Steering Wheel Volume Down Button Problem

July 1, 2008

Hi everyone,

I've a problem here, wonder if anybody knows a solution to this.

My new Auris TR steering wheel volume button is driving me insane. Once a car wormed up (usually 5-10 min driving), Volume Down button becomes Volume UP, i.e., when pressing Volume Down sound goes up.

Went to Toyota Center three times already. First they changed the switch, then the entire radio unit, then the steering wheel and the problem's still there. Toyota service says they've never experienced anything like it, hence no solution whatsoever. They are going to come back to me once they've spoken to some engineering center (don't know where)... aaaggghhhrrrrzzzzzz..!

Have you heard or experienced anything like it?

Would appreciate any suggestions/comments... even if it's a false promise :-) lol

Thank you in advance

Artisticka

xxx

August 12, 2008

May seem a little silly but pop the switch out and reverse the wires. Down becomes up and vica versa. Then at least it will only be wrong until its warmed up.

Until a proper solution appears.

October 18, 2008

Hi artisticka,

We just received our Auris TR 1.6 MMT 1 week ago ... with the same problem. It's true, it's intermitent ... during the same session (while driving) it could work or not ... so nothing to do with the ignition, etc. The car had folty fog lights from new, so I've been to service once and ask them to have a look on the volume control as well ... the answer was as expected - we could not see the problem.

Once I've seen your post here, it tell me that our car it's not the only one with this fault and it's petty for Toyota, considering their High Standard of QC for cars.

Now, if you managed to progress somehow, I would appreciate your input.

Otherwise, I strongly believe the fault comes from a micro-controler chip (most likely software issue) on the audio system it self (radio/cd). The reason I'm saying this, is because I have noticed the following:

- while using the SWC bluetooh system, same Volume UP and DOWN keys work as a charm; once I switch off bluetooth communication, same Volume DOWN key has the reverse effect on the volume for same audio system.

- some times it works well, even if I switch on/off the key in ignition couple of times so it's really random

The switches are more then fine, same for the steering wheel wires, etc. Where I think the problem is ... it's down to a controler that handles the input of that key, which could be placed on the steering wheel or most likely on the radio unit. But I can make speculations like this, as it should be Toyota's service engineer pleasure to investigate and fix.

What I am really surprised is ... why such a simple thing became so complicated and hard to fix these days?! On my other car (5 years old focus) I have the same Volume Up & Down buttons on the left side of the wheel ... never had a problem or heard anyone complaining in general.

Hope to hear more from other users.

November 6, 2008

Just to be consistent:

- the volume down key was working fine the first aprox. 15 min or so, since the engine ignition and then it reverse the normal functionality until the car was stationary a longer period.

- the good news is that the Service garage did call me back as they found on an internal forum facts about the bluetooth unit, which seems to be faulty.

- in the end they changed the BT unit and now the volume key works as expected.

Looking fwd to hear from you other tips/tricks/workarounds or solutions to any problems you have encounter.

November 7, 2008

Don't want to cause panic but the problem is cars today have too much electronic for the services shops to hire a simple electrician. I experienced a problem with my alarm which was only solved on the HQ in Lisbon. The guy at the dealer where I bought the car was there 1h and couldn't solve the problem. Services have to hire Electronics Eng. period I do not know about UK and other countries but here in Portugal they think a simple electrician (cost saving) will solve all their problems but it won't for some reason they hire Mechanic Eng. but a car today has as much as the same amount of electronic as it has mechanic.