USB thumb drive problem

Bummer. I was almost sure the fresh firmware would fix it. You’ve almost have to think it’s the actual HU that is defective. How everything else besides the USB music function is working is a head scratcher. Esp after using said USB port to perform the update. I’m going to try and find any schematics I can on the JBL HU. I’ve got to ask and you sound like a smart person but is there anyway you updated your firmware with the non JBL version? I’m thinking no since you probably can’t update with the wrong version.

 

If I'm reading all of this right thus far, it is really fascinating that the USB port can and was used to successfully update the firmware on your head unit >>from a thumb drive loaded with the update<<, then regresses back to a "thumbs down" status/mode as to playing music from same. (grayed out).

Consider calling Toyota Corporate and see if they will open a case. It's worth a try. If I was a developer there listening in on the call, I would definitely want to grab that trouble ticket, and any other team members seeing it would be raising their hands with an offer to assist.

 

Thanks again for all your assistance, I had the same feeling that this would fix it right up. Yes, I used my VIN to get the update and triple checked it was for the JBL head unit.

 

Probably does not apply here, but I had an F150 with built-in CD player and a usb port. I tried loading a usb thumb drive to play some music, and the unit would not play since it was an unauthorized copyrighted product.

 

The fact that it successfully read the update usb flash drive is another clue in itself. Was this one of your two music drives, or a third drive? If it's a third, put some classic rock on it and try it . . .

 

It was my original 32gb drive I had music on until I wiped it for the update.

 

Same problem as yours, but the Fat32 format fixed it....
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/audio-not-recognizing-usb-stick.570530/

 

Thanks, but I'm 110% certain they are all formatted FAT32

 

Lean on Toyota a little. Your truck is a 2021 for goodness sakes: Not a Grandma like my 2014 that I assume will quit anytime now going forward... especially software and firmware. They're not going to offer firmware or any other "ware" updates for my truck. It's done.

Good luck and keep us posted. (please)

 

If I was to the point of replacing the HU I would definitely contact Toyota to see if I had any options as far as warranty implications. Explaining the issue to a service writer or tech would be very ‘entertaining’ to say the least. This has really got me bugged. I wish I was there to help you troubleshoot this problem. To think this whole thing started when you pushed a button (virtual or physical) is unreal.

 

I'm not sure how much help they would be, I'm almost at 70,000 miles and I'm a DIY guy so it and all my previous Toyotas have never seen the inside of the service center except for small warranty stuff.

 

based on what you have learned, the only thing you really know is there is nothing wrong with the stick or the usb port.
the firmware upload is likely verified/checksummed so that is a pretty solid test of usb functionality. (bricking was a real possibility)
and it is not likely firmware would continue to stand if there was a uncorrectable bad spot in it's instruction or data store (memory).

so, what is the problem? since you have uploaded the firmware successfully and it is performing other functions, i'm putting my money on a defective hardware assist for the mp3 decode. which means the HU is likely hosed for practical purposes.

edit: nah. the stick name is grayed out, not just failing to play mp3. still feels hardwareish at this point.

if something is going to fail, strongly associating the failure with the last action taken is perilous (but not to be ignored). coincidences are the bane of debugging. they do make it interesting though, don't they.

 

here's a thought. if firmware finds no content on a stick, does it gray out the stick name?
you might try to use the stick for something other than audio...like updating the screen savers or whatever they are called.
might be another bit of info.
you might also take a stick with no content on it to your frien's truck to see if the name is grayed out.

 

I have nothing to contribute but just want to say I’m invested in the outcome of this. I hate when software misbehaves! I always try blame hardware because it makes sense to me

 

lol. don't know why i care but i do. obsession is most useful at times.
i hope OP does empty content / gray name experiment, though we could all do that. i may but not tonight.

Edit: i just looked at owners manual pdf. apparently you can use a CD just like a USB stick and put mp3 files on it. if you still have ability to burn a cd, it would be interesting to see if that works...another bit of info...for the puzzle. it should have quite a bit in common with playing mp3s off a usb stick.
page 357 "CD player operation"

 

Is there an echo in here?

 

No built in CD player on the 2021, so I bought a USB CD player to listen to disks but hat no longer works either (at least with store bought CD's) in my truck since the thumb drives stopped working. I drive a lot of miles going back and forth to work and my cabin up north, so this has to get corrected pretty soon.

Last night I test drove a new Tundra and the new Tacoma, the Tundra is nice but too big for my needs in the woods. The power and transmission on the new Tacoma is pretty decent but I kinda like not having a truck payment so I'm leaning towards an aftermarket deck.

 

Do you happen to have an older smaller flashdrive stuck away in a drawer somewhere? If you do, why don't you try it formatted as FAT and see if it works with a few songs on it. If that doesn't work try formatting it as FAT32 and try it again. I've been involved with computers and software since 1981, including 30 years professionally. While I agree that your problem is strange, I just don't feel that this is something that is really a hardware or firmware issue.

 

So here is a solution someone found on another forum. See text as follows. Might be worth loading a single song to a USB and trying this

I had the same problem: downloaded music would not play in 2021 RAV4 from USB. To make it work I inserted the USB in my laptop > right click on song that will not play > Properties > Details > click on "Comments" and delete the info about the source of your download. Then click OK. Make sure this info was indeed deleted. The song should now play in your car.

1 post · Joined 2024
#22 · Jun 7, 2024
that was the culprit, the "comments" field was the problem, I loaded the songs in Mp3tag and bulk deleted the "comments" field from all songs and voila! they all showed up and i can play them, before that almost 40% of the songs would not even show. not sure why Toyota choose to extract MP3 tags instead of just showing songs with their file names, I find this a bit sophisticated as approach for something as simple as a music player... luckily Toyota is good in most other areas. I would not have guessed it, you solved a big mystery that i was trying to solve by changing USB drives, formatting, etc and finally ran out of ideas