CD Changer issues

[hitchface]

Yo folks,

Car: 2000 Neon LX

Problem: 4cd changer stopped working. Won't take discs, won't play, won't do anything. Fuses have been checked, all are ok.

Ideas: Well, thats for the car audio experts.

[EzyStvy]

Is it original equiptment that has lasted for seven Years? If so - replace it.

[hitchface]

Ouch...replacing stock cd players is expensive.

[HAL9000]

That's why you go aftermarket... it would probably cost you more to fix or replace with factory than an aftermarket unit.

[hitchface]

Very true. For now I just plug my MP3 player into a tape adapter, but I'd like to use CDs sometime soon. I'll have to brush up on my car audio stuff. I don't know what kind of speakers are in the car (new to me) but it has a nice setup.

Other than that, are you sure it is just the player that has conked out? Is there anything I should be checking besides the fusebox?

[EzyStvy]

It could have a fuse in its power line...

[hitchface]

That sounds like an adventure in the making!

[Brad the best]

perhaps there is a fuse on the back of the unit , but i doubt it because it still turns on .

take it apart and look for some thing damaged , i wouldn't because i would just replace it with an after market unit . but if your bored .

[David M]

Hitch...I have Exactly the same car with the same model year with the same 4 CD changer. Is it dark blue by any chance? I wish I knew what to say. Mine has always worked okay. Perhaps one day when I am driving it to the junkyard I will make it a point to rip mine out of the dash and send it to you. It wont be too long before I am doing that.

It is a nice setup indeed and the sound is pretty good. I did have to change out a blown starboard door speaker. I replaced it with some nice after market door speakers. I forgot which brand but I got them at Best Buy. I would just replace the head unit with an after market unit and if you want a changer then put it in the trunk or wherever else it will fit.

I installed a hard wired FM modulator in behind the head unit which runs in series with the antenna coax/antenna input and ran a jack out so that I could listen to my iPod or my XM receiver. That made a nice alternative to just CD's or the radio. Its dooable in this car, there is plenty of space under and behind the head unit.

For those who don't know, the CD changer is built into the dash tucked under the head unit...it looks pretty good and to remove it would leave a big hole under there.

The only thing I can think of is to pull the units and inspect the wires and connectors. You already did the most logical thing in checking the fuses first. While the unit is pulled, make sure it is getting power. If it is getting power then it is probably toast.

I think the system was designed by Infinity for Chrysler. It is not stock Infinity.

I agree that you would pay an arm and a leg for a stock replacement from Chrysler. You may find one at a junk yard for cheap

I wish I could help somehow.

[hitchface]

David M, do you know if I could just take that out and replace it with an aftermarket deck? Is the sizing right for it? I haven't gotten much of a chance to tinker, but if you know for sure, than by all means.

[thefultonhow]

Check on some Neon forums to see if anyone is selling a working one. I'm doing the same thing for my dad's 2001 Forester at this point, because its 6-CD changer is going out. I can even replace it with a 6-cd MP3 CD changer from a newer Subaru if I want.

[XenaWP]

If you check a site like Crutchfield, they have compatibility for aftermarket CDs and such. You tell it what you have, it tells you what will fit.

[David M]

Originally Posted by hitchface David M, do you know if I could just take that out and replace it with an aftermarket deck? Is the sizing right for it? I haven't gotten much of a chance to tinker, but if you know for sure, than by all means.

I don't know if an aftermarket head unit will fit where your existing head unit is located. You can though pull off the plastic trim around the unit and measure the size of the stock head unit. Hint: there are two screws located behind the air ducts in the top center of the dash. Just grab each duct with a needle nose and pull gently...they pop right out...you will then see the two screws. The plastic trim comes off by pulling gently...there are no more screws to remove. I have never pulled the plastic trim down around the CD changer.

I would think that a good car stereo installer would be happy to tell you for free if an after market unit would work.

[hitchface]

Well, I yanked it all out. David, I see exactly what you are talking about. I took the top cover off of the actual unit, and I can see that one of the disc housings is not mounted the way it should be. I'll investigate more and post photos tomorrow. For now, it is sleepy time. Thanks for the advice guys.