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Display Failure and Toyota dis

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ChubbCo, Sep 22, 2006.

  1. ChubbCo

    ChubbCo New Member

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    Twentty minutes after picking up my 05 Prius from a 20,000 mile service, the display went all flaky on me. And the buttons are, for the most part, non-functioning.

    Intermittent screens with incomplete information. No radio, no climate control, no map, no navigation input possible.

    Error messages about disconnected a/c cables, about "external system is not connected."

    The Bluetooth grabs my phone signal and the screen dispalys "Call In Progress" correctly but there's no sound, so that's useless.

    Service guy seemed clueless, said it was happening a lot lately, had to have me come back so he could get some numbers and order a new display. "Couple of weeks," he said.

    That's a long time to go without some pretty essential services (like an air vent).

    Toyota Customer Relations was at first ignorant, and then dismissive, of the problem. Maybe I have to do without some "perks" (as the guy called it), but hey Toyota doesn't much care. I suggested the new problem was not so much in the display as in this customer's dissatisfaction but got no love there.

    I saw the note that suggested pushing some buttons would clear it up (as though the problem were a stuck button) but no button-pushing has restored my screen to life.

    Anyone else have this experience?

    Cotty Chubb / Los Angeles
     
    #1 ChubbCo, Sep 22, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Very common problem, yes you'll need to go w/o the MFD for a bit, but you'll survive. It isn't essential to the car's safe operation....guess you're not getting much love here either.

    The only thing, it might be worth asking them to check for loose connections, occasionally that's part or the whole cause.
     
    #2 efusco, Sep 22, 2006
  3. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

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    This does happen with the Prius, and if the service guy has ordered parts it should be fixed in a few weeks.

    That doesn't excuse the way toyota is treating you tho. And given the (somewhat poorly thoughtout) UI design of the Toyota, you could say that you can't operate the vehicle like a normal vehicle without the MFD. If the balk, ask them how they'd change the airflow from the dashboard vents to the floor vents without the MFD, then ask for a loaner. If they give you a loaner, I'd suspect your car will be fixed quicker (as they're losing money that way).
     
    #3 Jonnycat26, Sep 22, 2006
  4. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    there's a certain amount of time it takes to speical order the part that cannot be helped. it's noone's fault, the refubished displays have to be special ordered from the manufacturer and that's about how long it takes.

    loaner or no loaner, the car will be fixed when the parts come in.
     
    #4 galaxee, Sep 22, 2006
  5. ChubbCo

    ChubbCo New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Sep 22 2006, 02:25 PM) [snapback]323517[/snapback]</div>

    If this is a "very common problem," then Toyota should have the MFDs a little more handy than special order. And if it's a very common problem, it's a design flaw, and they should take responsibility.

    I guess being able to make sure there's ventilation in the car is a "perk," as that knucklehead dismissively called it, but to the degree that I can't use the hands-free Bluetooth phone connection , I either am driving dangerously or losing money, unable to transact my business. Not a great choice. Thanks, Toyota!


    Had the car less than a year and had the air conditioner compressor totally fail (another special order) and now this. Not the quality control I might have wished for.

    I love the car WHEN IT WORKS. Not what Toyota wants me to be telling people when they ask about the Prius experience.
     
    #5 ChubbCo, Sep 22, 2006
  6. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Sounds like you should be shopping for another dealer. Maybe they'll have a better service department.
     
    #6 aaf709, Sep 22, 2006
  7. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChubbCo @ Sep 22 2006, 08:58 PM) [snapback]323686[/snapback]</div>
    well, if you call 2-3 cases a year at a very high volume dealership "very common" then yes, it's "very common." and... they're fixing it... for free... because you're under warranty. that's taking responsibility.

    fact is, they have to be refurbished by the manufacturer and when needed they have to be special ordered. that's just the way it works.

    and actually, the TSB covers the 04 prius, where the failure is known but not necessarily very common. the 05 isn't included because there was an improvement in the design. since you're still under warranty you should be getting a brand new part anyway, which shouldn't take more than a couple business days. the failure is not at toyota but at your dealership, who seems to be trying to order a refurb for you.
     
    #7 galaxee, Sep 22, 2006
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The 05 isn't included?? But my 05 had an MFD failure already. I haven't changed it cause it somehow fixed itself when I fiddled with the controls behind the radio.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Sep 22, 2006
  9. nwprius

    nwprius Member

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    If this is common at their dealership ---- are they causing it in their servicing??? I talked to a couple friends at other dealerships and they have not had any such happenings at their places. Actually, other than oil filter changes I never have any of the services done and I do not have any problems. On my Lexus and Subaru the service departments each stated I had water leaks, yet my garage floor showed nothing. A friend took his Subaru in to the same dealer and had the same report. They said "No Sweat, you are still covered by warranty . I drove both cars many thousands of miles more with no loss of water. Warranty work???
     
    #9 nwprius, Sep 22, 2006
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