iPod MFD Integration Unit Group Buy

Okay, I thought I'd give an update since it seems like several people have had the same problems that I had.

Denison sent me a new DICE unit, which I installed last Friday (no charge, and no lag time since they let me wait until I installed the new one before sending the faulty one back, thanks!).

1. I had the same problem with getting the plug to click into the head unit...still no click, but a tight(ish) connection.

2. Now the DICE unit seems to work correctly. Disc 1 = song; Disc 2 = Playlist; Disc 3 = Album; and Disc 4 = Chapter. (Disc 5 is to switch between IPOD and AUX modes, and Disc 6 seems to be an Identification screen showing the DICE version)

3. The ipod now turns off with the engine, and starts up (and returns to where I left off) with the engine flawlessly.

My only question is whether the title screen should show the name of the playlist when in playlist mode. Right now I only get PLAYLIST, ALBUM, and CHAPTER displayed in the Artist display area for the respective disc setting. Do we have to memorize our playlists? or do I have something set incorrectly (most likely in iTunes)?

To those of you who had problems with your unit not working through the headunit or steering wheel, contact Denison for an exchange.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 23 2006, 10:26 AM) [snapback]291003[/snapback]</div>

That's good.

On Saturday (very hot day), I took my friend home. The Prius had been sitting in the hot sun all day. I wanted to show him how the DICE worked with the AUX input and my portable XM radio. All I got was static, almost sounded like a hard rain. It didn't work until after I had dropped him off and I was driving home. Don't know why, might've been the heat.

 

That is all you will get. No playlist or album name will appear. Only the song title.

 

My unit has also been nothing but trouble.
Worked for one week then the playlist on my mfd wouldn't display the songs correctly,
Then the steering wheel controls quit working with the ipod.
Then the Dice unit quit working all together!

I've had my dash apart 4 different times, unplugging and re-plugging the unit back it to reset, resetting my ipod.....
nothing works!

$135.......WOW

quality item this guy is getting rich off of. pffffft!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Jul 20 2006, 09:55 PM) [snapback]289818[/snapback]</div>

I'm happy to report that the parts guy at my local Toyota dealer was a gem...walked out with me to see where the bolt needed to go and then came back with two each of three different length 10 mm bolts and just gave them to me. Really nice guy. I then dropped by one of the local independent installers who happily used his extra-long screwdriver with a bit of tape wrapped around the bolt to screw it back in. When I asked him how much, he said "five bucks". I was so happy that everything was fixed, I gave him ten. Probably should've asked him to install it to begin with since I obviously am not too good at this sort of thing. Still don't know where the original bolt wound up, but it's not rattling, so hopefully not moving around doing any damage.

 

A couple quick questions. My iPod arrived yesterday and I'm creating playlists. I understand that symbols cause a problem. Is that true? If so, is it every symbol, or ones like / or \? Is it for the Title alone?

 

Not sure, but I would stay away from periods and brackets for sure. I had a problem with one that had [ www.djsomething.com ]

I have used the / without a problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bshef @ Jul 24 2006, 06:19 PM) [snapback]291641[/snapback]</div>

Ok... I got my DICE unit last week. Since my ice:Link locks up many times, Dension agree to exchange it with the newer DICE for me for free. But same thing happened! It still locks up about 50% of the time. I have to turn the car on and off to reset it! Actually, the new DICE unit locks up more than the old ice:link unit... darn it! :angry: :angry:

 

Update...

My iPod is the third gen (w/ dock connector) with iPod software 2.3. That's the latest verison according to Apple, http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/. When I try to play it with DICE, I get all kind of problems like you guys described, it will pause after connect/disconect, lock ups, will not play at all, etc. etc.

My gf just got a new iPod nano, and it works perfectly with DICE! I wonder if that's because DICE doesn't work with older generation iPods. Time to contact DICE and ask some questions. Will update in this thread when I get a response from DICE.

 

I submitted a trouble ticket via the Dice support website on July 17. 6 hours later I got this response:

Adam- Hello, have you tried any of our troubleshooting suggestions provided in the users manual? Try resetting your iPod to start with. If this does not make any changes, then check the dip switches on the module and make sure they are all off in the up position and then reconnect the DICE module. Also, you can remove the radio fuse for a minute and then reinsert it to see if there is any difference with this solution. Check back for further assistance. Thank You

As it was the start of the workweek, I didn't reply until July 21. Thats when I noticed that the ticket said "Status: Resolved". Jeez, how can they close a ticket before even giving me a chance to work on the problem over the weekend? Don't they understand people have to work during the week?

Anyway, my update of the trouble ticket saying I tried all his suggestions (except pulling the radio fuses! (there are 3 of them)) didn't work. Then no reply at all until I finally called them July 28. They said I HAVE to disconnect the battery when installing the Dice unit. Is that really necessary? Has anybody here successfully installed without disconnecting the battery?

When I installed my VAIS unit I never disconnected the battery during install and it worked great. I went ahead and did that (its not that easy to even get to the battery!) and it did absolutely nothing (other than erasing all my preset radio stations and re-setting the backup beep to turn on again). Still the same problem. So I called them back and finally they agreed to send a new unit.

So I would really like to know, do you think I should disconnect the battery when installing the second Dice?

 

So I would really like to know, do you think I should disconnect the battery when installing the second Dice?
[/quote]

I have an '05 with nav/6 CD changer and I did not. However, I did make sure the power to the stereo was turned off. The DICE works perfectly. Make sure on D5 that you see SEL:IPOD, not AUX1. Previous/next buttons on the steering wheel toggle between those two options (at least mine does). When I was checking out the features I did notice that with the AUX1 setting I got no sound and the screen showed numbers advancing as they do when it plays. I did not change the factory settings on the DICE unit and I have a video ipod with firmware 1:1:1. Make sure your ipod has the firmware specified by DICE for your ipod. Hope one of those solves it for you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Priscilla @ Jul 31 2006, 06:45 PM) [snapback]295459[/snapback]</div>

How does one "make sure" to see SEL:IPOD?
Mine shows "AUX1" and I have no idea how to get it to display anything other than this. Is there a toggle that will allow me to have it display "IPOD"?

Also.......is the firmware for the Ipod specified for DICE available and where?

Thanks!

 

Press the up or down arrows on the steering wheel while in D5 to toggle back and forth.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LurkAzusa @ Aug 1 2006, 11:22 AM) [snapback]295783[/snapback]</div>

It'll also say TRACK: 1 for iPod and TRACK: 2 for Aux

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bshef @ Aug 1 2006, 11:14 AM) [snapback]295774[/snapback]</div>

I believe it's on the installation instructions, which is available online.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 1 2006, 02:33 PM) [snapback]295790[/snapback]</div>

The instructions that came in the package with your DICE unit specifies which firmware for specific ipods also.

 

I do get music, but I will also check D5 (I'm assuming that means Disk 5 is selected) when my wife gets home. Yes, the power to the stereo was turned off before I began installation. It sounds like I don't have to worry about disconecting the battery.

My problem is the same problem as Woodcreeper has (see above posts on this same thread).

My plan for installing the replacement unit Dice is sending me is to keep the cables that I originally installed for the troublesome unit and just disconnect the bad unit and connect the replacement unit and see if that works (using the bad Dice's cables). If it still doesn't work, I will remove the lower glove box and pull away the plastic part holding the wiring harness and disconnect the old cables to the stereo and use the new cables. Thats a lot more hassle, so I will only do that if I have to.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny @ Apr 28 2006, 10:47 PM) [snapback]247026[/snapback]</div>

How about the standard CD player with aux input jack and MP3/WMA playback capability (Package #4)?

 

What's the status on 2006 compatibility?

 

Eureka! Priscilla solved the problem with my Dice unit. When I pressed Disk 5 and then clicked on the Title button, it showed SEL:AUX1. I clicked on the up arrow on the steering wheel to toggle it to IPOD and now it works perfectly. I got a new unit in the mail yesterday, but I will be sending that back since the old unit is "fixed" now. Thanks Priscilla!

I'm going to call the Dice technical support people and tell them to add the above check to their recommendations, for the next time someone has this problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ml194152 @ Aug 4 2006, 05:51 PM) [snapback]297906[/snapback]</div>

Outstanding!!! I'm so glad that was the solution!!! I've been a bit worried about the longevity of the DICE unit from reading about the problems some people are having on this site. I'm hoping many of them have solutions instead of there being so many faulty devices.