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stereo/bluetooth pooped out- 2012 V

Discussion in 'Prius v Audio and Electronics' started by jbsf, Dec 5, 2018.

  1. jbsf

    jbsf Junior Member

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    2012 Prius v wagon
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    Three
    Hi all-
    New here, joined in hopes of getting feedback on this problem. We have a 2012 V (i think a 3 level trim). A few months ago, the MultiFunction Display (MFD- the touchscreen/radio/cd player part of the stereo) started intermittently acting wonky: stereo would not turn on, or would but not all the modes worked, Bluetooth went in and out, apps not working. The problem got worse and worse to the point we paid $125 to have the mechanic look at it. I'm attaching their diagnosis here: basically we were told we could by a new unit from Toyota for $4000 (!!!), a refurbished unit from the dealer for $1100 (still !!!) and pay $250 in labor to install it. The refurbished unit has no guarantee it wont have the same problem, and only 90 day warranty.

    I found a replacement unit for $50 on ebay (same exact model number, manufacture date only a month later than the original I pulled- pic attached) and a YouTube video explaining how to remove the unit (surprisingly easy to do), but the problem remains:
    - intermittent bluetooth (seems better in the mornings for some reason)
    - no apps (maps, etc)
    - intermittent stereo functions

    What i realized when i pulled the original unit is there is this Harman extension box (pic attached) under the stereo that has something to do with the Bluetooth and Nav functions. I'm tempted to get one of these on eBay as well and see if that helps.

    Anyone here have any experience/advice with replacing this unit?

    My questions:
    - does it matter if the replacement i get from eBay is from a Prius or can it be from another model?
    i found one on ebay for $114, which looks the same as the one i pulled from our car, minus the 'Cofetel' code on the label
    - what about the software update the dealer wasnt able to complete? Is that something that can be done once i replace the unit?
    - anyone know how to get to the diagnostic mode without any special equipment?
    - in the meantime, is there any way to make call or listen to music using the USB port w an iPhone? Can't get that to work.

    Our dealer said more and more they are seeing this gen3 model come in with defective MFDs - sad that Toyota is not being reliable in this was for a car that is only 6 years old. We love our car but we really like having the bluetooth to make calls and listen to music- the maps etc arent really needed. And we dont have XM so we dont care about that.

    Thanks in advance!!!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    It would seem your original head unit is ok so I would certainly move to the ext box and importantly, I would check some basics like the system’s power and ground, often a culprit in intermittent issues. What you did not say is what works? Camera, steering wheel controls, settings?

    If you find the problem I would reinstall the original head unit and probably get my maps back.

    See the attached. One shows how to get to their basic diagnostics in the radio. These are from Toyota’s tech information system, which is often far better than youtube. You can subscribe for a weekend and probably find more specifics. Note - these file names are mine, not theirs.
     
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  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Reading your diagnostic report, a key item was the antenna failure. There is an amplifier in the base of the antenna which is fed power by the radio. The antenna base provides am, fm, and xm along with mayday cellular if equipped. And its a known failure point, mine also went out, however I just lost XM intermittently. Yours could be impacting head unit power as well. Not a cheap fix but one I would do. Just happen to have a procedure:
     

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  4. jbsf

    jbsf Junior Member

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    thank you rjparker! i installed the ext box from eBay and it worked- so i reinstalled the original head unit that came with the car, and now bluetooth/backup camera/stereo/cd and steering wheel controls all work! I returned the ebay head unit so im just out $144 for the ext box plus the $125 for the mechanic's questionably useful diagnosis. (Plus multiple hours of course... :) Anyway, much better than the $1500 i was looking at to put in a head unit that wasnt even going to fix the problem. I'm going to tell the mechanic about this so they dont steer future customers to replacing the head unit when that wasnt the issue at all.
    One thing that isnt working tho is the GPS. It shows me being in New Jersey! (I'm in california). Any ideas about that would be appreciated.
     

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  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Not sure about the GPS. I know the GPS has a separate antenna from the unit to someone under the dash. My guess is that location is the last it had? Or maybe the system has to be reinitialized in some way. Have you tried putting in an address and seeing if it will try to navigate?
     
  6. Marcus A Jamin

    Marcus A Jamin New Member

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    I think I have the exact same problem with my 2012 Prius v. I was able to track down the part on ebay. The only thing I can't find is the software download for the usb stick. I can't find it anywhere online. all the Toyota sites which offer downloads ask for the model and year but once I input the info it says that no download is available. In the installation instructions you posted it calls for the usb stick with software. Can you install the new extension box without the software or is it essential. If so any ideas on how to track down the software?
     
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    If you get a known working unit it won't need a software download to function. Assuming your trim is three like the OP and you are replacing like for like. Trim two had no nav, trim five used a different nav.

    Its always useful to add the trim to your profile so people have a chance to give you info from that model. Otherwise you can end up with advice that worked for them but may not with your trim. You should also list the mfd printed number on the front of the unit. Trim three was 57011.

    As far as an option to update the existing Entune software, Toyota did provide several usb updates. Some of those are floating around as images. However the last one bricked mfds on a regular basis. In general it is not important since Entune online functions depended on a Toyota server that has been discontinued.

    If you do have trim three with Nav, Toyota can update the maps for around $350. This separate map update is locked down pretty tight and as a result it has not been replicated for free. Some have reported trim 5 nav updates on ebay. Finally, realize many ebay sellers do not always identify the right parts per model so you have to do your own verifications.

    BAA9FD1A-402B-4FB7-982B-1837FD0D6F20.jpeg
     
  8. Marcus A Jamin

    Marcus A Jamin New Member

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    So I believe the trim is 2, the mfd is 57015. All I'm really interested in is getting the Bluetooth working for both phone calls and music. I don't use the navigation system at all. The backup camera and radio still work and the other functions stop working during the summer months when it gets super hot.
     
  9. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Trim 5 (without ATP) also came with the 57011…
     
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Now that we are on the same planet, you do have a different unit. My guess is 57015 is very similar to my v3's 57011 but with a few Canadian universal healthcare bits thrown in. So I am passing you off to another practitioner.

    Remember, google is your friend and you could have found this as easily as I did. But even google needs part numbers and she is not a mind reader. At least not yet.

    Compatibility of Extension Module versions (86100-YY050) | PriusChat
     
    #10 rjparker, Sep 4, 2021
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2021
  11. Marcus A Jamin

    Marcus A Jamin New Member

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    Thanks so much for all your help! This is has been very helpful. This is my first car let alone my first Prius so it's all quite new to me and I appreciate the help.
     
  12. gromittoo

    gromittoo Active Member

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    I wish I got into this thread earlier. I have a lot of experience with this unit, and could have saved you the Diagnosis fee..

    I am assuming you have the 57011 unit as shown in your photo. The expansion box is where GPS functionality is located. Your new Expansion box was last connected to a working GPS antenna while the box is in New Jersey. For some reason, the new expansion box is not seeing any GPS satellites, so it still thinks it is in New Jersey.

    Several possible things that can cause this:
    1) The OEM GPS antenna mounted under the dash on the firewall is not plugged in all the way into the new Expansion Box

    2) You have the XM and GPS cables swapped.

    3) You have not driven long enough for the expansion box to realize that it is not in New Jersey anymore. It takes at a minimum one 90 degree turn and a thousand feet of driving for the maps to ignore the "Dead Reckoning" location, and start using the location provided by GPS satellites.

    4) The OEM GPS antenna mounted under the dash on the firewall is toast (not likely).​

    Cause 1: This is easy to do, as the connector can seem like it is plugged in all the way, but it is not.

    Cause 2: This is also easy to do, as the connectors for both antennas are the same (but different colors). If you tune to channel XM 75 (the always enabled barker channel that is telling you how to enable XM), and you get "No Satellite Signal", try swapping the two antennas.

    Cause 3: It is easy to condemn the unit when you fire it up in your driveway, and it is showing a very wrong location.
    Car GPS's have an advantage over handheld GPS's or phones: A car GPS is bolted to a car, and is fed signals about how fast the car is traveling, and when turns are made. This allows the car GPS to function when it loses signal to any GPS satellites. If you are in a City with tall buildings, a Car GPS will not see any satellites, but still function. This is called "Dead Reckoning", which is how ships navigated before accurate clocks were invented in the mid 1800s. In a city with tall buildings, your phone will jump all over the place. These boxes tend to ignore new satellite signals that are significantly different than the ones they last saw.

    Driving combined with turning will convince the box to use the new GPS signal.
    Cause 4: A dead GPS antenna is an easy fix. For less than $20, you can buy an aftermarket magnetic mount GPS antenna. You simply need the right connector (which will require shaving off some plastic locking tabs) and magnetically mount it on top of your 57011 unit (GPS signals will go through your plastic dashboard just fine). The link below shows the one I bought for my 57011. If the link does not show below, the Amazon ID is B08DFS71QF

    FINALLY:
    There is a secret diagnostic screen that allows you to reset various parts of the Harmon expansion box. You might have been able to revive the old expansion box using this menu, but now you have a working box now. Save the broken box, for when your new box fails.

    I had my 57011 unit showing that it could not see any GPS satellites. I assumed I fried the antenna somehow when I removed the 57011 unit to get to something else. I bought another aftermarket antenna, which still did not work. The maps were still updating due to "Dead Reckoning" but after a week of Uber driving, the location was more than 10 miles off! I found out about the diagnostic screen, and I was able to reset the GPS calibration of the expansion box (the very last entry in the menu). This fixed the GPS satellite data problem, and My GPS worked again!

    I wrote detailed Instructions on how to get to the hidden diagnostic menu for the expansion box used on 570xx units, that included pictures. I wrote it sometime in late August 2021, but I can't seem to locate it. Post back here if you want to try it, and I will look again when I have more time.
     
    #12 gromittoo, Sep 9, 2021
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2021
  13. gromittoo

    gromittoo Active Member

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    I found the photos that I took for how to access that screen. They are pretty self explanatory if you follow them in numerical order:

    Press the "Setup" physical button on the 57011 unit, then select the "General" button on the screen I have shown circled in red.
    01-SettingsMenu.jpg

    Select the Page Down button I have shown circled in red.
    02-GeneralSettings.jpg

    Select the "Volume Settings" button I have shown circled in red.
    03-GeneralSettingsPGDN.jpg

    Select the "Navigation Prompt Volume" button I have shown circled in red.
    04-VolumeSettings.jpg

    Select the hidden buttons button I have shown circled in red.
    "top" then "bottom" (repeat 4 times)*
    05-NavigationPromptVolume.jpg

    Select the "General" button I have shown circled in red.
    06-HidDiagTopMenu.jpg

    Select the "Down" button I have shown circled in red.
    07-HidDiagGeneral.jpg

    Select the "Reset Nav Calibration only" button I have shown circled in red.
    08-HidDiagGeneralPGDN.jpg

    the 57011 unit will reboot, and hopefully will work! You still have to drive through a 90 degree turn and 1000 feet for the map to show the correct position after reset.

    Note that the menu in picture #6 has a button "Navigation Info" in the upper right corner. That page will give you all sorts of information about which GPS satellites are seen at the moment. If that screen shows no satellites after a reboot, try a new GPS antenna.

    * I might have the top / bottom backwards. try it the other way.
     
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  14. Sand Hurst

    Sand Hurst Junior Member

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    My 57015 also have this problem. It defaults back to last searched country,state, city and postal code/Zip. Just feed new ZIP or postal code and it will search that area.
     
  15. prevee5

    prevee5 Member

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    Has anyone replaced their GPS antenna with aftermarket?
    Using the above troubleshooting steps, my system does not show any satellites.
    I heard this may be a GPS antenna failure. OEM is $300 or so. Aftermarket around $10.
    If anyone has done the swap, which one did you choose and what’s the procedure?
    I figure it’s worth a shot….or keep using my cellphone. Loses signal in the mountains though.
     
  16. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The aftermarket approach requires a special connector to fit the generic gps antenna cable to mfd unless you are willing to try micro shielded cable splicing.

    @gromittoo may or may not have crossed this bridge when he installed a different mfd in his v