Display Message: Audio OFF"

If you're lucky it may only be a loose cable connection, but those are classic symptoms of the 2004 MFD failure. Contact a dealer about getting it replaced. This is a known problem and Toyota is often willing to pay part of the cost.

 

Ilyaprius,

Don't pay the big bucks for a new unit (a couple of thousand, I think) for your 5 year old car. Refurbished units still should be able to be ordered by your dealer (or another dealer if yours balks at this solution) for between $400 to $600 plus installation labor. Also, it needs to be the part number for an '04 or '05 only (especially if you decide to replace it on your own from a salvage yard car) because they changed the screen resolution starting in 2006 & the newer ones from then on won't work in your car.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

web sites covering repair. Or in my case, disassembly of dash and removal of MFD.

Prius MFD

DISCOUNTED INSURANCE SALVAGE which sells refurbished units.

Prius: 2nd Gen - Repairing the Multi-function Display

I'm having the same problem, on intermittent issue. I'll drive the car 6 hours a day on the job and the screen will cut off temporarily, for a minute of so, often on start up, and then sometimes when I toggle the buttons. I suppose I should just leave it on climate control screen , since that is the only one I really need. I toggle to screen off in hopes that this will keep it running longer.

This morning I followed above sites in disassembling dash, and removing MFD. One of my buttons on the bezel ,my climate which I often use, was not clicking like the rest (sort of a slight bind when hitting it) which I thought could be the cause of my problems. I didn't take the buttons off, but I could take the backside pieces off, the circuit board and the rubber piece right underneath the buttons. I used electrical spray wash in a can, and worked the button against all sides to release the binding. Dryed and back together, the button seems to work /click like the rest. I actually did all buttons to be thorough. I cleaned the connections to the unit with the spray, dryed and reassembled.
Same problems, screen on slow mode for about minute on startup.

Two questions for the experts.

If I do send in my MFD for repair/replace, how do I remove the wire attached to the bezel? There is a small white connector, is this simply pried from the circuit board?

Also, I really only need the screen for climate controls, I dislike 'auto air', and like to control the fan speed. Lacking any knowledge on wiring these externally to the unit, is it illogical to consider/attempt to remove extraneous wires to the MFD unit, just keeping the ones I need, in the theory less input, less problems. I have a scangauge unit, and just want to consider all options.