factory CD player issues in my 2002

[6663a]

My mother has a 2002 with 7k miles on it and it's having battery drain issues. I heard the CD players could be a culprit so I sent it out to a company in Ca. to have it looked at. They said the CD unit was bad and changed it. I got the player back, hooked it up and when you hit load you get "All slots full". When you hit eject you get "CD error". Sent it back, they put another CD unit in it (they said I didn't have the battery disconnected when I installed it and must have fried it) and it does the same exact thing. "CD error" and "All slots full". They said they tested the new unit for 2 days so now I'm thinking it's the car. Anyone else have this problem? The original CD player had never been used but they claimed it was searching for CD's that weren't in it and that's what was wrong with it.

Thanks, JR

New Jersey.

[Blue Heaven]

JR,
I've had the same exact problem after installing two different CD players in my '02. I've just given up at this point.

[jerrym3]

Just a suggestion, but there's a part called a "clock spring" that can make a lot of things go nuts.

My Explorer's CD unit has been screwed up for years. My wife's Lincoln LS radio goes bananas at times.

[steelblue5505]

JR, please share with us who you are sending your CD player to for repairs. Doesn't seem like they are really getting yours fixed.

Also please share with us what exactly is happening to make you think the Bird is having a better drain problem.

How old is the car's battery?

[6663a]

JR, please share with us who you are sending your CD player to for repairs. Doesn't seem like they are really getting yours fixed.

Also please share with us what exactly is happening to make you think the Bird is having a better drain problem.

How old is the car's battery?

Upon reading a positive experience about this particular shop concerning the same issue, I sent the radio to Hi-Tech Electronic Services in Van Nuys, Ca. They already exchanged the cd mechanism once for me but it still won't load cd's and it thinks it's full. That's twice now. Frustrating part is they're on the other side of the US from me. They tested it for 2 days and it's doing the same thing it did the first time I got it back. That's why I feel it may be the car. I'm going to call them now and see if they have any suggestions.

As far as the battery drain, I recently installed a brand new battery (3rd in all) last summer and it would be dead after sitting one week. I read the main culprits are usually the rear view mirror and cd player. I thought I had it narrowed down to the player so off it went to the shop. The car has had numerous issues since new and I'm sure it's mainly from never being driven. Again, this car has approx. 7,150 miles.


JR

[6663a]

Update: I called Hi-Tech and they are going to install a 3rd cd mechanism into the unit. They couldn't be more accommodating and helpful. 2 more weeks of waiting.........



JR

[Gobird]

I sent my unit out for a rebuild a few years back and it has worked fine to date.

[Mark H]

I had same issue in my 2003... Gave up after two tries by dealer and put in Kenwood aftermarket with touchscreen, bluetooth-Spotify etc. Much better and looks nice. Glad I
gave up..

[jbthor]

had same problem took it to car audio & Video repair here in st Augustine fl. fixed it with a 60 day warranty...

[428PI]

I wouldn't use cd's in our radios anymore. When you plug them in they go through a reactivation phase that lasts a couple minutes perhaps (it's been awhile since I messed with one). You can accomplish the same thing by removing a couple fuses for the radio and reinstalling fuses. Mine only works good once the interior is warmed up. Forget cd's and get an MP3 attachment (and use your phone for music) that plugs in or another aftermarket radio setup.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

My CD player is quits again. Makes a buzzing sound and says all slots full.......Kenwood? I don't need too fancy compass would be nice ..single CD....HELP!!

[6663a]

Well, finally an update to my battery drain issue. The culprit was in fact the CD player. The car can sit for a week plus and start up which it could never do for the longest time. Again, this car only has 7,100 miles and it sits most of it's life.

I dealt with HI-Tech Electronics in Ca. I am in South Jersey. The radio was repaired the "first" time and sent back to me. I plugged it in and went to install a CD. "CD error" came up. Called them and sent the radio back to have a second CD drive installed. Must have been a defective unit or, according to them, I didn't have the battery disconnected. Got the unit back, installed it the same exact way as the first time and the same thing happened - "CD error". The unit would not load CD's, it thought it was full. Called them again, they agreed to install another CD drive (3rd time's a charm?). This time I received the unit back and low and behold there was an installation instruction sheet! What it told me was to plug it it and WAIT 30 SECONDS FOR THE CD PLAYER TO INITIALIZE ITSELF before installing a CD. Well, this time it worked and it's been working fine for a couple months now.

Hi-Tech Electronics was very patient and stuck with the repair until it was deemed successful. They even sent me a video of the working unit before it was boxed and shipped to me the final time. I can't help wonder if I had the instruction sheet the first time if it would have made a difference with the original repaired unit. Either way I'm glad it's finally fixed.


Disclaimer: I did try removing the fuse to re-initialize or reset the radio after the first and second time but nothing worked. Speaking with Hi-Tech they felt the CD drive was defective and it couldn't be reset or re-initialized.


Sorry for droning on.


JR

[sumoscooter]

Happy things got squared away for you John, and thanks for the details - always good to get another set of options and additional knowledge about something that seems to go 'south' with such frequency. !

[BLACK BEAUTY]

I've fixed mine twice. It quit working on the way to New Orleans. I tried nothing worked...........THEN a month later it starting working again!

[428PI]

I had mine act up on a short trip. Couldn't use my mp3 adapter because it was stuck in cd error mode. Got out the owner's manual and removed all fuses related to radio and it reactivated and was fine after that. Perhaps the right fuse wasn't pulled. Not sure which one it is now as it's been a couple of years. I've learned to give up on the cd player and only use the plug in style mp3 adapter.