Weak FM radio reception in 2010 Prius?

Perhaps that is all that's available in Germany, but here are some quotes from my paperwork.

From the dealer's repair invoice:
INSTALL NEW NAV RADIO UNIT

From the TSB:

NOTE
Radio MUST be obtained from the exchange program to qualify for warranty coverage.

Parts Information
RADIO ID E7022
PART NAME Receiver Assy, Navigation

Required Tools and Equipment
Plastic Pry Tool Set

Repair Procedure
1. Confirm the poor reception condition.
2. Replace the radio receiver with the updated part.
3. Confirm that the condition has been corrected.


Now, software may be involved, but if that is all they do it is a software update they would not be sending out replacement radios just for that, eh?

 

In the US they are replacing the radio unit. I had to wait a week until it was shipped and I had them confirm that the new radio unit was actually new (not an old model). They did say that they had to upload software into the new radio, which didn't quite make sense to me.

By the way, I was having trouble with my Nav giving me intermittent "no Nav DVD" after installation of the new radio. I ejected the nav DVD and discovered that someone put a huge, dirty thumb print on the data side. No wonder it was having problems.

 

I'll ask one more time. Anyone been able to get a base radio (II) replaced??

It sux too, y'know.

 

To date, there is no TSB for the base II - so you are out of luck right now... It would seem they are taking the high road, and fixing things (Toyota does have decent quality/commitment)...

As of today, all you can do is complain to your dealer/Toyota.

I think this is not a high priority on their part - so good luck... The issue has been known since the thing came out well over a year ago...

 

Yep, and the current "fix" is NOT, apparently.
Oh well, I don't really listen to much Fm for music anyway, and the II base unit works fine through the Aux jack...
Toyota deserves to lose some customers from this fiasco, though.

 

Not true. The software may be resident on only one of the circuit boards inside the radio (ROM for a DSP chip or slave processor, etc. - this is very common these days. ) Depending on the design, there may be no way to update board software other than a board swap. And since dealers don't do circuit board replacements in radios (a very good thing), they replace the entire radio.

 

Well, if they continue like this, dismissing the issue and clearly providing second class solutions that don't work, they lost me already.
I mean, we are talking of an FM radio, not some 22nd century technology! They are going cheap on this or they have *huge* problems - in both cases they did it lightly and the fact that Toyota is not addressing this publicly is also very bad.
I wonder how many reported cases they have worldwide of FM radios that do not work. If we are 1% of all purchasers, then we are screwed - it will *never* be fixed. Never. Unless you guys in the US start a class action suit for selling defective radios.
I don't know why nobody started this already in the US.

 

I have no solid basis for this but I can't believe that they are using repaired radios in this "fix". If so, then I could go back in next week and under the terms of the TSB they would replace that radio too since the serial number would be old.

I got some improvement, not a whole lot but they seem to be trying.

 

I assumed that they might be using rebuilt radios because the TSB states that, "Radios MUST be obtained from the exchange program to qualify for warranty coverage". To me an exchange program implies the radio would be exchanged for another, then repaired or upgraded and returned to an exchange pool. Perhaps my assumption is wrong. I also noticed the TSB only mentions the VIN but not the radio serial number.

If they work as advertised it doesn't matter if they are new or older units that have been upgraded, but apparently some of them have problems. I have seen these kinds of issues with equipment coming out of exchange programs before because they frequently are not repaired or aligned correctly.

 

+1

You could walk into the Wal-Mart car audio section and buy a radio with better FM reception.

Pathetic.

 

Trust me, they are. I pulled my replacement out and it had yellow "remanufactured" stickers on it. Or don't trust me, and pull your own out - I'm sure you'll see the same.

But I wouldn't care at all if it was remanufactured, if they had solved the problem - but they didn't!

 

I believe you. At least to the extent that I am not about to remove the radio when it is working, which mine is.

 

any update on this mini cooper antenna?
thanks

 

My reception seems to be fine. Or as good as the prev 6 cars I have owned. But next time I drive to the boonies, I'll check and post my results.

 

You all didn't hear this from me but there's a TSB coming for this issue in non-JBL cars. We're also actively working on the "suspension clack" noise. Will keep you all posted.

 

^ cool. Say if someone removed their HU and replaced with an aftermarket, would they still replace the unit (out of the car)?

 

The "clack" is from what are apparently Corolla calipers rattling around. The dealer indicated they were working on a fix; I am anxious to get this embarrassing racket eliminated.

 

Can I ask a quick one on the suspension 'clack'...

When I go over little 'bots dots', Iif the widnows down there is a huge 'rattle' - like something is loose below. Haven't taken it in yet - but am wondering if thiese loud noises over little bumps are the 'clack'...

TIA!

Rolf

 

Yes; it is almost certainly the brake caliper rattle. Toyota should have a fix for this by now. Toyota????

 

:focus: