Problems with factory stereo - 09 Access cab

Hi Guys

We've had our green machine since July 2008 and in the last couple of weeks the stereo has started intermittently turning itself off. Happens for radio, CD (MP3) or the Aux. Sometimes it will come back on immediately, other times it can take 10 or 15 minutes till it powers up again. It cut out on me 3 times this morning in a 40 minute journey, and wouldn't power on at all after getting back into the vehicle for the return journey an hour later.

We've got a replacement on order under the warranty but it's going to be 5-7 weeks till it shows up.

Also, since day 1 the sound volume through the Aux input has been abysmal. tried ipod nano, zune, and the mp3 player in my cell phone. The volume has to be cranked up to max on both the device and the head unit, and it's only just audible over road noise, and doesn't sound great either, very flat and distorted.

Is the intermittent powering off a usual problem for Tacoma factory units? is that why there's such a long wait?

Other thing we've noticed is that the sound quality is much better for MP3 CD's than it is through the FM stereo.

Is getting it replaced with the same unit likely to take care of the Aux volume/sound quality issues or should we be looking to upgrade, and not having to wait over a month.

The model # is AD1808.

I'd appreciate any feedback you have to offer.

Thanks in advance
Red

 

My damn stereo doing the same thing thought it was me and my jacked up hearing!!!!

 

Redjessie the exact same thing is happening to my 09 Tacoma i bought in august! The volume freezes up all the time and now the power goes off on it's own and won't come for several minutes. And i bought a mp3 player for the aux and the sound sucks bigtime on it. Please let me know how you get on with the new stereo and if you had any trouble getting the warranty work done. Thanks newfie8

 

why not just yank the POS stereo and replace it with aftermarket?

 

If they want to pay for it sure..

 

my factory stereo was out in less then 2 hours after picking up my truck. i cant stand factory stuff. I have a nice pioneer f900bt and love it.

 

I checked out that stereo after on youtube they look pretty cool! How much do one of those cost?

 

well i am an installer so i dont know what retail is. my cost was a pretty good price tho.

 

my stereo would have been in the vehicle less than 2 hours if the stereo shop near me had the kit in stock, i had to wait 2 days to get it online and install my kenwood.

its so funny because the sales man went on and on about how it had a 6 disc changer , xm ready, aux in bla, bla, bla and i told him to save his breath because the POS stereo would be comming out as soon as i got home with the truck!
so i have a brand new factory stereo in the basement that will still be brand new when i sell the truck. i dont know why all factory stereos manufacturers insist on making garbage! if the stereo didnt cut the bass and treble when you turn it up i might have considered keeping it.
i kept the mark levinson systems in both my lexus vehicles, thats a factory stereo worth keeping! but it seems unless you buy a 45,000 car you dont get much in the audio department.

 

80/20 rule, man. Most people don't care as long as it's easy to operate and puts out coherent noise. If you have an ipod connection you are big pimpin'.

My buddy has a Bose system in his $80k Escalade that he can't remove for under $2k due to the built in electronic security (so I'm told, but we had a nightmare with his old DeVille so I'm guessing the story is true). I plan on putting him to shame just a lil'

 

Sometimes they will take the stock HU and move it to an out of the way location (trunk or hide it in the dash, and run all new wires to still have the factory security but add a new HU. And yes, major PITA.

 

Same problems with my stereo in new 09. Dealership replaced it once and within a month the new one is malfunctioning as well. Very dissatisfied with this entire system. Volume control doesn't respond, radio turns on and off randomly, screen image scrambles, seems to be a piece of junk.

 

thread revival but with your AUX problem its probably the quality of AUX cable you are using

 

I got my TACO last Monday. The radio seems to have the gremlins. It will randomly turn off and sometimes when I hit a preset station button it will turn off.

I have an appointment to take it in but I figure the tech will look at it for a second and say "it's working fine for me".

 

My stereo is doing the same thing I have to wait 5 to 7 weeks for a replacement. I would change it out but a new truck should not have this problem

 

the stock stereo is junk and they have issues. take it back to the dealer and get a new one under warrenty, then pull it, stick in on the shelf and put in an after market

 

Had an issue with my hu. The truck, an 09 4 door long bed sport model. I called my dealer gave them the radio number. It is on the face plate and mine started with a..... I called it in on thurs and one week to the day a new in the wrapper was installed.
I found out that there were also panasonic units installed as well as the junk gm units.. There have been very few problems with the panasonic units. The dealer just took my word for it and did it.
I do not know how to verify the make. But a guess is that it can be determined if the dealer runs the radio number. It might be nice to know which you have. If it is a panasonic then you can sleep better.
Hope this helps.

 

I have been waiting about a month now and when I checked with the dealership the other day they told me that Toyota does not appear to be shipping any replacements at this point as some of the replacements are even having issues. It sounds to me like they are not shipping any until they resolve the issue. I think I am going to contact Toyota Canada this week and ask them if they cannot provide me a working radio then to give me a credit and I will install an aftermarket unit in its place which I planned on doing anyway in the near future. Just can't seem to make up my mind yet what I want to get.

 

Tell them to get you a panasonic or pay you for the junker

 

Well I don't know if it is coincidence or not but after leaving a rather to the point message about the stereo being crap and me not happy on the Toyota Canada web site last Sunday, I had a call from the dealer on Friday morning that my replacement radio was in and had an appointment for 1:30 that afternoon to install it. When I asked the advisor if this was just the regular replacement that mey have the problem as well or one that was really fixed by Toyota, he said he had no idea just that he hoped it works.

I am going shopping for my new H/U this week. Kind of liking the new JVC that has the 3.5" touch screen.