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Toyota Highlander Radio Not Working (How To Fix/Reset)

Like many people, you probably love your Toyota Highlander. When you experience problems, however, you want to get them fixed as quickly as possible. This includes an issue when your radio is no longer working.

Female car driver adjusting car radio

One of the most common reasons why a Toyota Highlander radio is no longer working is because the fuse has blown or is faulty. Look in the fuse box and find the fuse associated with the radio. You may also need to check the ECU. Replace anything that is faulty.

If you find that the radio is still not working but the fuse is not faulty, you may have an issue with the wiring. This is a problem that is difficult to trace at times.

You can try testing the wiring for continuity by removing the wires from their origination point and checking them to the radio. Otherwise, you may need to rerun the wiring temporarily to see if it fixes the issue.

Honestly, most people who have a problem with the wiring in their Toyota Highlander find it easier to get a professional involved. It’s not going to be as cheap as a DIY project, but it can save you a lot of frustration.

Toyota Highlander Radio Not Working (How To Fix/Reset)

One other thing to consider is the need to reset the radio. This can be done in a number of different ways but sometimes, you may need to take it back to factory settings. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Ignition Switch – Put the key in the ignition and turn it to the auxiliary setting. You don’t want to start the engine but you do want to get the power flowing so the radio powers on. Even if the radio isn’t powering on, make sure that the power is on.

Step 2: Apps Button – There will be an apps button on the screen. Press and hold the button while you turn the headlights on and off three times. Doing so will put you in diagnostic mode.

Step 3: Factory Diagnosis – The screen that comes up after you turn the headlights off and on three times is the factory diagnosis screen. Essentially, this is a screen that is used to diagnose issues but it can also be used as a step in the reset process.

Step 4: INIT Button – You will now see a button labeled INIT. Press and hold the INIT button until a pop-up window appears.

Step 5: Pop-Up Window – When the ‘Personal Data Is Initialized’ pop-up window appears, you will have the option of pressing either yes or no. Press Yes.

Step 6: Diagnostic Check – After you press yes on the ‘Personal Data Is Initialized’ pop-up, you will be back to the diagnostic check screen again. When you are on the screen, wait a few seconds for everything the properly initialize before taking the next step.

Step 7: Off and On – Turn the key back to the off position, remove it, and reinsert the key. Turn the key forward to the auxiliary position without starting the motor. At this point, the radio will reboot. After it reboots fully, all of the settings will have been reset.

Another trick to consider that can be handy during this time is to remove any CD that you have in the CD player. As you cycle through the different options, such as FM radio, AM radio, and Auxiliary, the option to select CD is grayed out if a CD is not in the player.

You may find this to be a convenient option that will save you a little time and frustration when you’re switching to another input option.

Generally speaking, doing a full factory reset is all that is needed for almost any problems you experience with your Toyota Highlander radio. There may be times, however, in which you need to step things up to the next level and go after a specific problem. That is what this article is designed to do.

You should also consider safety when working on your Toyota Highlander radio. This is not going to be much of a concern if you are just pushing buttons but any time you open up a fuse panel or start removing wiring, you run the risk of electric shock.

Some of the fuses carry enough power to give you quite a jolt. Don’t take the risk. Make sure that you protect yourself when doing any work on the radio that requires you to be in the fuse box or removing wiring.

Toyota Highlander Radio Won’t Turn On

Adjusting car radio volume knob

A common issue that occurs with Toyota Highlander radios is they won’t turn on. If this happens to you, what can you do to fix the problem?

A common reason why Toyota Highlander radios won’t turn on is because of a blown fuse. Open the fuse panel and carefully look through the fuses to find the one that powers the radio. If it is damaged or loose, it should be replaced.

Fuses are very inexpensive and can be replaced easily. Even if it doesn’t appear as if the fuse is a problem, you should still replace it to remove the possibility that it is an issue.

There may also be other problems that are leading to your radio not turning on. One of those is the electronic control unit (ECU).

Unfortunately, the ECU is a very expensive piece of equipment and if it is necessary to replace it, it is going to cost you several hundred dollars in most cases. That being said, it is not often necessary to replace the ECU.

Rather than replacing the ECU, you can go to the Toyota dealership and have them reprogram it. You might find that this is the issue that is causing your radio not to come on. More than likely, however, that problem will also be in conjunction with other problems.

One final possibility is that there is a wiring issue that is causing your Toyota Highlander radio not to get power. If that is the case, you need to trace the problem and replace the wire.

Toyota Highlander Radio Won’t Turn Off

Car driver pushing radio controls

It can be frustrating when the radio in your Toyota Highlander won’t turn on. It can be equally as frustrating when it won’t turn off.

A common reason why a Toyota Highlander radio is stuck in the on position is that a relay is stuck closed. When the relay is stuck in the closed position, then the power will continue to run to the radio and you cannot turn it off. Otherwise, it could be a faulty ignition switch.

The first step in the process of fixing this issue is to remove the 10 amp fuse associated with the radio. If that turns the radio off, you should replace the fuse.

You should also pull the relay labeled ‘ACC’. If the radio shuts off when you pull the relay, then the relay is stuck in the closed position. It can be replaced as well.

If you suspect that it is a problem with the ignition switch, you can test it with a multimeter. Check to see if the power comes and goes when you turn the ignition switch on and off.

There is one other possibility, and that’s an issue with the radio itself. If the radio continues to stay on when you pull the fuse and the relay, you may have to replace the radio.

Toyota Highlander Radio Display Not Working

Car driver pushing radio controls

We rely on the radio display in our Toyota Highlander for many reasons. If yours isn’t working, there may be a simple solution.

The most common reason why a radio display is not working in a Toyota Highlander is that the radio is dead. In some cases, it may still be covered by the warranty so you can take it to the dealership and have it replaced.

If the radio has died and it needs to be replaced at your own cost, you have some options to consider. You could purchase a stock radio and put it in yourself or you may want to upgrade to another unit.

There are plenty of reasons to use a stock radio in a Toyota Highlander, as they were designed to work with the vehicle. At the same time, however, upgrading to an aftermarket option has benefits as well.

Your best choice is to strike a balance between having something that works well for you and having something that is affordable. You can go to an audio shop and they will assist you.

Toyota Highlander Radio Keeps Rebooting/Restarting

Car radio control panel

Does your radio keep rebooting or restarting in your Highlander? It may be an issue that you can fix on your own.

One reason why your Highlander radio may be restarting is because of a software update. The update may not have been completed fully or yours may not be up-to-date with the apps that are installed.

Try to force a software update and see if it corrects the issue. Otherwise, you may need to restart the radio to reset it.

Disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave it unplugged for 15 minutes. You can also disconnect the ECU. After waiting, reconnect the power and it should weed out any glitch that is causing the problem.

Unfortunately, there are also times when it could be an expensive problem with the head unit. You can replace the head unit, but it does come with a considerable cost.

Toyota Highlander Radio Keeps Turning Off

Adjusting car radio volume knob

Is your Toyota Highlander radio turning off constantly? There are some reasons why it may do so.

An issue that can cause the radio to turn off randomly is sometimes caused by a loose fuse. When the fuse is loose, your Toyota Highlander radio gets power intermittently so it will shut off on occasion.

The easiest way to fix this problem is simply to replace the fuse. It is good to do so, even if it appears as if the fuse is still in good shape.

The fuse doesn’t necessarily have to be completely blown and more than likely, it hasn’t blown yet. The fact that it is simply failing is what causes it to shut off randomly.

If the fuse is loose, it can also cause this problem to occur. This is typically an issue that takes place when you are driving because the jarring of the fuse causes it to pop out of place on occasion.

Another option is for the wiring to be loose or failing. You can begin checking the wiring after you have looked into the problem with the fuse.

Toyota Highlander Radio No Sound

Car driver pushing radio controls

Is your Toyota Highlander radio no longer playing sound? It’s a frustrating issue, but one that is often easily solved.

Sometimes, a Toyota Highlander radio will not play sound when the fuse is failing. It doesn’t necessarily shut the entire radio off but it can keep certain features of the radio from playing, including the sound.

One thing you can do is to test various options to see if you can get it working again. This not only includes the fuse, it also includes the accessory.

First of all, you should replace the fuse. They are cheap and sometimes, that is all that is needed to get it working again.

You might also want to try switching to a different input. If you are using a CD, try using the radio. Otherwise, you could try connecting your mobile device with Bluetooth.

One other thing to consider is if you are having a problem with the Bluetooth sound. This is not an uncommon issue. Try plugging the device in directly to see if it fixes the problem.

If plugging the device in does help, you can then remove the device from the Bluetooth settings and connect it again.

Toyota Highlander Radio Skipping

Car radio control panel

When the radio is skipping in your Toyota Highlander, is a very frustrating situation. There is something you can do to fix it if you have the time.

One way to fix a Toyota Highlander radio that is skipping is to reconnect the Bluetooth. If the Bluetooth is not connecting properly, then it will not get the signal necessary for a smooth audio experience.

Bluetooth is an amazing technology and we probably use it more often than we realize. The problem is, that there are also limitations with Bluetooth in regards to the distance between devices and any obstacles between devices.

Ensure that your device is in close proximity to the radio in your Toyota Highlander. You should also avoid putting it inside of any enclosed areas, as that can limit the signal as well.

Otherwise, remove the device from the radio in your settings and reconnect it again.

Toyota Highlander Radio Volume Knob Not Working

Car radio control panel

Are you having problems with the volume knob on your Toyota Highlander radio? It’s actually a common problem.

Copyright protected article by Know My Auto and was first published on Sep 6, 2022. .

When the volume control knob no longer works as expected, it is sometimes necessary to clean things out properly. Remove the knob and use some electric contact cleaner to spray in the shaft. Replace the knob and rotate it back and forth to correct the problem.

When spraying the electric contact cleaner, spray it on the inside of the hollow shaft. You can use as much as you want, just make sure that you have something underneath it to catch any drips.

It is also best if you have the car and the radio turned off while you spray the electric contact cleaner and rotate the knob. After doing this, the radio should work properly.

Toyota Highlander Radio Screen Blank

Adjusting car radio volume knob

If the radio screen is blank in your Toyota Highlander, it can present a number of problems.

The easiest way to fix a problem with a Toyota Highlander radio screen is to reset the radio. This can be done quickly by pushing the on/off button and holding it in until the radio resets. Otherwise, you may need to check the fuses.

How To Reset Toyota Highlander Radio

Car radio control panel

If you need to reset the radio in the Toyota Highlander, there are options available. They range from simple to complex.

The easiest way to reset a Toyota Highlander radio is to press and hold the power button for a few moments until the unit restarts. At that point, it should be completed with the soft reset.

You can also perform a stronger reset, but you have to have the radio code. You can get the code from your local Toyota dealer.

Once you have the code, use the following steps to reset the Toyota radio on your own.

Step 1: Turn on – Turn the vehicle on and then turn the radio on.

Step 2: 1 Button and Up Arrow – Press the 1 button while you are holding it, also press the up arrow on the radio’s left side. As you do, 4 dashes will show up on the radio display.

Step 3: Stereo Code – Use the preset buttons to enter the code that was supplied by your local Toyota dealer. You need to enter it properly or you could get locked out of the system.

If you get the code wrong three times, the system will be locked then you must visit the dealer to get assistance.

If your Toyota Highlander radio is not working, you can remove the fuse and replace it. If the fuse is not blown, you can check the ECU and wiring for problems.

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