In-Dash CD Player Error
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
In-Dash CD Player Error
My 2001 C5 factory in-dash CD player (single disc) is giving me an error message (ERR) and then spits out my CD when I try to put one in. These are new CDs without scratches (not burned CDs).
Does anyone know if I can fix this problem or do I have to get a new unit?
Thanks!
Does anyone know if I can fix this problem or do I have to get a new unit?
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: WHERE EVER I LAY MY HAT AZ
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
They said I would have to mail the unit and it would be $229 + S&H. Is this what you had to do?
It sounds like there is not a work around and I have to pay to have it either fixed or replaced (which is not much more than getting it fixed).
Is there anything I can try before sending it for repair?
It sounds like there is not a work around and I have to pay to have it either fixed or replaced (which is not much more than getting it fixed).
Is there anything I can try before sending it for repair?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: WHERE EVER I LAY MY HAT AZ
The Optical Lens That Reads The Disc Is Bad. What I Did Was Install A Panasonic Flipscreen Unit. Because I Felt If I Was Going To Sink $230 Bucks Into A Stock Radio I Might As Well Replace It With A Good Aftermarket Head Unit. Or If You Are Very Knowlegble Of Electronic Repair You Could Go To Radio Shack And Buy Optical Lens And Install It Yourself. Or What I Did For While Was Use My Ipod With The Car Kit.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: Lynnfield MA
If you're mechanically inclined, you could try cleaning the
laser head with a little isopropyl alcohol on a swab. It's
a bit of a job to pull the radio and disassemble it, and only
a small chance that a cleaning will solve the problem, but
it's probably one of the few things you can try to do
yourself.
Then, there's always Fleabay...
laser head with a little isopropyl alcohol on a swab. It's
a bit of a job to pull the radio and disassemble it, and only
a small chance that a cleaning will solve the problem, but
it's probably one of the few things you can try to do
yourself.
Then, there's always Fleabay...
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute IN
I had the same problem with the in-dash CD OEM player in my 2001 convertible that I recently purchased. CDs wouldn't go completely in, tried to load for a few seconds, then ERR displayed and the CD ejected. I read a post from a few years ago about someone having to try to load their CD 45 times before it was accepted and everything started working correctly. I tried to load a CD 5-10 times on a few occasions with no success. I decided this evening to try it at least 45 times. I was very surprised when on the 35th attempt, it loaded the CD and played it without issue. I'm hoping if "fixed" whatever the problem was, but didn't have the courage to eject the CD to see if it would reload.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
My in dash player also rejects discs, but only until gets warm. Once the dash gets heated, it plays normally. I can only assume heat is effecting the rubber loading parts, I can only assume the wear is compensated by heat expansion of worn parts. I am guessing a rubber tracked wheel is worn somewhere .
Cleaning the laser is not always effective, because whatever is on the lens is not in focus so unless enough signal is blocked, cleaning might not be effective.
My solution was to buy a missing changer magazine and use the changer in the trunk, at least until the dash heats up. The long leads from the trunk greatly effect the signal, so the sound is inferior to the dash plater, but good sound was not designed into the stuff to begin with so no sweat. Typical crude sounding car radio, obviously GM had no clue about what the young folks were doing.
The dash player in my car seems to accept the old thicker disks more readily, this helped form my wear assumption. That and the age of the car, of course.........
Cleaning the laser is not always effective, because whatever is on the lens is not in focus so unless enough signal is blocked, cleaning might not be effective.
My solution was to buy a missing changer magazine and use the changer in the trunk, at least until the dash heats up. The long leads from the trunk greatly effect the signal, so the sound is inferior to the dash plater, but good sound was not designed into the stuff to begin with so no sweat. Typical crude sounding car radio, obviously GM had no clue about what the young folks were doing.
The dash player in my car seems to accept the old thicker disks more readily, this helped form my wear assumption. That and the age of the car, of course.........
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute IN
Maybe after 35 attempts to load a CD I warmed it up!? I'm also missing a changer magazine. Any suggestions on where to locate one? I don't have any specs on the changer (part no, etc.) so I am unclear on what I need to be searching for.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
In answer to the question about the magazine for the changer, I got it from a very popular radio mail order place that I unfortunately could not find in the venders directory. IT was on a close out .
In warmed up, I mean the heat from the motor getting to the radio, not the loading mechanism getting warm as a function of use. I spoke of wheels, but more commonly have seen rubber belts in loading designs. And, while I am speculating, it could very well be something electrical has gotten heat sensitive after all this time.
In any event , it's fun while it lasts, but I don't sweat mine not working perfectly, as long as it plays, it's better than nothing. With the available Bose GM sound quality, it's not like it's space equipment anyway. Still rather than chop the dash I will probably get the same thing when the one in there lets go. THere are so many CD around, it's fun to buy a used one and cruise it all day if ti is good.
I think I share a common behavior in the dash player. Once the CD is loaded, it plays without problems whenever called upon, it is just feeding the CD into the thing that is aggravating when it doesn't catch.
In warmed up, I mean the heat from the motor getting to the radio, not the loading mechanism getting warm as a function of use. I spoke of wheels, but more commonly have seen rubber belts in loading designs. And, while I am speculating, it could very well be something electrical has gotten heat sensitive after all this time.
In any event , it's fun while it lasts, but I don't sweat mine not working perfectly, as long as it plays, it's better than nothing. With the available Bose GM sound quality, it's not like it's space equipment anyway. Still rather than chop the dash I will probably get the same thing when the one in there lets go. THere are so many CD around, it's fun to buy a used one and cruise it all day if ti is good.
I think I share a common behavior in the dash player. Once the CD is loaded, it plays without problems whenever called upon, it is just feeding the CD into the thing that is aggravating when it doesn't catch.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 718
Likes: 69
From: North Reading MA
Do you hear it mechanically trying....I have repaired a lot of car Audio but don't remember the particular loading scheme in these....You could have a loose loading belt, buildup/glazing on the eject rollers, or a foreign object (label usually) jammed in the mech.....
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Grand Junction CO
Do you hear it mechanically trying....I have repaired a lot of car Audio but don't remember the particular loading scheme in these....You could have a loose loading belt, buildup/glazing on the eject rollers, or a foreign object (label usually) jammed in the mech.....
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
The laser gets dirty over time.
I tried the cleaners, etc.. nothing worked.
I tore the CD player apart and cleaned the laser myself.
Not hard to do at all.
I have the procedure on my web site.
www.toquez06.com
Good luck !
Toque
I tried the cleaners, etc.. nothing worked.
I tore the CD player apart and cleaned the laser myself.
Not hard to do at all.
I have the procedure on my web site.
www.toquez06.com
Good luck !
Toque
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAGAZINE-CARTRIDGE-FOR-CORVETTE-GM-12-DISC-CD-CHANGER-CAMARO-CADILLAC-FIREBIRD-/261557635777?pt=US_Car_CD_Changers&hash=item3ce60ccac1#ht_1060wt_1362
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Grand Junction CO
