need a way to defeat MP3 MFD blanking

There have been a few discussions on this already. It really irks the &@!! out of me that we don't even have an override like the 05s, but it is being addressed.

Hopefully an override will come soon. If not, I will be doing an electrical fix.

 

It should be very simple, and I think its been suggested before: before they discovered the hack for the 2004/2005, they simply cut the SPEED SENSOR wire to the MFD, and installed a switch in it. Do you have NAV, or not? For my package #3, no NAV, its pin #20 of the M13A connector, which is supposed to be a violet wire. You should be able to see the wire in the pictures I posted for the backup camera mod I did, its only one wire away from the one I cut.

 

What I do until the fix found is to name the directory the album name and then I name the song
01 song name
02 song name
etc...

That way you know the album and with the numbers first they will play in the right order. So when you show the audio screen you have at least most of the song info.

 

I encountered the same "issue" just a few days ago and was wondering why I could not see or select a new file. I hope there is some sofware hack for this.

You can manually change the radio station while you drive, why can't we select a CD track?

 

Here's the picture I was talking about. You can see the violet wire, right next to the pink one I cut for the backup camera mod:
Back of MFD M13
All you should have to do is cut it, and put a switch inline. I want to change my switch from a pushbutton to a toggle switch anyway, so maybe I'll do this mod while I'm at it, and let you know how it turns out.

 

Ok, I went ahead and did this today. I changed the pushbutton switch (that I had installed to activate the backup camera) to a DPDT Center-OFF type switch, so the one switch will do both functions. Here's the purple wire you need to cut, a little out of focus in the foreground:
Purple wire on pin #21 of M13
Here it is after I spliced the switch in, and shrinkwrapped it:
Spliced
This is a VERY EASY mod, and worked perfectly. I was able to access all the audio menus when the car was in motion. Just cut the violet wire and splice in a switch to interupt the speed sensor input to the MFD. Using the new switch, DOWN is NORMAL function (stock), the CENTER position overrides the SPEED SENSOR, and the UP position activates the BACKUP CAMERA/video input. This same mod, but done to the PURPLE/VIOLET wire to the NAV, would allow NAV input while driving a 2006.

 

Wow, are you saying you have defeated the navigation lockout? I am sure most of us with 06 are interested in more details.

 

From reading other posts on the subject, I recall that the speed signal is required to see the wheels spinning on the engery screen and see mileage bars (not regen) on the consumption screen. Also, with NAV, the car icon does not track as smoothly without the speed sensor. I believe that is why the switch is preferred over just cutting the wire. Again, this is not first hand experience - just late night reading.

Although, you could always just cut it and see if those things are an issue for you. If they are, then you can add a switch or splice the wire back together.

 

Most of the panels pop right off. There's 2 screws that hold the panel under the steering wheel on, and the 2 10mm bolts that hold the actual MFD down. Very simple job, and its all covered in Chris Dragon's stereo install:
Chris Dragon's Stereo Install
I covered the backup switch mod here:
Backup Switch Mod
On a NAV-equiped car, it should be just as easy to defeat the speed sensor input. The wire is also VIOLET, but connects to pin #4 of connector N3. I don't have NAV, otherwise I'd give it a shot. But, from the wiring diagram it doesn't look like there's any other violet wires on the NAV, especially not on that 24-pin N3. Pin #4 is the 4th pin from the left, top row.
Evidently, the 2004 NAV ECU is slightly different, but these directions should still mostly apply:
2004 NAV Hack
As an alternative, if one would trace the wire back to where it leaves the "Combination Meter", and intercept the violet wire there, it would disable BOTH the MFD Audio and the NAV at the same time.

 

I'm a little skidish too about disabling other features (the Nav) on my new 2006. It's just a week old.

 

So, any new information on this?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kinged @ Apr 13 2006, 06:12 PM) [snapback]239427[/snapback]</div>

So, what more information would you like? I installed the mod in my car, it worked, and I gave the easy instructions above. :huh: If you interupt the violet wire, the MFD thinks you've stopped moving, and gives you access to all the MP3 functions. Period.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(keydiver @ Apr 13 2006, 10:01 PM) [snapback]239538[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the reply.

How about the access to phone numbers and dialing? I know you don't have the navigation system, but anyone know about the ability to enter address while moving?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kinged @ Apr 14 2006, 06:52 AM) [snapback]239639[/snapback]</div>

Ok to make it simple. If you do the mod the speed sensor is at your control. Without it the car thinks it's not moving. Anything that wasn't available when driving before will be if the mod is done correctly because it thinks your car is stopped.
The end. :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(energyhog @ Apr 14 2006, 07:24 AM) [snapback]239643[/snapback]</div>

I am very tempted to do this. But I am very scared of damaging my prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kinged @ Apr 14 2006, 10:17 PM) [snapback]239981[/snapback]</div>

I hear ya Kinged. My 2006 is only a few weeks old. I'm going to wait for perhaps a software fix. Don't like splicing hardware in my new car.