetooth dongle.

After driving without the MFD for a week, I think I'll switch it off more often. So much more to see outside!

 

This is an old thread so I hope someone can help me. My MFD went blank in the default display (the one that shows the motor, etc.) on my 05. The AC, stereo, and other functions work but when it automatically goes back to the default, it is blank. I took it to the dealer and the mechanic said there is some weird code to shut off the screen. He started pressing the blank screen in different places. He said if you clean the display, it will hit certain buttons and it shuts off the screen. He said someone else knew what to do but he was not available. He told me to make an appointment which means I am going to have to pay. Does anyone know the mystery code?