Navigation Unit "Unable to read data"

The navigation ECU is the device located under the driver's seat. The device under the passenger seat is the JBL amplifier (for North American models).

Since you are a computer tech, if you can figure out how to remove and replace the DVD player within the ECU, no problem. Otherwise you'll have to replace the entire ECU that includes the DVD player.

Alternatively you might be able to obtain a used navigation ECU unit from a salvage yard.

 

I bet it is the DVD drive itself. And, I'd be surprised if the DVD drive is anything other than a full height 5.25" DVD drive with an IDE interface.

Before you shell out over 5 clams on that unit, I'd open it up carefully (you're a computer tech, so this shouldn't be hard at all) remove the drive, and put in a replacement drive. Just set the jumper for master, slave or cable to match the older drive.

If it's an SATA drive, you can buy one of those two.

I'm betting $50 in parts and an hour or two and you'll be up and running again.

Let us know how it goes!

 

How much of that is parts, and how much labor? That does sound a bit outrageous. See if you can get the part number from them and shop around, there are a number of online Toyota parts dealers that generally have better prices. If its still high, maybe try Steve at
http://autobeyours.com
for a used one. You should be able to get the pertinent factory manual pages for $10 per day from
https://techinfo.toyota.com/
and replace it yourself if the dealers labor estimate is still high.

You could be right, it may just be the drive, but it would be very unusual for that to be a separate part. Car dealers generally just replace sub-assemblies these days, they don't take things apart and fix them. If you care to dissect yours, you might be able to swap out the drive and get it working again. If you go that route, you can find a little but of info here:
Embedded.com - Inside the Toyota Prius: Part 6 - Navigation unit bridges automotive, CE

Good luck!
Rob

 

Before you go out and spend some bucks for a new drive, pull the existing unit out and take a look at the pick up lens. Its more than likely filthy! I have seen this problem many times in CD & DVD drives. A "Q" tip, some canned air, and you may get your drive to read again. It is an optical device, and one of the dirtiest places you could stick one would be a car!!! They are not airtight and/or dust proof! If indeed the drive is shot, just buy a new drive.

Good Luck de Pat KK6PD

 

FYI, heres one on ebay starting at $375. Don't know anything about the seller, personally I'd contact Steve first.

eBay Motors: 06 07 Prius GPS Navigation Control Player 8684147040 OE (item 200301378160 end time Jan-27-09 18:09:08 PST)

 

Have you tried to reset it through the Display. I got that once. I bought a CD cleaner, cleaned out the unit 2-3 times. Then I removed the top off, blew it out with compressed air. Put the top part of DVD unit back on. Then I did a master reset by going into the diagnostic menu. Press the Navigation menu, then in that main menu, press the Top Left side of screen, then Bottom Left, Top Left, Bottom left then bottom right. This will cause your screen to go blank and completely reset your nav systema and clear out any errors. It worked with my generation 3 unit too!

 

Also I forgot to mention it will say "LOADING DO NOT POWER OFF VEHICLE" Wait until the screen either goes back to black again, or most times it will simply reset and go back to the I AGREE SCREEN. DO NOT REPLACE YET, as Toyota technicians are totally inept with regards to the Navigation system. I was told I had to replace mine at $4900 bucks + labour + taxes!!! All I did was those 3 simple things and it works flawlessly. If you like, PM me, and we can go over in more detail. Please keep me posted.

 

Oh and as a last resort, you can always take it to a Lexus dealership. They will service it too, as they did on my Gen 3 unit. Your unit is a generation 4 unit, by the part number, and is used in the Lexus RX350, RX400h, GS350/400, LX470, LS430 (2004-2006)... well you get the idea. And given that Lexus has vehicles more frequently equipped with OEM Navigation, they will be in a better position to help. As an example I was told by 5 Toyota dealerships that navigation systems were not available in a 2002 Prius. When I took the tech's outside, each did a double take! And of course they claimed it was aftermarket, even though the MAP, DEST, INFO button are built into the dash. Erin Park Lexus technicians, one in particular named Shafiq, told me to clean it out, and the procedure for resetting it. He neither charged me, and it worked perfectly!

 

You don't need to. Just do this and try:
2004-2009 Prius: Menu, Volume, top left, bottom left, top left, bottom left
Press Navigation
Then follow procedures as indicated.
Does the message change when you put in a CD or is it the same?

 

It should change and say disc unreadable, replace disk. or something like that. But lets try all options before you remotely entertain replacing it! If you were really brave, you could open the unit, find the momentary black switch inside, and that clears the firmware and everything inside memory as well. That way you could be ultimately sure. There are websites dedicated to doing it.

 

did you by chance dig around in the hidden menus? if so, there is a reset that worked on the earlier 2g prius.

 

ok, i guess that rules out that option.