MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

From post #6 in your cited link,

"Heating/Air Conditioning

All A/C components, blower motors, electronic heater control unit."

You could make the claim that the MFD is required to control the cabin air ventilation system, thus it should be counted as part of the "electronic heater control unit".

However this is a weak argument. What was the cost and duration of your extended warranty plan?

Since "shock absorbers" are covered, I suggest that you carefully inspect your front struts and rear shocks and ask for them to be replaced if you see evidence of an oil leak that runs at least half way down the part. (Will their counter-argument be that since the front suspension uses MacPherson struts, those are not shock absorbers and are not covered?)

 

Cost was $1700 CAD, although part of that is because I bought in 2007, 3 years after I bought the car. At the time it was a relatively good deal for Canada although not a great one compared to the US. We couldn't get the US$999 Toyota extended warranties that US owners could find.

Duration is 7 years or 120000 km. My car is now a little over 6 years old, and has a little under 90000 km on it.

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Please help! My 2004 Prius with 88,000 miles has the exact same problems described in the threads. I am 8 months pregnant in Colorado Springs. I was quoted $1800 for a refurb unit plus labor from Liberty Toyota. I refuse to pay such a rediculous price. The problem is quite dangerous - it started raining tonight and I could not get to the de-fog controls. I had to wipe my windshield with my hand. Does anyone know someone in Colorado that could complete Hobit's solder fix? What type of engineer or professional has this sort of expertise?

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

First, the steering wheel controls still work - including the two defrost (front/rear) buttons.

Second, the MFD can be removed by any good mechanic (a car stereo store tech is adequate given the on-line removal instructions that are available vi Hobbit's MFD page). A good "Surface Mount" technician can then do the resoldering (again given Hobbit's instructions) for $25-$50 or you can buy a refurbed MFD from 04 and newer Prius Parts Cars for $325 and have the mechanic or car stereo tech install it.

JeffD

 

Follow the instructions above, but get your fixed and save a bundle!

 

Please dont attempt repair yourself, unless you are willing to gamble on the entire cost of a new MFD.
I repair them for 325..... but not if there has been a FAILED attempt at repair.
Prius MFD Touchscreen Repair

 

So, confirmed, Toyota Canada refuses to repair it.

imwoody, I am interested, in a shipment to Canada.

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Steve (imwoody36) at AutoBeYours does a good job. I recently repaired my MFD on my own (I am an engineering professor) but his offer of a refurbished unit for $325 is a good one. Removing the MFD is not hard (~30 minutes) and a Prius runs fine with the MFD removed (about the same as with a failed MFD).

I also had a problem with my CD player (Rejecting most CDs) and Steve sent me a replacement Stereo for $70 plus shipping. It was from a 2006 Prius and worked fine in my 2004 Prius.

JeffD

 

Yeah, my fat fingers are probably inappropriate to attempt the repair. I've done it before on problematic DVD players, etc. but this is a more expensive part with finer work, and I only have a cheap fat soldering iron. I'm not an engineer either.

I'll have a go at removing the MFD soon and if successful, I'll do that part swap from the US. The 90 day warranty is encouraging for the refurb.

If I can't comfortably remove the MFD, I probably just have to get the unit at the higher price and get Toyota to swap it out for me.

Toyota Canada will only offer me a $4000 part, or a $1100 refurb. No thanks.

BTW, how many Torontonians have dealt with llocal wreckers for MFD parts? If no warranty, then no thanks.

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

There is no INFO button on my '05 G2. Is this good news or bad news wrt the MFD problem (which I don't have (yet?)).

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

The presence or absence of the INFO button does not correlate to your MFD failing or not.

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Sorry... I've gotten the impression that there was an "old" MFD (bad) and a "New" MFD (good), and you could tell which one you had by observing the action of the INFO button. Absent that, how do I tell?

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

If you have an early 05 (Built in 04) then you are likely to see the failure at some time. A late 05 will normally have a corrected board. The only way to know for sure is to take it out and look for the model number as noted by the Hobbit in his wonderful description/analysis of the "MFD Failure" problem.

My 2004 MFD started to show symptoms after 172,000 miles and 6 years. All I did prior to the failure was to educate myself (as you are doing). You should not worry about it until it occurs as there are low cost solutions ($325 - Steve at AutoBeYours http://www.autobeyours.com/Ebay%20MFD%20listing.htm, assuming that you are not up to doing the repair yourself) if your MFD should fail. Life is too short to be concerned about what may happen.

JeffD

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

I'm going to guess, then, that it's a late model. Late enough, anyway, that the INFO button feature had been discontinued. Assumptions aside, is there any way to find out when it was actually built?

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

The Manufactured date is listed on the driver side door jam. Mine (02/04 - Feb 2004) is on a black tag just under the loop that the door locks onto when closed.

JeffD

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Lateness has nothing to do w/the presence or absence of the info button. I have an 06 that I bought new in January 06. It has an info button, but then again I have package NL, which includes every option except leather (https://priuschat.com/forums/knowle...andard-optional-equipment-some-countries.html).

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Well, duh! I thought it would be on the Monroney sticker if anywhere, so I gave up looking prematurely. It was built in Japan in February '05, has Package 5 (AI), and no INFO button.

I have to believe I've got the same button in the wheel (i.e., the basic wheel build is identical), but mine has a different function, probably something to do with the radio. Where exactly is the INFO button located?

 

On the lower right of MFD, gives Trip, Language and Screen settings.

 

Re: MFD issues on '04/'05 Prius

Not THAT info button. I was referring to the INFO button supposedly located on the stering wheel:

Originally Posted by efusco
What I meant with the INFO button (which all 2nd gen Prii have) is whether by pushing the one on the steering wheel...

 

People have told me about the steering wheel "Info" button as well. Not on My Prius.

JeffD