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Sat/radio didn't work after wash

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by tinaprius, Jan 7, 2011.

  1. tinaprius

    tinaprius New Member

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    Took my car to one of those no-touch car washes and after I pulled out the sat radio would come in and out but would not come in clear. I switched to FM and it was full of static. I parked the car in our garage and about 30 minutes later I checked it again and it was working. Any ideas?
     
    #1 tinaprius, Jan 7, 2011
  2. PaJa

    PaJa Senior member

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    Water went somewhere.
     
    #2 PaJa, Jan 8, 2011
  3. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    I have an idea. Don't do that again. Apparently some water got in where it wasn't supposed to go and then dried or dripped out. Frankly, if it were my car I would probably worry that this might happen again and again and more often as it aged and I would try to track it down and have it fixed, but the easiest solution is to avoid high pressure washes and if you do go in them, resign your self to bad (or should I say badder) radio for a short time.

    You could mention it to the dealer every time you bring it in. Maybe someone else in the Toyota hierarchy has figured something like this out and they might post it on their computer system. Not likely, but possible.
     
    #3 Joe166, Jan 8, 2011
  4. HanSolo

    HanSolo Junior Member

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    This just happened to me. I removed the antenna before the automatic wash and screwed it back in after. Now the xm radio is in and out or silent. I'm going to clean the antenna hole then see.
     
    #4 HanSolo, Jan 24, 2011
  5. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    I have a JBL system with Sat radio, no Nav. Have been through these touchfree wash stalls several times......never had this problem.
     
    #5 Troyroy, Jan 24, 2011
  6. HanSolo

    HanSolo Junior Member

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    Problem went away. I dried off screw in antenna connection but it didn't seem wet. Weird. Thanks for the thread.
     
    #6 HanSolo, Jan 25, 2011
  7. Pri4Us

    Pri4Us Junior Member

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    III
    Just a thin film of soapy conductive moisture could short out the antenna terminal. At commercial car washes it's common for attendants to temporarily remove the antenna so their roller brushes don't tear it off. Unfortunately, their actions may leave the open antenna receptacle full of soapy/waxy water.

    There are a couple of easy solutions to this potential problem.

    (1) Unscrew and remove the rubber ducky portion of the antenna yourself and insert a tight-fitting plastic/rubber plug or a short nonconductive screw with an identical thread pattern before going to your local car wash.

    (2) If your antenna does short out due to trapped moisture you can remove any residual soapy water or contaminating residue at the bottom of the receptacle with a Q-Tip. Then blow dry the receptacle thoroughly with pressurized (canned) air before rethreading the antenna.
     
    #7 Pri4Us, Jan 25, 2011
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