Last week I asked for advise on installation and removal of Multi information screen. Thanks to all for your help. Now my problem is I had recently installed a replacement bought on ebay, same model #, same unit. Same problems!!! Whats the chance of buying another sour screen, or is there a reset somewhere on unit? Seems like a no brainer just unplugging and replugging, am I missing something??? Is there a way of checking units to make sure the screen is bad prior to contacting seller for a refund. Thanks, Ron
The classic fault takes a few minutes of careful dis-assembly and soldering to fix. I'd bet a Prius technician or geek could make a few hundred or thousand bucks on the side by repairing dead ones.
I expected hobbit to jump up here with a pointer to his excellent diagnosis webpages (I don't have it bookmarked)... One of the original circuit boards had an incorrect design for the attachment of a mezzanine board connector. This allowed the solder joints of this connector to break under repeated stress (apparently, most likely thermal stress). Dis-assembling the thing and re-soldering the connector repairs it.
I try to strike a balance between tooting my own horn and shoving obvious URLs down everyone's throats at the slightest opportunity, and letting folks research these things for themselves and maybe find a variety of references. At this point in time if you google for "hobbit" and "prius" I'm usually the first hit, which is rather gratifying but may not last forever and heck, that's probably a fairly obscure combination of words. But if that works, then a couple more clicks away is the link-farm to many other resources or some of my own stuff. One string search for "MFD", and there it is. . I guess I see the Prius as a tool to teach people to fish. Or drive better. Or something.. . _H*
Do you re-work them as they come in, or do you sell them (and so presumably keep one or a few on hand ready to go)? If it becomes necessary I'd be happy to buy one from you as long as I don't have to ship mine to you to be reworked and returned. A gaping hole in the dash for some days and two trips to the dealer, for removal and installation, would be too annoying.
If that was to me, well, I have no stock on hand. You might be able to ask "p626808" if he'll sell you the one I reworked, which as far as I know he still has. Steve at Autobeyours is probably starting to get into the game and he certainly *does* have stock of the units, probably at both ECO levels. . _H*
Given your obvious depth of technical experience in general electronics and the Prius in particular, I certainly do NOT see it as "tooting my own horn." The few times I have had an issue or question, your reply has been prompt and courtious. You could really clean up just refurbishing MFD's. Or set up something like a Hybrid Tech Training roadshow. The genuine THHT or Panasonic ToughBook version are still priced +$5,000, with yearly TIS subscriptions around $1,000. No reason why you can't charge to cover the cost of such an investment So keep tooting that horn!
Thank you Hobbit, I have added MFD repair to our services. Your research has been instrumental to the community. I look forward to another visit when we test drive the new pluginsupply 5kw battery pack. anyone interested may visit autobeyours.com/priusparts.htm
Hobbit's work shows pretty convincingly that the problem was an error in the design of the solder footprint for a particular connector on one circuit board. See Prius MFD The circuit board was redesigned for '05 or '06, and these newer units do not have this failure. If you do have this failure on an '04 or an early '05 it is possible to fix it yourself, or have it fixed locally by someone who can remove the unit (a dealer, if nothing else), and someone handy with a soldering iron.
Do you by chance have a Dice Ipod kit in your car? If so try unplugging it. Here is a link to my experience with a failed MFD screen over the last few days: http://priuschat.com/forums/care-ma...d-replacement-screen-question.html#post601699
