Radio Knob $4 fix

Well when I bought the car in Feb, the radio's volume knob was missing.



I looked online and found an OEM part website that sells the part for around $0.96USD. There were 4 parts that all looked the same with different product numbers. So for such a low price, I ordered one of each. When they arrived, they all looked the same.

So for the fix you need:

x1 #6-32 nut
x2 #4-40 nut
x1 #4-40 screw (flat bottom, about 3/4" long)
x1 replacement knob
and a bit of glue

You can get the screws and washer from Home Depot in their $0.98USD/bag hanging hardware garden. The bags I showed came with nuts and screws. I bought them because I didnt know what diameter would fit the prius. The #4-40 fits inside the shaft and doesnt grip anything when in there. The #6-32 actually screws into the shaft. Would be perfect if there was a way to hold the shaft still while rotating in the screw. But there isnt, so we move on.



Then assemble the nuts on the screw. So wedge the #6 screw between the 2 #4 screws. This is just to keep it in place. If you are good with glue then no need. But doing it this way, if you tighten it it keeps it perfectly perpendicular. It's hip to be square.

When your little assembly is together, put the head of the screw into the knob hole so that the #6 nut is flush with the bottom of the replacement knob. It should fit snugly. Not tight, but not loose.




Super glue, epoxy, bubblegum, whatever that sucker together. It doesn't take much. The force you apply will be rotational so try and get it all the way around. Also try to lock the nuts together. If you are working with something slow setting, getting it on the threads when you put the nuts on would be a good idea but totally overkill for a volume knob...

Then put some more glue on the screw shaft (a liberal amount, thicker is better but doesnt have to be) and stick it into the broken radio knob hole on the poor Prius. Keep it still for a bit and make sure you only glue the screw to the inside part of the shaft of the donor hole. Otherwise it will not spin.







So with a few US dollars worth of parts, and less than 5 minutes of time, my broken Prius radio knob is fixed and I defy anyone to spot it as a fake that didnt know. I see a lot of posts about the "$700 radio knob" because Toyota can't fix it, they just replace it. Well hopefully you mild DIYers can save a bunch of moola to get your car back to stock.:rockon:

 

I can just put one in a bubble mailer and send it your way. PM me your address.

 

The knob is in the mail for ya. It was a couple bucks, so don't worry about it.

 

Wow that was fast. Basically overnight for less than $2... Makes you wonder why USPS even bothers charging for express or priority service.

Let us know how yours turns out, or if it is different in some way.

 

Image links are fixed.

 

You can get used full radios for $300 to $800, the new one costs $1500-ish. Our Lexus radio costs $4,500 and was replaced under warranty because someone (my sister) stuck garbage in the cassette player because she didn't know what it was lol.

Looking back at my emails I find where I got the knobs: toyotapartszone.com



Shipped QtyUnit PriceExt Price
90010-24115 KNOB
[PRIUS | 2006 | USA] 1 0.94 0.94

90010-24116 KNOB
[PRIUS | 2006 | USA] 1 0.94 0.94

90010-24121 KNOB
[PRIUS | 2006 | USA] 1 0.94 0.94



They all looked exactly the same, but did come with different numbers and packaged individually. Maybe there is a difference, but I have no idea what it could be.

 

It is pretty easy, give it a go!

I am the opposite in that I get irritated when it is in video form. I want to be able to see all steps at once and go at my speed. Perhaps you can video your experience and post it to Youtube for those that prefer video. The more information out there, the better.

 

And as an update, almost 3 and a half years later it is still working perfectly fine, and nobody knows any different.