2012 Prius v3 Bluetooth and USB Not Working Anymore

It should take 15 minutes to gain access to that connector. You will need a 10mm socket with a 6 inch extender. If the socket is magnetized, you will save yourself the trouble of fishing the bolt if it gets dropped. I taping a rare earth magnet to the extender bar works.

Step 1) Remove the panel with the Start Button, Park Button, and the shifter. This should be possible using fingers only, and a rocking motion. I have removed this panel dozens of times, and the clips are really sturdy. Re-installation is a matter of lining up the clips, and giving the panel a good whack with the palm of a hand.

Step 2) Remove the upper glovebox with the door to the lower glovebox open., This should be possible using fingers only, and a rocking motion. I have removed this glovebox dozens of times, and the clips are really sturdy. Re-installation is a matter of lining up the clips, and giving the glovebox a good whack with the palm of a hand in several places.

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Step 3) Remove the Air Vent assembly. This should be possible using fingers only, and a rocking motion. I have removed this Air Vent assembly dozens of times, and the clips are sturdy BUT NOT AS STURDY as the glovebox or shifter panel. Re-installation is a matter of lining up the clips that go into the shelf between the vent assembly and the instrument cluster. This requires more care than with the glovebox or the shifter panel. Once everything is lined up, give the vents a gentile whack with the palm of a hand.

Step 4) the 10mm bolts should now be visible. There are two bolts on each side, and there might be two more along the top. The whole MFD should be able to be pulled out at this point.​

Just FYI: You might lose HD radio with connector off. This means that you would only be able to tune to the main analog channel for that radio station. The audio quality of that radio station would be lower than HD. For example, your would only be able to tune to 103.9 but not get 103.9.2. In Philadelphia, 103.9 (also 103.9.1 HD) is WMGK, a commercial classic rock station. WMGK also provides a commercial free oldies station on 103.9.2.

This might not matter to you.

I found the expansion box on eBay for $100:
2012-2014 Toyota Camry Prius Rav4 Bluetooth Navigation Module 86100-yy050 for sale online | eBay

My 57011 is still for sale, I am thinking $100 plus actual shipping cost. Why buy the whole unit from me? I know my expansion box works with the attached 57011. Also, if your 57011 is scratched up, mine may be in nicer shape.

 

Thank you for the offer. Let me try the hack first. If it does not work, I will purchase the 57011 from you.

 

My friend, I owe you a big one. For years I battled to get my Bluetooth working. Finally today was the day, thanks to your hack. I own an iPhone 13 now and it paired without the need of the digit codes it used to ask before.
Note to all: the Apps button will not work anymore. That was the outdated satellite navigation plus the other things I never use.
Here are some pictures for the proof.

The rest of the buttons work fine. The hack does not fail. As soon as I get in my car the phone auto-pairs. The interface looks like the basic unit included with lower end Prius models. I do not mind that as long as I get to use my phone with it.
Thank you again for this great discovery. Many owners will deeply appreciate it.
And thanks to all who have worked on this problem too one way or another.

 

yes, that is correct! Sorry, I disappeared there. 3 months later and still working!

 

Did you find a solution to this? I think I'm having the same issue. When I press the Apps, Setup and Phone buttons to the right of the screen, nothing happens. It's like it's not equipped with these features but I'm pretty sure it has navigation and bluetooth as its a Three model and should have these features. Backup camera works though. The cigarette lighter port works, but the USB port doesn't. I have the 57011 unit. Does anyone have the updated software from toyota? I went to their website, popped in the VIN, and was told no updates are available.

 

Can you provide the hack? I'm having a similar issue... bluetooth, navigation not working but it has those features. I have the 57011 radio unit. Thanks.

 

The hack is to remove a cable between the head unit and its expansion box. Described in detail above. Not a software hack. You lose nav but regain bluetooth. Or buy a new box off @gromittoo or ebay.

 

Thanks, if I understand the previous posts correctly, someone

If I understand correctly, you were able to get your bluetooth working again by disconnecting the large plug on the back of the head unit and leaving it disconnected? Have you had any issues since? Thanks!

 

There are two modules in the head unit with the bottom one providing nav and advanced bluetooth. Replace or disable. The main head unit still has bluetooth.

 

Thank you, I'm going to try to disable this weekend.

 

Thank you for this guidance. I was able to get my Bluetooth working this morning. However, the USB port in the front console still isn’t working. Sounds like it might be tied to the navigation somehow? I checked the #1 and 3 fuses under the dash below the steering wheel and they looked ok. I’m assuming there’s nothing else that I can do to get the usb working again?

 

Thank you for this guidance. I was able to get my Bluetooth working this morning. However, the USB port in the front console still isn’t working. Sounds like it might be tied to the navigation somehow? I checked the #1 and 3 fuses under the dash below the steering wheel and they looked ok. I’m assuming there’s nothing else that I can do to get the usb working again?

 

Why would you need the USB? I charge my phones using an adapter on the lighter plug.

I only used the USB long time ago to upload a system update to the radio unit. Worthless and outdated update by the way.

 

Hello!

I recently disconnected the connection between the extension box and the main head unit. After doing so I am now able to select bluetooth as a media source. I still have access to HD radio btw!

However! I am attempting to connect a new phone to the prius, and bluetooth settings are not appearing in the setup page. Any ideas as to why this is, and how I can pair new BT devices to the prius?

Thanks!

 

perhaps the attached will help

 

Sadly I must the report the fix stopped working today. For many years I enjoyed recovering the BT. However, since a week ago BT would display the song title but no sound. I can even skip songs from the console and it works. I tried deleting my phone from the synched list and re-pairing it, but this would only work while the car was on. The next day I would not get any sound. I will search EBay for a used unit. Hopefully I can find a cheap one for the swap.

 

Same issue on a 2012 v Five a year ago. Replaced the extension box and regained enhanced BT, but USB still dead, unrecognized, so unable to update to final Entune software version. Life goes on without USB…