2002 NAV System Problems

I have a 2005, so different cars, but the nature of DVDs is they don't stop working unless scratched. Since the NAV was working before, it's highly doubtful that the DVD is the problem. If your original DVD was rev 4.1 or below, you may be elligible for a free update to 4.2. Ask before you hand them the money.

It sounds more like a loose connection between the NAV head and DVD, or the NAV is just shot. Before you buy a new one, you might want to check around for a "recycled" one from a wrecked 2002-2003. It's unlikely that the NAV would get damaged.

And welcome to PriusChat!

 

Stamped disks do not stop working, but "burned" disks can and do because of degradation of the dye layer.. RW disks typically use a phase-change material vs. burning of a dye, so they have a longer rated lifespan than write-once disks.. I don't know about the Toyota drive mechanism because I don't have an OEM nav, but many in-car CD mechanisms are notorious for scratching disks, which is why it's recommended that you never play original disks in your car system, only backup copies.

On the other hand the simplest explanation for optical drive failure is usually a dirty lens in the optical pickup.. The nav is in an environment where dust is quite common, and a small amount of dust on the lens can cause the drive to mis-detect the disk.. A good lens cleaning would likely fix your problem.. The second most common failure in optical drives is a mechanical failure, this is quite often triggered by a dirty lens as the drive will usually try to find the disk by repeatedly seeking and bumping up against the limiters and sometimes, this can cause it to break one of those plastic gears or jam..

 

Dirty lens makes sense.

My mom's Plextor CD-writer went on the fritz once. Head cleaner disc didn't help. Since it was out of warranty and therefore would otherwise be chucked, I decided to open it up and clean the lens with a q-tip and alcohol. Normally you should never touch the lens with a q-tip but as I said, it was useless anyway.
Well, that worked! Seems some grease from the spindle ended up on the lens, so the cleaning CD only smeared the grease.

So you might want to open up the NAV ECU and GENTLY clean the lens with a q-tip (don't use the cheap stuff, not enough cotton, as my ears can tell you) and isopropyl alcohol. Make sure the alcohol has no other ingredients other than water.

 

The free DVD upgrade only applies to the 2004-05 models, not the Classic. The DVDs for the new system don't work on the old one (I've tried it). The current version for the Classic is 04.1 (not the same 04.1 as for the '04-05), unless a version 05.1 upgrade has been released. No version 04.2 exists for the Classic.

 

Hi mlanier,

My girlfriend's 2002 prius has this very same issue, but her Toyota rep simply wants to charge her $4000+ :angry: . We are currently arguing with them about it since, of course, her 3-year warrantly just ran out. I am curious how you managed to get it working (if you even have yet)?

 

Just FYI, we took my girlfreind's car to a different dealership and they said it would cost only $1700 to repair. Still high, but these wildly differing prices are mighty suspicious. We're reporting the first dealership to the BBB.

The second dealership, by the way, said that water had gotten into the computer. :huh:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mlanier @ Nov 5 2005, 09:53 AM) [snapback]151059[/snapback]</div>

Hi

I just bought a used Prius 2002 with the navigator system. My display also says that error reading DVD, so I took it to the Dealer as instructed in the manual thinking that there is a problem with the DVD. They told me that I needed an ENTIRE NEW SYSTEM at a cost of $4900 - now that is a rip off or Toyota's answer to a problem that cannot be fixed -- make the price so outrageous that nobody in their right mind would go and order this (BTW, they didn't even mention the warranty on such an replacement item). Also, the car was by the previous owner "PreOwned Certified" but that warranty did not extend to me NOR INCLUDED THE GPS
Well afte I left the Dealer I hit a button and surprisingly the GPS system was working (old map system though- older than 2002) so I decided to take it back to the dealer to have the new DVD installed ($250 plus $49 for installation). While I waited the mechanic came up and said that the new DVD received a really bad scratch and the cannot update my GPS - also, that somehow I must have a bad system because now it is not working again! THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!

ANY IDEAS?!

 

I had the cannot read data error. I was ready to accept not having the Nav system anymore because I wasn't going to pay so much for one. I had tried some things, but I will go to the last step that seemed to make it start working again. With the key off I held the menu button in, put the key in accessory, and it started reading the data. In a short time the system was fully functional. I have since used it for a couple of trips, for a total of over 2,000 miles.​

If that doesn't work, perhaps another step is needed first. Before getting it to work as described above, I had tried unplugging all the wires to the drive under the driver's seat. I waited a bit and plugged them back in. That message changed from cannot read data to something like "cannot read program" and something under it in Japanese or Chinese or something.​

If someone has the problem and this procedure works, perhaps you can report whether it works without unplugging all the wires. I hope this helps. It is a lot cheaper and easier than replacing the drive.​

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