DICE for iPod kills MFD twice

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jpoel @ Jun 2 2007, 09:43 PM) [snapback]454140[/snapback]</div>

I bought the Vais Tech and have no problems. I had Dice and returned it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jpoel @ Jun 2 2007, 08:43 PM) [snapback]454140[/snapback]</div>

Interesting timing, I bought the Vais and have had it for about 6 months and it is now broken. It has always had a few quirks, namely with scrolling through playlists and using forward and reverse through songs in a playlist (works sometimes, never works the way it does on the iPod, and sometimes just doesn't work, you scroll but when you let go it returns back to the song you were playing). Anyway, now it doesn't work right at all. When I first turn it on it might play for a few minutes but then it starts skipping around to different songs and eventually stops playing altogether. I checked the connections and they seem fine.

So I was thinking about whether I should get this fixed or look at something else. Sounds like Dice is the wrong answer. Never was thrilled with Vais but MUCH better than running my iPod through the stereo connector and not being able to control it from the NAV. Anything else out there?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V-Jim @ Jun 2 2007, 10:23 PM) [snapback]454157[/snapback]</div>

What version of the Firmware does your SLI have? My guess is that a firmware update will resolve your problems.
I originally had an AIC-100i and now have an SLI and SLX and never had a serious problem with any of them.

A lot of the "problems" are simply limitations of the radio.

VAIS now makes a SoundLinQ2 which costs less.

Bob

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobR @ Jun 3 2007, 10:10 AM) [snapback]454338[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I agree you may need a firmware upgrade. I have had zero problems with my Vais Tech SLI and I use it both for my iPod and Aux In for my Pioneer Inno XM.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusFTW @ Jun 3 2007, 05:02 PM) [snapback]454580[/snapback]</div>

I am an idiot. There I feel better. <_<

Sp as it turns out the problem with the skipping and not playing is my iPod! I just assumed it was the Vais because of the other problems and I guess I thought the iPod just wouldn't break. My bad.

So I will look into the firmware upgrade to solve the other problems with forwarding and reversing through playlists. But again I have to say, even with that issue it's way better than the option of running through the AUX jack with no control.

I'm off to get another iPod. Sorry for the bad information.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jpoel @ Jun 23 2007, 06:11 PM) [snapback]466990[/snapback]</div>

Congratulations!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V-Jim @ Jun 2 2007, 07:23 PM) [snapback]454157[/snapback]</div>

I am not sure if I am on the same page as you guys . . . are you guys using the iPod for anything
but music? I am sure you are not watching videos [?] and my solution is sure lot cheaper !!
I do not own an iPod, but playing music has been no hassle for me whatsoever:
I made a music CD, specifically an MP3 music CD. One cd holds about 450 tracks. Of course, the
higher compressed tracks are small, so one can make CDs with 100 tracks for better quality.
So, I have 6 CDs in the storage compartment. Those 6 MP3 cds will play music non stop for me
from here [calif] to Seattle and back and never hear the same track more than once.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LYLUVLY @ Jun 24 2007, 09:43 PM) [snapback]467486[/snapback]</div>

This is good, but... no podcasts (great way to catch up with Meet the Press, no easy navigation by artist, album, genre, etc.. The iPod rocks, and once you've tried it, it's hard going back.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LYLUVLY @ Jun 24 2007, 11:43 PM) [snapback]467486[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Jun 25 2007, 03:34 PM) [snapback]467771[/snapback]</div>

It is also the case that pre-2006 Prii didn't have MP3-playing stereos.

My experience with the DICE has been a bit interesting. I initially hooked it up with no problems. However, after one medium-length trip a few days after I installed it (~3 hours round trip), I noticed that it stopped working. Moreover, I then noticed that the MFD was no longer responding. So, I unplugged the DICE (at the end with the DICE box) and the MFD came back to life. I didn't have time to deal with it for a couple weeks, but just managed to open the dash up at the end of last week to take a look. Sure enough, the molex connector going into the back of the stereo pulled out with little resistance; I wasn't sure it had "clicked" into the stereo on my first install, and it appears that it hadn't. So, I re-plugged it in and definitely heard/felt it click this time. Sure enough, it worked right away. I don't have any long-term testing yet, but on the longish trip we took this weekend (13 hours round-trip spread over 2 days), it worked like a charm.

So, I guess the moral is that it is possible to have something that looks like MFD failure if the plug isn't all the way in to the back of the radio. My theory is that it wasn't totally in the first time and shook loose when we were navigating over the bumpy streets. It seems that jpoel has had something more severe happen, but if the MFD stops responding, check the connection in the back of the radio first; it could be something relatively simple.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jun 25 2007, 02:59 PM) [snapback]467830[/snapback]</div>

I don't suppose you remember the barcode number on the bottom, do you? Specifically the last 2 digits? If it happens again PM me.

 

I seem to be lucky with the DICE so far. It's been installed since May '06 and has worked fine for the most part. I admit there were 4 times it wouldn't work correctly (played but no controls). All I needed to do, however, was unplug the iPod and plug it back in (I have a rubber cover on the iPod and sometimes it prevents the connector to seat properly). And once back last July all I got on the AUX part was a loud hiss (my portable XM radio is plugged in there), but that went away after cycling through the different modes (AM, FM, CD, CD2) a few times.

 

So, this will teach me to make statements before I've thoroughly checked out an install. When I got in the car this evening, I had the exact same MFD problems I had before. Unplugging the DICE unit fixed things for now, but I'll obviously need to find a better solution. To that end, I just PMed Vagabond

I'll post back here if we come up with a solution.

 

I was on my way home from a long hot roadtrip last weekend, and one morning, I had the dreaded MFD failure... I thought. I am under warranty still, but wasn't looking forward to making an appt and bringing it in to the dealer, etc. Thought I'd check here and see if my problem was indeed the MFD failure and sure enough... no outside temp, CD and radio work, but no display, AC works but no manual controls (only steering wheel controls)... as if a connection was loose on the back of the MFD. Also, my DICE wasn't working. A bummer since we were listening to an audiobook from the 'pod.

Thanks, PriusChat! A quick search here showed the DICE I installed a couple of months ago might be the culprit. Indeed... I popped off the glovebox just now and unplugged the DICE unit for about a minute, plugged it back in and powered up. Tada! I knew there was a reason I kept the DICE unit pretty accessible when I installed it.

I guess I'll contact DICE and see if there's a newer firmware version (although mine is pretty new). Since the MFD is functioning now, there's no need to have it looked at, right (meaning no internal damage can be assumed?)... I have about 16K miles or 14 months left on my factory warranty, so I think I'll wait and see.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(edselpdx @ Jul 11 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]477182[/snapback]</div>

On the back of the module there's a 2 digit number that starts with either 4 or 5 - what is it?

 

i had a DICE unit installed one week ago. this morning, my display had completely crashed. the only thing that seems to work is, ironically, the "display" button. i had the unit installed by a dealer and have never taken the glovebox out. based on the postings to this forum, i'd like to pull out the glovebox and try unplugging the DICE unit to see if that solves the problem. can someone provide some direction on how to pop out the glovebox to access the area where the DICE unit is located? thanks.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vagabond @ Jul 11 2007, 06:47 PM) [snapback]477238[/snapback]</div>

You mean above the bar code? A00054-xxxx

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sbc455 @ Jul 13 2007, 08:15 AM) [snapback]478101[/snapback]</div>

You need to find out where the DICE unit i installed... I knew mine was there because I installed it. There are MULTIPLE placement options. To pull the bottome glovebox, just open it as usual and then squeeze the sides of th box together near the dash and it should come out for you.

 

The little record player under the dash of my parents' '56 Lincoln was high tech enough for me!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sbc455 @ Jul 13 2007, 08:15 AM) [snapback]478101[/snapback]</div>

If you have it behind the glove box you just squeeze the sides of the compartment and it will drop out.