Blank display

One poster was able to reproduce the problem by chilling the car (it was late summer, and he set the AC to max cold).
MFD is usually replaced with this symptom.

 

I have been having the same problem since Thanksgiving. Temperature is not a factor that I have observed, but with intermittent problems, I can see how it might behave that way.

At present this problem crops up almost every time I drive the car. I took it to the dealer on 7 Dec. When I got it back and they said their were recalls and they'd ordered the parts. The funny thing was they were telling my that 40J would fix the problem. I told them that the new DVD wasn't the answer. Sometimes you need to let people make their own mistakes. It just annoys me when it costs my time. There is more to this, but let's not get derailed.

I knew there would be a problem communicating an intermittent electronic problem to a mechanic, so I gave them the following description at the time I dropped the car at the service desk. To be accurate, the cruise control issue has been added to the list since that time.

I got 40E, 40J, and 40L on 23 Dec. They were apologetic and ordered the new MFD....



Problems with MFD. L.A. Bumm 2004 Dec 19

I have been experiencing intermittent problems with the Multi-Function Display (MFD). In all cases I have been driving and the hybrid system was apparently functioning normally.

• The system may start up in a failure mode and then spontaneously fix itself, sometimes becoming progressively more functional. When this happens the radio, if operating, turns off.
• The failure may occur while driving after operating normally.
• I have also seen it simply restart while driving, displaying the Prius Splash Screen.
• Most times I have observed that some of the functions are inoperative.
• Sometimes the MFD displays message 'check the system'. It is completely unresponsive to buttons and touch screen.
• The touch screen and the buttons may be unresponsive of slow to respond.
• The audio turns on and off by itself if it was initially on. When the failure is complete the audio is stable, it is controlled by the power button. If the MFD reboots (Prius splash screen appears) the audio will turn off (the default state). The audio can be unstable, turning on and off by itself. I have only observed this to happen when the audio was initially on. This appears to only happen when the MFD is flaking in and out.
• When the problem occurs at startup, the screen is blank (black) for many seconds after the Prius splash screen, then either the info screen with the blank battery charge indictaor or the message 'check the system' appears.
• Cruise Control. During the time that the MFD displayed check the system, I was unable to get the cruise control to engage. The cruise control light was flashing. Normally it is steady. (This has only happened once.)

Complete failure: MFD displays message check the system. It is completely unresponsive to buttons and touch screen.

Partial Failure: On start, Prius splash screen appears, then the info display.

info display
• no battery level indication (blank)
• not outside temp (blank)
• no mpg (blank)
• no energy consumption indication (blank)
climate
• message check connection to the air conditioner.
audio
• message audio off even when radio is playing.

Putting the system in System Check Mode, I have observed two conditions.

CONDITION 1.
EMV OK
NAVI NCON
Audio H/U NCON
G/W NCON
DSP-AMP NCON

CONDITION 2.
EMV OK
NAVI OK
Audio H/U OK
G/W NCON
DSP-AMP OK

 

What I can add to my statement above is that the night that I experienced the flashing cruise light problem, the MFD was in 'check the system' failure mode. It was as dead as I have seen it. And it was like that for a while, but I don't remeber how long.

The dealer replaced the MFD yeserday (and did my 10,000 mi service for free!). I haven't observed any more MFD problems since then. I don't want to declare victory yet, the time and miles have been very short. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

--LAB

 

Just got my 2004 back today from having the MFD replaced. At about 15k miles I started to experience the same slow response or locked-up condition others reported. Mine would usually shut off the radio as well.

Anyway, it turns out Toyota has now issued a TSB for this condition. If anyone is experiencing similar things tell the dealer to look up TSB EL002-05

Now for the odd question - when I got my car back, it turns out they installed the wrong display in my car. I have a package 7 car (no navigation) but when they replaced my MFD they put in a Nav Package style display. Before I take it back and have them revert back to the right display - is there anyway I can make this work for me and install the rest of the Navigation equipment (minus the steering wheel controls of course) for a relatively inexpensive price?

 

There is a considerable amount of heat around the multifuncion display (MFD) when lit. It is entirely possible that Toyota has a MFD heat dissipation problem here, and that heat is cooking the components around it, shortening component life dramatically.

Switching off the MFD for driving may prolong its service life, but staring at that screen is half the fun of being being in a Prius while stopped in city driving....lets see, that style of driving increased fuel economy...that didn't work well...etc.

 

no. the unit under the passenger seat is fairly expensive like about $4500 and you'll probably need a new wire harness, plus the computer for the nav display which is different from the no-nav and it's almost $800 plus the microphone in the roof panel $80 Shall I continue? I'd get the dealer to put in the proper display.

 

He now has the computer for the NAV display because of the dealer error, that's why he is looking to getting NAV.

If all you want is NAV, you need the NAV ECU, which goes under the driver seat. You would have to route quite a few new wires to it, such as video, AVC, power, driver door speaker intercept, etc.

Bluetooth and voice recognition would require a microphone, as Frank pointed out, but you could skip that, just as you intend on skipping the additional steering wheel controls.

 

part number for the navigation computer unit under the seat is
86841-50090 Price is $4542.27
Navigation controller part number
86116-47050 Price $794.91
CD for the navigation computer part number is
86271-33040 Now the price has come, down last I heard it was about $260 originally $973.36 This Part number has probably changed as the updated disks are release. There are also about $70 worth of brackets and covers involved with just the nav computer.
the antenna for the nav system Part number 86860-47080 list for $438.04

 

Frank,

Are those US or Canadian $$$?

 

I forgot about the antenna. That's an important piece.

Navigation Controller, do you mean the MFD? That's the only ECU connecting to the NAV under the seat. He mistakenly got the nav version of the MFD.