Prius Classic - Radio Queries

[Merlin The Senile]

Hello everyone -

I'm brand new to this, just joined up and just bought a 2001 Prius Classic with 23K miles. I love it so far, but have a couple of queries if anyone can help.......

1. The radio cuts out briefly - half a second or so - every 10 secs or so. Anyone know why? I have an RDS radio in another car which 'blips' every few seconds, which I'm fairly sure is the RDS searching for another signal (which it never finds incidentally, as it never retunes!).

2. There is a tape cassette stuck in the drive - the mechanism is engaged and the tape constantly whirrs a few seconds one way, then back. It's a logic operated deck - does anyone know a way to make it eject the tape? And if not, how do you remove the tape head unit for service? It occurs to me that the radio problem above may be related to the tape deck reversing direction.

And unrelated, but the car's DVLA record seems to indicate that it should have a cruise control, but there is no sign of one ever having been fitted. Was it an option in the UK....?

Thanks for reading!

[pauledg]

Hello everyone -

I'm brand new to this, just joined up and just bought a 2001 Prius Classic with 23K miles. I love it so far, but have a couple of queries if anyone can help.......

1. The radio cuts out briefly - half a second or so - every 10 secs or so. Anyone know why? I have an RDS radio in another car which 'blips' every few seconds, which I'm fairly sure is the RDS searching for another signal (which it never finds incidentally, as it never retunes!).

2. There is a tape cassette stuck in the drive - the mechanism is engaged and the tape constantly whirrs a few seconds one way, then back. It's a logic operated deck - does anyone know a way to make it eject the tape? And if not, how do you remove the tape head unit for service? It occurs to me that the radio problem above may be related to the tape deck reversing direction.

And unrelated, but the car's DVLA record seems to indicate that it should have a cruise control, but there is no sign of one ever having been fitted. Was it an option in the UK....?

Thanks for reading!

Hi, Merlin

I too have a 2001 Prius Classic and mine DOES have cruise control but you'd never know it. The cruise mechanism is built in and invisible, the controller is a weeny little 3cm square remote with 4 buttons on it that you velcro to the dash. I don't know whether all Classics had this device installed but I guess as yours is listed by the DVLA like mine as with cruise control you may be lucky.

The manual I have is from a company called Coastal Electronic Technologies and the device appears to be designed solely for the Prius. So, no steering column switches or controls. The receiver is a computer contolled device which detects signals from the remote transmitter and outputs the decoded information to the Prius - it says.

Complete replacement transmitters are (or were) available from the manufacturers at (a quoted) $22 plus $5 shipping (maybe more for the UK?)

P.S. I've just had a quick look at their website (all sorts of electronic goodies for Priuses of all ages) but I can't see any mention of this particular device, maybe a call to them might help?

Coastal Electronic Technologies

1635 W. Main St. Inverness, FLORIDA 34450

www.coastalEtech.com

tel: 1-352-344-8680

Worth a try?

Paul

[Merlin The Senile]

Thanks, Paul. It sounds as though your car has an aftermarket device. My user manual has instructions for using the cruise control, which is NOT listed as an option, via a short stalk under the steering wheel on the RHS. My car has a small blanking plate in the corresponding position on the left of the wheel, so they may have simply decided not to fit them in the UK ("no demand....."). Anyway the UK sales brochure doesn't mention it or show it in the photos. Sounds like it might be worth having a look at the USA accessories though!

Presumably you've heard about the latest recall notice (Battery resealing).

Bill, aka Merlin

------------------------------------------------

Hello everyone -

I'm brand new to this, just joined up and just bought a 2001 Prius Classic with 23K miles. I love it so far, but have a couple of queries if anyone can help.......

1. The radio cuts out briefly - half a second or so - every 10 secs or so. Anyone know why? I have an RDS radio in another car which 'blips' every few seconds, which I'm fairly sure is the RDS searching for another signal (which it never finds incidentally, as it never retunes!).

2. There is a tape cassette stuck in the drive - the mechanism is engaged and the tape constantly whirrs a few seconds one way, then back. It's a logic operated deck - does anyone know a way to make it eject the tape? And if not, how do you remove the tape head unit for service? It occurs to me that the radio problem above may be related to the tape deck reversing direction.

And unrelated, but the car's DVLA record seems to indicate that it should have a cruise control, but there is no sign of one ever having been fitted. Was it an option in the UK....?

Thanks for reading!

Hi, Merlin

I too have a 2001 Prius Classic and mine DOES have cruise control but you'd never know it. The cruise mechanism is built in and invisible, the controller is a weeny little 3cm square remote with 4 buttons on it that you velcro to the dash. I don't know whether all Classics had this device installed but I guess as yours is listed by the DVLA like mine as with cruise control you may be lucky.

The manual I have is from a company called Coastal Electronic Technologies and the device appears to be designed solely for the Prius. So, no steering column switches or controls. The receiver is a computer contolled device which detects signals from the remote transmitter and outputs the decoded information to the Prius - it says.

Complete replacement transmitters are (or were) available from the manufacturers at (a quoted) $22 plus $5 shipping (maybe more for the UK?)

P.S. I've just had a quick look at their website (all sorts of electronic goodies for Priuses of all ages) but I can't see any mention of this particular device, maybe a call to them might help?

Coastal Electronic Technologies

1635 W. Main St. Inverness, FLORIDA 34450

www.coastalEtech.com

tel: 1-352-344-8680

Worth a try?

Paul

I had some info from someone about this:

"1. The radio cuts out briefly - half a second or so - every 10 secs or so. Anyone know why? "

...apparently it is because the radio is searching for traffic announcements. My friend said when she turns off traffic program checking, the radio works without any blips. I haven't had a chance to test this yet, as my wife has relieved me of the car while she proves she can get better mpg than me. Ha! Some chance.

Bill, aka Merlin