- Looking at Consumer Reports ratings and these forums, it seems like Prius JBL CD Players are problematic. Mine inexplicably shut down for no reason....everything else works, but the player won't eject the CD's that are currently in it...and it also won't play them. The dealer says they won't fix it. All they offer is an exchange, which costs $800. So much for my gas savings! Any advice out there? I contacted the best shop in town: Al and Ed's Autosound, and they won't touch it. Please help!!!! Thank you.
I have a 2007 base Prius and have been thinking of upgrading my radio/CD player one level higher so it plays MP3s and has an Aux in jack. In doing research for this I found LKQ Online which is a website by one of the largest auto salvage companies in the US. You can search for your CD player there. I found several of the model I'm looking for in the $165 range. The JBL will no doubt cost more. I believe these come with a warranty. LKQ also has an ebay store and has auctions for Prius radios. The last one I saw for the model I'm interested in had a starting bid of $125 and the auction ended with no bidders. I am not affiliated in any way with LKQ and have not bought anything from them - although I probably will. I think the salvage route is a good way to go if you get a warranty. You'll have to decide whether you want to install it yourself or have someone do it for you. If you choose DIY there's great instructions on this site for removing the radio. This is just one option to consider. Good luck.
Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately, I'm just not up to installing myself. I'd probably short out the whole nav system!
Well Bob, if you don't want to do the work yourself, then the options are simple. Make an appointment with your dealer and get out your check book. Tom
Al and Ed's may have a policy against used equipment now anyway. I know for sure when I had some of my own known good used working parts installed, the installer didn't backboard the amp, and the insides shorted out. Blamed it on the equipment and I was out the money to repair the unit. Two morals - 1. The "best shop in town" is only as good as the installer you get and 2. Most places won't deal with used equipment for the very reason that - unless they bench test it first - they don't want any liability for f-ing up your car or equipment.
Jim & Rick -- Thanks for the explanation. It has been a long time since I messed with car audio. I came close to severing a finger doing an installation on my VW using a swiss army knife. Yes -- let your imaginations run wild, and you still won't come up with how stupid it was to try what I tried. I was WAY up in the Sierra Nevadas and at least an hour's drive from anything remotely resembling "urgent care"! All fingers work, amazingly, and the scar and the memory of the "thuuunk" sound of the blade sticking in my finger are all I have left.
