Navigation Joystick Replacement / Fix

[xsnrg]

I know I've vented in some other threads about the navi joystick being bad to start with, but mine is now failing. From what I can see on the discount parts site below, it is called the Controller and sells for $888. Has anyone had theirs start to fail or stop registering 'clicks'? If so, is there any update to this part since '06? If there is a new-improved one in the '08-'09 cars, I'd want to put that in if it were compatible. Or, perhaps there is a procedure someone has had luck with in taking one apart and cleaning contacts, etc? Pls help ... I certainly don't want to drop that kind of cash on a thing I already deplore, but I also don't want to drive this car around the next few years without being able to clear the Disclaimer screen or interact with it.

Navi Joystick =



http://www.toyotapartsamerica.com/pa...layCatalogid=0

[Kellc1]

As someone who had years of audio experience, I would go to my local Radio Shack, and purchase a can of contact cleaner. It comes in a spray can, with a little red tube for directing the spray (think WD 40). It may even say TV tuner cleaner. With car power turned off, get the cleaner spray down under the joystick control for a full second, then immediately move the joystick around and around, and back and forth many times. Let dry for 10 minutes, and give it a try. I will be surprised if it doesn't cure your problem.
KC

[frk203]

Originally Posted by xsnrg

I know I've vented in some other threads about the navi joystick being bad to start with, but mine is now failing. From what I can see on the discount parts site below, it is called the Controller and sells for $888. Has anyone had theirs start to fail or stop registering 'clicks'? If so, is there any update to this part since '06? If there is a new-improved one in the '08-'09 cars, I'd want to put that in if it were compatible. Or, perhaps there is a procedure someone has had luck with in taking one apart and cleaning contacts, etc? Pls help ... I certainly don't want to drop that kind of cash on a thing I already deplore, but I also don't want to drive this car around the next few years without being able to clear the Disclaimer screen or interact with it.

Navi Joystick =



http://www.toyotapartsamerica.com/pa...layCatalogid=0

my sister have the same problem with her car whenever you try to click the middle button it dosent fully register, now she just uses a portable navigation instead, she took her car to the dealer but because her car has 35K miles now its not covered in the bumper to bumper warranty anymore, really disappointed with toyota.

[pseal]

I was having same problem with mine (2006). Fortunately I have the extended warranty. Explained problem to tech and they called and said its expensive to replace (not to me or them .. they still get paid) and that they tested it and it worked fine; I just needed to be more careful using it. That ticked me off. I explained that I've had the car for 3 years and know how to use it and it has gotten to point its unusable as the joystick is too wobbly. They ended up replacing it and I can now use it again. After 3 years, I can really tell the difference with the new one, the joystick is much "tighter."

[xsnrg]

So I went to auto store and bought a can of electric contact cleaner. I took the assembly out of the console and then kept disassembling until I got down to the tiny little joystick under the big button. The joystick contacts are not exposed, so I sprayed the heck out of it, worked the stick, and then sprayed it some more. Some must have gotten down in there, because it seems much better now. Still frustrating and bordering on unusable, but much better. Replacing it at like $700 is not a feasible option for me. Does anyone have a link to that hack that clears the 'I agree' button automatically? I'd be happy with either a hacked Nav CD that does it OR the one where you had to do some soldering work to the joystick assembly.

Update: The effect of this was very momentary and it went back to same symptoms very soon after. You just can't get the cleaner down into the joystick module itself or that's not the problem. I sprayed the heck out of it around the shaft and tried to 'work' it down in.