I own a 2005 Prius Hybrid. It has a standard 6-disc CD player that is jammed. I loaded a CD one day into an available slot and jammed it somehow. There was an open slot because I'd just removed a disc. However, the CD player no longer works. Lights come on when I try to eject a CD, but nothing else happens. When I first turn it on it searches for CDs, but just reports: CD Error. So, it may be broken. I may need to replace it. However, the local Toyota dealer will not check it out. I was told they cannot open it. I understand no one wants to open the CD player, but I need access to it. I do not know how to take the center panel apart. The music center is a CD/cassette hybrid. Can that be replaced? I'd like to open the dashboard to get at the CD/cassette player, but I don't know how. I asked Audio Express, and they won't touch it. They will remove it and replace it with another CD player, but I don't know if the radio changer / CD / volume controls on the my steering wheel will still work. I'd like to replace the unit with a CD/cassette player, but that is probably not an option, so I'd be willing to upgrade to a modern unit. However, I want it to be able to use my screen controls as well. What should I get, and how do I make sure it works with my in-dash system?
welcome! you can try disconnecting the 12 volt battery or remove the radio fuse for a few minutes. if that doesn't work, luscious garage has a great write up on taking the dash apart, it's pretty easy. all the best!
If you can’t get the old one to work and you are happy with stock unit, you can just replace it with used one from junkyard.
This post is a bit older, but since it came up with my Google search, I'll add my two cent's worth anyway in case it helps the next person. When it comes to car stereos, the place to go to is crutchfield.com . They sell a wide variety of stereos, but more importantly, for each one, they also tell you which car features you will keep and which will break. With a Prius, as far as I can tell you will always lose the voice announcements from the GPS, and probably also the radio control from the screen. Many stereos support steering wheel controls, but you usually need to buy an adapter. They claim that if you buy the stereo from them, the instructions they include are detailed enough so you can do the installation yourself in an hour. I haven't tried it, though. You will also need some installation hardware (usually, antenna adapter, wiring harness and an adapter to make it mechanically fit into your dash board and fit into the car's finish). Depending on where you buy it, you may occasionally get those parts thrown in free, but usually you have to pay for them.
