Intermittant Non-Functional Control Screen

I saw this TSB posted above:

http://priuschat.com/TSB-EL002-05-Multi-Di...ive-t18112.html

It appears that two months after my car has left warranty I have this issue.

The MFD doesn't appear on start up of the car and when it does, it doesn't display data. It shows all 5 minute segments as 99.9 MPG and the battery screen shows that there's nothing in the battery, the engine isn't on and the wheels aren't moving when they are.

The stereo might or might not work. The air conditioner controls are instead displaying "Air Conditioner Not Connected" message (though the steering wheel controls seem to work).

After about 10 minutes the display begins to work again. And another five or ten minutes and it stops.

Mechanically the car functions normally and I feel confident driving it.

I've okayed the repairs at Toyota of Hollywood. They say I can drive the car without the display while the part is being repaired (they're sending the whole module to Toyota). I'll pick it up tonight and see how I feel about it. $779.50 with labor.

Just thought I'd log my issues here in case anyone else is having a similar problem. If you're still in the warranty period, get it fixed while you still can.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 2 2007, 07:16 AM) [snapback]399046[/snapback]</div>

You're assuming that I haven't been doing that all along.

And last night I got the call that Toyota will pay for the part and I will pay for the labor.

I used the argument that this is a known issue for Toyota, well documented, and not dependent on mileage or time ... simply that some parts on the early 2004 vehicles fail. (It's a rather low mileage car, I was bringing it in for the 30,000 mile service that week when the screen started acting hinky.)

At the same time I'm also having the final bit of work done on the filler neck. I've documented my issues with the gas tank never letting me put more than 8 gallons in even though I've driven it 1 gallon after the add fuel notice comes on. Even though I'm out of the warranty period on that, I've been complaining about it to them for three years ... we were just being conversative about trying things, like having the gauge in the dash replaced (but then they wanted me to use it for a while, but I don't drive enough to log 10 tanks in a short period of time).

Now I'm going to try to buy the extended warranty even though I'm two months out of the factory one.

I'm currently driving the car without the center console screen. It's a little awkward to not have any feedback on the car or ability to know what my AC settings are (it's okay at the moment, but it's going to turn warmer this weekend). I can post photos of the cavity if someone wants to see it.