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2005 Prius JBL Radio No Sound - Solution

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Nazbuster, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. Nazbuster

    Nazbuster Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2013
    6
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I've had a difficult time trying to find why my radio suddenly stopped putting out sound. I now have a partial solution.

    Initially, the radio would show all controls working properly: volume indicator, station indicator, stereo detection, and the radio would properly scan for stations. Based on this behavior, I thought the radio was working properly so it must have been a faulty amplifier. I purchased an amp from an auto salvage place and installed it. No change.

    I then took the car to a guy who works on Prius who tried installing a replacement MFD (Multi Function Display) in case that was the source of the problem. No change. Still no sound.

    Keep in mind that the speakers work fine for bluetooth and the guidance system. Only the radio output is missing.

    Since there was only one component left, I ordered a replacement radio from an auto salvage place and installed it. Still no sound!

    At this point, I had replaced all three major components with no improvements, so I took the car to an auto stereo shop that also did diagnostics. They checked every component out and said they were all working and had no shorts. Then the technician had the idea that maybe the radio was on "mute", a state needed to allow the other audio features to temporarily suppress the radio while they made their announcements. He checked the wiring diagram and found the mute wire and sure enough, it was constantly on!

    Our solution, one that's not very elegant but works, was to snip the mute wire and install a toggle switch under the dash. Now I can interrupt the mute signal manually.

    What I discovered with this new arrangement is that my iPhone Google Maps app works fine over the car speakers. It suppresses the radio somehow when it's time to make an announcement and when the bluetooth signal quiets, the radio resumes. The car guidance, however, now announces right over the radio audio unless I allow the mute line to function by switching the toggle.

    So there is some circuitry that is supposed to moderate the mute line that has allowed the line to stay on constantly. We tried disconnecting the battery for a period of time to see if it would reset, but it didn't.

    Snipping the line did the trick!

    P.S. Anyone want to buy a JBL amp and radio combo? <g>
     
  2. cgates30

    cgates30 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2006
    87
    9
    0
    I'm having the same/similar problem. My car is an '06 without Nav and I don't have a bluetooth phone :oops: to test it. All I know is the display indicates stations are tuned in and turn it off/on, but I can't hear anything!
     
  3. blackavenger

    blackavenger Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2016
    28
    3
    0
    Location:
    Bland Strand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Ughh, I just bought an '07 (Base), drove it off the lot, radio was working...it was REALLY LOUD in fact. So loud, I quickly turned it all the way down. When I got home I was sitting in the driveway messin' with stuff/reading the drivers manual. I tried to turn the radio on.......no dice! It exhibits the same issues as yours cgates! Did you ever end up finding a solution?!? All fuses and connections (amp) are intact.

    *Edit - Resolved my issue.......it was the JBL amp. Replaced it and sound (volume) returned.
     
    #3 blackavenger, Jan 13, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2016
  4. tnt0225

    tnt0225 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2017
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I have a 2008 with the same problem