So I had my CD changer rebuilt and it now has to be installed horizontally vs. vertically from the factory. I'd like to reuse the factory brackets attached to the rear wall of the trunk but can't figure out how to mount the changer so that it is secure and don't take the bumps too hard. If any of you out there have done this please give me some direction and tips...

Thanks in advance. BC

 

Why on Earth would they rebuild it like that? That just doesn't make sense. Personally, I would just get rid of it, and upgrade your audio system. However, if you're determined to keep it, I suppose you could fabricate some sort of custom bracket to hold it in place at the location of your choosing.

 

Perhaps it is possible to hang the assembly on wires until you can figure a best new location. mounting the changer to wood with the old brackets would give you a lot of new available screw locations , or a mating surface to a whole lot of quality velcro.


The wise guy in me is tempted to say to take it back and get it repaired correctly, but I get it that there is one guy out there who asks this of his customers. There must be something I don't know about pioneer factory service that makes this guy popular.

I don't suggest I know better than the guy doing the repairs, but if my changer needs repair, it is going to return to function in the original location., or I don't call it a repair. I also wouldn't accept mismatched paint in a body repair, but am flexible about results verses a failed non solution. when results are needed .

I have read a few posts advocating a vertical install, perhaps this is a work around for an unobtainable belt, I don't know, there must be a reason to ask this of the customer. I do remember a number of posts who said a vertical mounting cured their problem loading without doing anything else.

Poor design or a design flaw doesn't fly with me, these thing were very common at the time, and the carriages interchanged between the manufacturers, so I would assume they all used a common , and trusted , manufacturer and design.

Perhaps wear over time is the culprit, and worn plastic travel paths might require this change of location. I do know that having repairs come back is the easiest way to loose money on any job, and the suspicious part of me wants to think an honest repair guy is trying to shift some risk of repairing an old changer on to the customer. luckily I don't settle on ideas I can't confirm, and have no desire to slander a guy in public with nothing earned but good reports.

as for myself, I will hit up pioneer service when the day comes, and if they are unable to fix it back to original function, I never liked the sound of the long wire run to the trunk anyway, and much prefer the dash player. I save the good playback efforts for home use.

my dash player is old, and I can buy a new player to instal into the radio, nice because only the CD player is worn. Once the dash heats up, it loads and ejects properly. I was gratified when my just purchased use car ejected a forgotten Sinatra CD, confirming my impression of the past use of the car. A German thrash metal band ejecting out would not be a good sign.

Hey, as long as you are moving it around, why not ditch the long wire leads and mount it in the passengers footwell? that way, if it acts up, shotgun could just give it a kick.

 

FYI - Pioneer no longer will service these units. I wanted to keep it so had little choice as to where to have it repaired. According to the repair facility the mechanism required a modification that in turn required the modified unit to be mounted horizontally. I'm quite sure that I'll figure it out. I was just asking if someone had done this previously, to send me in the right direction.

 

I actually fashioned new brackets that attached to the factory brackets. Attached bubble wrap under the unit and it's securely fastened and cushioned. Tried it out after receiving it from the repair and all works fine. Took out the Vette yesterday as it was nice here in SE Pennsylvania to see if it would skip when hitting bumps. No issues, so I'm happy with the repair and the changer. Realize it's not for everyone but I wanted to keep it.

Thanks for all the suggestions gang.

 

One reason you prefer the sound of the head unit over the 12 disc player is this: The GM dealer told me it broadcasts the sound on a low power FM signal, which is picked up on your own car antenna. FM has a good quality sound, but it's generally limited to a frequency response of 40Hz-15,000Hz, which isn't nearly the frequency response capability the CD can offer........

 

The CD changer has line level outputs that go to the radio. So no RF adapter. These lines can be used for a line level input to the radio and that's how some aftermarket RF adapters are connected to the stock radio.

 

Good to know. Another dealer who isn't schooled.

 

I would reccomend forgetting anything you've heard from a dealer about these cars. Most cars for that matter. Too many knuckleheads and fly by night part timers at dealers full of misinformation.