I'm installing the factory cd changer in my 1998 coupe. I bought the changer and the harness from Fitchner Chevy. My car is one of the ones without the three wire harness, so I've been following the special instructions in the tech tips section. Here's my problem:
The tech tip says to find two dark green wires that are close together in the back of the fuse box. I've done that. It then says to continuity test to find the wires in the main wire wrap. Instead of that, I've been connecting to the wires at a point directly behind the fuse box. I tried both dark green wires, and they both gave me the symptoms that the tech tip says would indicate I'm using the wrong wire of the two - CDs will load and unload, I can shuffle through the discs, but instead of playing the display just sits on Disc 1 Track 0, Disc 2 Track 0, etc. After a short time the message Err then pops up on the radio display.

Here's where it gets interesting - since I had both wires exposed, I did a continuity test between the two of them, and they are the same wire! What am I doing wrong? Is there some third wire somewhere I need to locate? Is it because I connected directly behind the fuse box instead of to the wrap? (I can't imagine why) Basically, what the heck is going on?

 

unless you changer has a problem, you have the wrong green wire.

look for another green wire near the middle of the fuse panel. maybe toward the bottom.
I also tapped into the green wire from the back of the fuse panel, I used scotch locks, they are easily removed and don't mess up the insulation of the wire too much.


[Modified by RPOZ4Z, 11:52 PM 1/3/2003]

 

Ok, a bit more info to help diagnose the problem. I have a second used 12-disc Delco CD changer unit (don't ask), and it behaves the same as the new one. Basically, when I tell the head unit to switch to the CD Changer, the little CD symbol flashes on the head unit. While that is going on, I can hear the changer trying to load the discs one by one. I hear it move the disc over, start to spin it up, give up and then move to the next disc. Once it makes it through all the discs in the cassette the Err message comes up. It behaves exactly the same way for both changers, so I don't think the changer is the issue. Any ideas?

 

I've tried tapping into all three dark green wires that are in the middle lower part of the fuse box. Two of them behave as I've already described. When I'm tapped into the third one the changer doesn't work at all - doesn't eject discs, doesn't shuffle discs, basically behaves like there is an open on the green line. I think I'm all out of dark green wires to try...

 

I would say that the first two were the right ones, you di get a display on the head unit of some CD info even if it didn't play.
I think your changer has a problem. :(

just want to cover a few of the basic problems first,
What kind of CD's are you using? ("regular" commercial produced, or burned yourself?).
Are the CD's installed into the CD magazine properly? (sounds like the changer is having a problem reading them).

:cheers:


[Modified by RPOZ4Z, 10:09 AM 1/4/2003]

 

I agree it sounds like the changer is having an issue reading the discs, but it's weird it's happening to both changers, with two different cassettes, with different CDs in both...

The CDs I'm using are commercial CDs, not burned. I've tried playing the CDs I'm using in the in-dash CD and they work fine. The magazine is loaded correctly, as far as I can tell, with the CDs the right side up and everything.

Thanks for your help, this is incredibly frustrating.

 

strange problem.


one thing I did notice though, on my changer harness, the 4 wire plug (audio) had the ground and signal wires swapped. it was causing a problem with the subwoofer in the drivers door. I thought I had a problem with my changer.

check yours out, it may be the same. :cheers:

 

All the wires in the 4-pin harness seem to line up correctly. And the wait overnight and let it fix itself method didn't work. :) I'm really stumped here, I guess my next step is to do the diagnostics in the service manual, but it really seems like I'm just barely missing some detail.

 

Holy poopie, I feel so stupid! I did have the CDs in upside down. The loading direction is counterintuitive, but I should have taken the time to read the directions more carefully the first time.

Thanks for your help RPOZ4Z, I've got music playing, now I've just got to clean up the rat's nest of wires I've created.

 

cool..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

have fun! :cheers: