Dear Forum,
I am one of those "luddites" who had a multiple disk CD changer in my trunk and really enjoyed it. I'll admit that I've been attracted to the newer systems available with Bluetooth, USB inputs, internal hard drives, and the like, but have striven to keep my Corvette original and avoid having to chop up the center stack and associated wiring. You know, the sound of the engine and the wind noise with the roof removed on a glorious sunny day easily beats 95% of what comes out of the sound system. More and more, I cruise with it shut off.

Well, as is the case with people having the multiple disk CD changer, mine "shot craps." A disk stuck in it, I removed and disassembled the player, and was successful in extracting the miscreant disk, albeit with "a little bit of force, prying, and persuasion." ...And now my player cycles through the disks without issue, but will not initialize a disk and just sends an "E" message.

Likely I messed up the head alignment, but in any case, finding someone to repair it is likely to be difficult (local shops just gave me a disbelieving look when I inquired) and the "tricks" that I've tried have been unsuccessful. ...So, what did I do? I bought a new, in-the-box Audiovox multiple disk remote player that looks "almost exactly like the Panasonic-sourced Delco Electronics" OEM system.

"Almost exactly" did not translate to the wiring hookup. My Corvette has a 10-pin female connector (of which 8 pins are used and two are unused (I have the shop manual-darned helpful for things like this.)) The Audiovox unit uses a 9-pin DIN connector. I imagine that the installation instructions provide details for pin listing but I admit I haven't gotten that far yet.

...So, forum members, any suggestions regarding how I should "hook this system up?" Thanks again for reviewing my problem and for any help, assistance, or wisdom that you can provide.

Sincerely,

Frank

 

I had mine repaired about a year ago and it has worked flawlessly since. If you can take your new one back and send out the old, this solves your problem. Can't help with the wiring question... GOOD LUCK!

 

To whom did you send it?

 

not *exactly* what you're asking but.. you realize you can plug a PAC bluetooth (or aux) adapter right into the wire going from the stock headunit to the cd changer? plugs in right under the access panel under the passenger footwell. Keeps everything stock, and sounds fairly decent -- nex/pret track actually also works. Just a thought.

 

I have the cd changer and while it works just fine and like you want to keep my vette as original as possible opted to get the bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the cig lighter and allows me to play sirrius thru my radio.......

 

I sent it to Dr. Don's Corvette radio and CD repair in Huntsville, Texas. Turnaround was about a week and he states that it won't ever jam again... Mine works perfectly. GOOD LUCK!

https://www.doctordons.com/

 

Dear Forum,

Thank you all for your quick replies. ...Now I have some more avenues to investigate. I feel encouraged to investigate getting my unit repaired. Being in the Chicago area, I may not have aggressively investigated this option-I was "scared off" by the specter of it being costly. If not as bad as I thought, that definitely is an option to consider.

Likewise, I want to keep the other options under consideration. Unfortunately, being the luddite that I am, I don't have any of my music on my phone so that would be another trick this old dog would have to learn. The Bluetooth adapter, though, merits close scrutiny. I have a Bluetooth add-on that clips onto my sun visor. This, however, turned out to be a half baked solution and although it worked, I have to admit I never really used it.

Thanks again to all.

Sincerely,

Frank

 

Before you add the bluetooth wireless transmitter-- keep in mind that it connects to your headunit on an unused/underused FM station (like, 99.1 or soimething). Therefore, it's transmitting at FM bandwith, which is much narrower than what you get with a CD. So by using the wireless bluetooth module, you will be degrading your music.

you can add something like this for an AUX connector -- literally connectst to a plug under the passenger footwell, allows you to simply plug your phone in, and plays when you have the "cd changer" selected.:
Discount Car Stereo > Auxiliary Input Adapters > AUX-GM2 Auxiliary Input Jack for Select 1995-05 GM with multi-disc CD Changer
Chevrolet Corvette Aux Input adapter mp3 (oemautosound.com)

Or if you want to go over bluetooth, something like this -- same deal, only instead of connecting your phone by AUX input, you're connecting over bluetooth:
BT45-GM15 GM Bluetooth chevrolet cadillac interface (oemautosound.com)

The differnece in both of these is that they do not connect to the headunit using an FM frequency -- they connect using the same hardwired connection your CD changer used. Much better solution and maintains everything stock. Though .. a touch more expensive, and a few minutes more of work.

 

also-- for that 9 pin audiovox -- a quick google search, looks like they make adapters. I've never tried this, but something like this may wor -- says that it adapts a 10 pin gm aux input to 9 pin audiovox standard:

Peripheral GMASX 1995-2002 GM to Alpine/Audiovox CD Changer interface with Aux Input | GMASX (hifisoundconnection.com)

 

Dear Forum,
Again, thank you to all for your wisdom and experience. I never realized that so many options existed out there and will now be reviewing them to determine what path I will take.

Happy Fat Tuesday to you all and please enjoy a paczki or two for me. I know Il will-my Mother used to make them when I was a kid. They were rich, cloyingly sweet, and unforgettable.

Sincerely,

Frank

 

For those of you who want to know what a Paczki is, including me, well here it is...

What are paczki?

Paczki are Polish doughnuts. Usually full of jelly or some kind of sweet filling, they are known to draw lines around the block this time of year. The recipe is similar to German, Jewish, and Italian filled doughnuts, but traditional paczki contain a splash of Polish vodka called Spiritus in addition to the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, yeast, and sometimes butter that make up the dough.

 

Dear bc6152,

Located in S.E. Pennsylvania, I'm a little surprised you didn't already know what paczki are. As stated, my Mother, whom I miss dearly, used to make them and they turned into a real project. I can't vouch for Spiritus as an ingredient-my Father was partial to Zubrowka, or Bison Grass vodka.

Anyhow, a belated Fat Tuesday greeting to all as we have now segued into Ash Wednesday.

Thanks to all again for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and experience. You know, C5s are getting old enough where the real knowledge is being saved and disseminated through "tribal knowledge contained by the gray wolves."

Sincerely,

Frank

 

Good luck getting the system just how you want it.

 

Dear Forum,
This could turn out to be a long project. In any case, I now have the knowledge to investigate a number of options and would like to thank all the Forum members for their help and support. You know, big projects are not so scary or overwhelming when you don't have to approach them alone.
Thanks again!
Frank