Car CD player skips...

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:51 pm

Similar in nature to phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4297

My in-dash Car CD player oftens takes ages to start playing a disc, and then plays them with a lot of static. Oddly, when the unit (and disc) warm up (after 30 mins or so) the static disappears.

Static is worse on tracks which are close to the end of the disc. (i.e. tracks 10-18)

If I switch to radio, and immediately back to CD, this sometimes fixes the static.

I have tried burned at low speeds, tried burning on different discs - but nothing seems to fix it.

The above thread makes me think that maybe all it is is a dirty read. But how on earth do you clean a slot-loading in-dash CD player?

It's a Kenwood, so the quality of the player is probably OK, but the unit must be 4 years old at least. I'm planning on replacing it with a CD/MP3 player with a 10 disc changer (900+ songs), but until I get around to doing that...

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:43 pm

You try spraying it with compressed air?

Mr. Perfect · Post by **Mr. Perfect** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:47 pm

Does it do that with all CDs, or just the ones you burnt yourself?

I'm sure it's got stickers on it that tell you not to, but you could probably remove the case on it and poke around inside.

I've also seen cd cleaning kits around, some blank disk that you put a cleaning fluid on an then play.

STRESSTEST · Post by **STRESSTEST** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:27 pm

Mr. P might be on to something here. If it only happens with your burned CDs try cutting the burn speed in half.

Tricord · Post by **Tricord** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:53 pm

Some car players are anal about CD-Rs. Some because they are too old, some because the maker didn't want you to use CD-Rs in the first place.

Canuck · Post by **Canuck** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:43 pm

Number one enemy of Car CD players... dirt on the laser lens.

Number two, taking a CD "Cleaner" and and have it gathering all the extra dust and grit that's inside the CD assembly, and then scraping it over your sensitive convex laser lens.

Since the brushes can't reach the edges of the lens, the gunk builds up on the edge.

The laserhead now tries to focus all the time, wearing out the laser and the controling electronics.

Also those units have a problem with a LSIC (biga** importamt custom chip) that is surface mounted and glued with some very heavy duty epoxy to the board.

That static problem you mention is a symptom of that failing.

Yoink it while it still makes noise, have a garage sale, and buy a new headend that does what you want it to do

Nuck's 2Â¢

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:41 pm

It's only on my burned CD-R's. Commercial discs play just fine. I already tried ripping at every possible speed. Makes no difference.

Think I might just go and get that MP3/CD player!

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:18 pm

Mobius wrote:Think I might just go and get that MP3/CD player!

Excellent Idea!