When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 1997 C5 that came with a Delco 12 CD Changer. A few years back, I installed a GM "PIE" AUX converter that let me connect my Belkin iPod auto kit to the cable used by the CD changer - it has worked great all this time!
Two months ago my car battery gave up the ghost, so I replaced it. As the battery had died I had to reset the security, etc. on the Delco Head Unit. Everything worked great except now the iPod auto kit won't play audio. I switch the Head Unit to AUX mode and it sits there for about 30 secs before stating "ERR" on the LCD. The rest of the Head Unit's functions (including the built-in single-CD player and the FM radio) all work with no problems.
Thinking it may have been the iPod kit that was the problem, I removed the PIE adapter and reconnected the 12 CD changer. Now when I switch across to the AUX mode, the CD changer fires up (you can hear it churning through the CDs) but the Head Unit still sits on Disc 1 before eventually giving the same "ERR" message. CDs don't play and no audio.
I know it's a long shot, but is it possible I blew a fuse somewhere specific to the CD changer functionality on the Head Unit? Do you have to "re-program" the Head Unit to recognize the CD changer after a power loss? Or is it likely that I just have a broken / disconnected wire somewhere between the changer and the Head Unit?
Thanks for any insight anyone can give - I'd hate to have to go to the Dealer for something so seemingly trivial!
I cannot speak about the Ipod connection as I have no knowledge there, however, the usual problems with the CD changer are two; First one is inserting the disk cartridge and "WAIT", while it loads and verifies each and every disk in it. Starting the car while that process is running will result in an error condition everytime. Just wait for a couple of minutes till its done.
The second usual problem is the disks are inserted backwards. If you didn't move their positions from working to non-working, then you probably don't have this problem.
I did wait until the CD changer stopped churning before I started up the vette - I remember it having the same issue years ago when I used to actually use the CD changer...and all the discs are in the correct way also.
It just seems that the Head Unit isn't happy about something related to communicating with the changer...
bump for this any updates?? my battery died a few weeks ago and since charging it i cant get my cd changer to work now... nor will my pie aux for my mp3 player
My 98 Vette CD Changer is having the same exact problem although it was after a particularly heavy rain the changer stopped working. It cycles through reading each CD but then reports back ERR. Any ideas or suggestions?
Mine crapped out a year or two ago. Just quit playing. I got the same ERR message.
I got another one free from another Forum member. It worked, but skipped on rough pavement.
I found a shop near me that said they'd repair it for $100 + parts, but then called and said the unit was too old (99) and they didn't have a controller for it.
The only other shop I found wanted $250 and he recommended a new one.
I think you're faced with spending some $$$
There is a small recessed "reset" button on the changer........at least on mine. Look for a small dot on the lower left corner as you look at the changer face. Requires a ball point pen or straight paper clip.
From: I speak the truth. Harsh but accurate. The Woodlands Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Try unhooking it and turning the power on to the radio with nothing connected. Turn off for a few hours and then re connect and try it. It worked for me.
Forums rock! Thank you, thank you. I am not sure which one worked because I tried both (paper clip on the reset button & pulled the power cable for an hour)
Quick update - I eventually fixed this problem by disconnecting the negative terminal on my battery, left it for a full 10 minutes, reconnected it and the head unit recognized the CD changer! I then swapped the changer out to the PIE adapter and it's working great now!