How to access the driver side dash speaker

I would remove the head unit and check the speaker wires with a meter. While a diy could do this, a car radio shop could probably finish it in an hour or less of labor. If desired, take the attached to a handy person or audio shop to test with a digital voltmeter in ohms mode. Getting to the dash speakers is probably a bit much. Usually Toyota connectors don't come off easily so it's just as likely the head unit is bad or the speaker has an open coil.

These and other factory procedures are available online at Toyota TIS for about $15. By the way, the head unit, if proven to be at fault, is easily available on ebay for a reasonable cost.

Details: The removal of the head unit can be found on youtube. The speaker test procedure can be simplified to the speaker that is a problem and you can check the wiring pins at the head unit harness for 3.2 - 6.6 ohms to the speaker. LH means drivers side and SOS means built-in cell phone for emergency call out, which is on the RH side anyway, if installed.

 

The v3 has navigation built in the head unit. The v5 had an external nav with a hard disk and higher resolution., I have included three more pdfs which is all I have on the subject. By far the easiest way is to check from the rear of the head unit. For other factory pdfs, go to the Toyota TIS system and you can access all service manuals. I just checked and their low cost version now provides 2 day access for $20. During that time you can download any section you want. While you are online you can jump to subsections that detail steps needed to get to the end result. Download those as well. Sometimes paying an experienced audio tech $50 is well worth it as they usually already know how to access and do the testing.

 

I'll post up some instructions in a day or so. The Prius interior is like a puzzle due to overlapping pieces. One thing for sure is that you WILL have to remove the A-pillar and there is a tricky plastic rivet that you have to turn 90 degrees to get the pillar off.

Get yourself a set of interior trim tools like THIS. Don't get the metal kind as you will gouge the mess out of your trim pieces. These plastic tools are softer than your interior trim so the tool will scratch before your interior does.

Watch THIS and see what I mean about pieces coming out in order.

I'll post up what you need to do at some point this weekend.

 

This video may be similar to what is needed on the v. Note that there is an air bag under the A pillar.

 

I was going to post that one too. It briefly shows you how to get past that pesky A-pillar push pin. There are subtle differences between the Prius shown in the video and the V. On the right side you have to pull both the upper and lower glove boxes out, then there is a screw holding the vent piece in and once removed the vent pulls straight out. The A-pillar can then be pried off starting from the top (just like in the video). I know this isn't the side that the OP wanted but I wanted to just put that out there.

One word of caution about that A-pillar. The moment you pry from the top and you feel it pop loose stop prying! It is made to pop loose but only for about 2 inches or so then you must rotate the retainer clip to get the cover to fully engage. That video does a decent job of showing that step.

I'll go through the steps on my V this afternoon of getting to the dash speaker on the drivers side and post my steps.

 

Okay so the drivers side dash speaker is really simple. It can be done without pulling any additional dash parts but it will make it a little harder to get the A-pillar cover back in place. So here is how you do it.

Same as the video above pretty much. Pry on the top of the A-pillar cover and stop pulling once it gives way. It will pop out 2 inches or so. Take long handled needle nose pliers and rotate that funny looking clip 90 degrees so that it is now horizontal. Now that top clip can pass through the hole in the cover. Only thing left is one clip that is halfway down the A-pillar. Keep pulling the cover away from the pillar till it disengages. Once that is done now you just shimmy the entire cover upwards till it disconnects from the dash. Set cover aside. This exposes a pry point on the left side of the speaker grill gently pry up on that and work your way around. It will be semi-connected to the vent trim piece next to the small window. Go slow and you will be able to remove the grill.

Use a 10mm socket to take out the speaker itself if needed.

Just reverse everything to it all back to normal. Be sure to turn that clip back where it was because you don't want to get smacked in the face if that pillar airbag goes off in an accident. Also, be sure to tuck the cover under the rubber lip lining the door opening.

Hope that helps.

 

No need to take off the pillar panel. Just take a pointed pick small enough to insert it into the cover hole towards you. Careful not to scratch the cover panel. Lift up to take off the cover then slide the cover towards you. the far end is anchored below a piece of plastic.