2012 4Runner Limited - Audio System Not Powering Up

[schieber]

Hello All, First time poster here. Stumbled across the forums looking for an answer to this problem before I spent some $$ taking my 4Runner to the shop. I have a 2012 Limited 4Runner that has been well maintained and has about 45,000 miles on it. A few days ago, I started the SUV to drive home from work and the audio system would not power on and was unresponsive when I pushed the power button.

I have not had any issues with the unit before, and the system was functioning normally about 3 hours before when I took the SUV out for lunch. It appears all other electrical systems are functioning properly, but ever since Friday the audio system will not power up.

I have scoured the internet and manuals but haven't found anything helpful. I was wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with this or any suggestions on what may be wrong.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[rigtec]

"...A few days ago, I started the SUV to drive home from work and the audio system would not power on and was unresponsive when I pushed the power button."

Hi schieber,

We both have the exact same vehicle and I'm fairly familiar w/that audio system so I hope I can help. There are two fuses that feed/protect that hu. The first one to check is located in the driverside R/B (relay box). The fuse is labeled "ACC" 'for accessories' and the fuse has a 7.5A value; it's hot whenever the start button is pressed to on. If that fuse is good, there's a 30A fuse located in the main R/B under the hood labeled "Amp fuse". Check those before we go any further. Regards

rigtec,

 

[schieber]

Driver side R/B Location

Thanks for the response Rigtec! Gonna get in there and take a look at the fuses. No prob locating the R/B under the hood but having trouble accessing the driver side box and can't find any info online for a '12 4runner. Any clues as to how I can get in there?

Thanks!

 

[fattire]

I was in mine this weekend to install my CB. It's in the footwell next to the parking brake. You have to look almost straight up towards the driver side to see it. Mine has a white cover on it that came off easily with a light tug on the side closest to the firewall.

Fuse locations are labelled on the cover. IIRC the fuse mentioned by rigtec is one of the two closest to the driver seat.

 

[schieber]

Fuses OK

Hi schieber,

We both have the exact same vehicle and I'm fairly familiar w/that audio system so I hope I can help. There are two fuses that feed/protect that hu. The first one to check is located in the driverside R/B (relay box). The fuse is labeled "ACC" 'for accessories' and the fuse has a 7.5A value; it's hot whenever the start button is pressed to on. If that fuse is good, there's a 30A fuse located in the main R/B under the hood labeled "Amp fuse". Check those before we go any further. Regards

rigtec,

Hey Rigtec,

Just got under the hood and checked out both fuses and they looked ok and had no visible damage. Any other suggestions for things to check after ruling out those two fuses as a possible problem?

Thanks!

 

[rigtec]

Hey Rigtec,

Just got under the hood and checked out both fuses and they looked ok and had no visible damage. Any other suggestions for things to check after ruling out those two fuses as a possible problem?

Thanks!

Well if it were my truck I would verify 12V (and ground) at the HU's main (intermittent) and memory (constant) power supply harness connector pins; Note: just because there is power at the fuses doesn't necessarily mean that it goes all the way to the hu. If I found power at the power supply connector, then I would need to look inside of the hu to see if there are any fuses/cb's at the 'mother-board' or any other nav related circuitry.

The two power supply wires of interest are on the hu rear panel in connector G-6, pin# 3 (gray) and pin# 4 (Lt blue). Both of these should be HOT with the start button in the on position. NOTE: I'm not too sure which connector is labeled G-6 on the back panel, but that can likely be verified with a bit of time spent using google "IMAGES".

rigtec, cheers

 

[schieber]

Rigtec, thanks for the additional instruction. After looking into those items more, I decided to run it by a local Toyota Dealership to have them take a look a the unit and run some diagnostics on it to see what they came up with. What they found was that the unit was receiving adequate power with no issues; however, the unit was completely unresponsive and the conclusion was that it has malfunctioned for some unknown reason. They said they had no idea what could have caused it and they have never seen it before.

Their only conclusion was that the entire audio/gps unit needs to be replaced, which would cost $3700 for the part alone from Toyota. They tried to look into warranty, but said the radio was not covered. He also indicated that Toyota has some type of refurbish program where I would be able to purchase a refurbished unit at a discounted rate, but since the new price is $3700 I am thinking that even the refurbished rate would be significantly higher than just installing an aftermarket radio/gps system. Very frustrating situation, but I don't really know what else to do.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Rigtec, thanks for the additional instruction. After looking into those items more, I decided to run it by a local Toyota Dealership to have them take a look a the unit and run some diagnostics on it to see what they came up with. What they found was that the unit was receiving adequate power with no issues; however, the unit was completely unresponsive and the conclusion was that it has malfunctioned for some unknown reason. They said they had no idea what could have caused it and they have never seen it before.

Their only conclusion was that the entire audio/gps unit needs to be replaced, which would cost $3700 for the part alone from Toyota. They tried to look into warranty, but said the radio was not covered. He also indicated that Toyota has some type of refurbish program where I would be able to purchase a refurbished unit at a discounted rate, but since the new price is $3700 I am thinking that even the refurbished rate would be significantly higher than just installing an aftermarket radio/gps system. Very frustrating situation, but I don't really know what else to do.

Are you past your warranty/extended warranty period? If not, it's covered!

 

[schieber]

I bought the vehicle used this past April and the original purchase date of the vehicle was in November of 2011 so it would still be under the 36 month coverage, but it has 40,000 miles on it so it exceeds the 36,000 miles and therefore it is no longer under warranty.

 

[V8PoWer]

Call the salvage yards(*ahem car-part.cxx). Way less and a litttle bit of your time.

 

[Victor_inox]

Time to go aftermarket and ditch this $3700 POS.

 

[rigtec]

Rigtec, thanks for the additional instruction. After looking into those items more, I decided to run it by a local Toyota Dealership to have them take a look a the unit and run some diagnostics on it to see what they came up with. What they found was that the unit was receiving adequate power with no issues; however, the unit was completely unresponsive and the conclusion was that it has malfunctioned for some unknown reason. They said they had no idea what could have caused it and they have never seen it before.

That's okay schieber,

Now you can get a GREAT hu put in and not have the problems that the rest of us are experiencing. In my opinion, the aftermarket heads are FAR BETTER than the toyota krapp that we're stuck with. And... you can get an "Alpine", "Kenwood" or a "pioneer" for way less than the prices that you were quoted from the dealership; figure about 66% less! Just go to Crurtchfield.com, find a system that has the features that you want, and buy it somewhere else, ANYWHERE ELSE(!) e.g., amazon, parts express, ebay... you'll do very well if you shop, Best to you!

rigtec

 

[Victor_inox]

It will sounds better looks better, cheaper and you can retain steering wheel controls. entune system is crapp anyway.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

That's okay schieber,

Now you can get a GREAT hu put in and not have the problems that the rest of us are experiencing. In my opinion, the aftermarket heads are FAR BETTER than the toyota krapp that we're stuck with. And... you can get an "Alpine", "Kenwood" or a "pioneer" for way less than the prices that you were quoted from the dealership; figure about 66% less! Just go to Crurtchfield.com, find a system that has the features that you want, and buy it somewhere else, ANYWHERE ELSE(!) e.g., amazon, parts express, ebay... you'll do very well if you shop, Best to you!

rigtec

100% agree. For the $$$ the dealer wants you could get a good HD DVD deck with Nav and some good amps and a DSP.

 

[Saker]

If someone has done this, they ought to post up some pics and brand / model they chose.... I am sure schieber is probably just about outdone with this info from the dealership at this point.

Help a brotha out!

 

[Victor_inox]

If someone has done this, they ought to post up some pics and brand / model they chose.... I am sure schieber is probably just about outdone with this info from the dealership at this point.

Help a brotha out!

I have a better idea, looks like OP is in Denver, if that`s the case I can help.
with equipment selection maybe install.

 

[Nolarola]

If someone has done this, they ought to post up some pics and brand / model they chose.... I am sure schieber is probably just about outdone with this info from the dealership at this point.

Help a brotha out!

Plenty of us have changed out our stereos (it's really easy as long as you're just changing the HU and not speakers, etc). Browse this, I think I list a parts list somewhere - it may vary somewhat with the Limited/Entune HU (as in the harness may be different), but the info is all available.

See http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/61082-aftermarket-stereo-34.html

 

[schieber]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, after striking out with the dealers again on warranty claims, I am just going to go ahead and get a Pioneer AVIC-8000NEX and be done with it. A little nervous about tackling a system install myself; I am pretty handy and good with electronics, but I have never attempted to replace a car stereo. May shop around some local car audio places and see what they charge for install just to ensure I don't fudge it up.

Thanks again everyone

 

[Victor_inox]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, after striking out with the dealers again on warranty claims, I am just going to go ahead and get a Pioneer AVIC-8000NEX and be done with it. A little nervous about tackling a system install myself; I am pretty handy and good with electronics, but I have never attempted to replace a car stereo. May shop around some local car audio places and see what they charge for install just to ensure I don't fudge it up.

Thanks again everyone

Just don`t go to Bestbuy for your install.

 

[schieber]

Weirdest thing happened this weekend. So the radio has been unresponsive since my original post and I found a replacement unit which it have been waiting for the last week to arrive. So this weekend I took the 4runner up to the mountains overnight and the car was parked outside all night. In the morning when I got back in the car to drive home, the radio powered up completely normal and was 100% functional for the 2 hour drive. Got home and parked my car back in the garage and when I got back in about 4 hours later the radio didn't work again....

No idea what is going on with this stupid stereo but I thought I would post that here to see if this is an indication of something specific that may be wrong. Only difference I could think of is that the 4runner is usually parked in my apt building garage overnight which is temperature controlled, but was left outside in some pretty low temperatures, but I cannot imagine that would have any real effect.