CD Changer Skip

[Stephen]

I played golf with some labor union gurus today and its bad poise to drive a foriegn car in the presence on American union folks, so I drove our Explorer. Anyway, I noticed that the CD Changer skips in this thing really bad. It makes it really hard to listen to CDs. Its not the CDs because I took them out of my Lexus and they dont skip in it. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know how to fix it. This just started because I drove the Explorer to West Virginia last month and the CD Changer didnt skip. Im not sure how long it has been going on beacause I dont drive the Explorer much, and my wife dosent listen to CDs often. Thanks in advance.

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Stephen Withrow
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97 Limited
98 Lexus LS400

 

[Skip Pendle]

You may just have a dirty laser lens. Radio Shack has a lens cleaner disk, PN 42-227, that cleared-up my problem.

 

[Stephen]

I ran my CD lens cleaner. Didnt help. It skips going over bumps.

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Stephen Withrow
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97 Limited
98 Lexus LS400

 

[Bird283]

You just answered your own question. Have you ever owned a portable Cd palyer (discman) w/o all that ESP crap? Try tapping it on the top, it skips. This has been a problem with portable CD's for a long time. Thought I have not heard of many changers skipping , mostly because of the entire reading done inside an enclosed space not accessable to the user, it doesn't mean it never happens. I would personally try to mount the changer in such a way that it receives less of the body's actually shock when on rough terrain. Where is the changer mounted? I may have some tips, but I need to know where you have mounted it. This might not be the problem, but it seems to be the most sensible answer.

 

[Stephen]

The Changer is installed in the armrest from the factory.

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Stephen Withrow
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97 Limited
98 Lexus LS400

 

[Bird283]

Well, since its a factory installation, there may not be much you can do. On the same fact, the mounting might not be the problem, but due to the overwhelming negative opinion of some of Ford's desgin choices I still think this is the only thing that could be causing the skip besides an actual problem with the changer mechanisims. That said, the skip does not sound like something that common. The armrest is not in a location, like directly over the axle or shock, that would receiver a large amount of disruption by the exteriors shock. First, I would check to see if the console (armrest) is bolted on tightly enough. Shake it a little and see if it moves A LOT, its not a operatiing component so its not going to be torqued down to 5000 lbs. Then I would suggest taking a little drive somewhere that would normally cause the changer to skip. However, I would suggest an area that is not highly populated (i.e. public highway) because of what I am going to ask you to do next. You should drive with the console door open so that you can examine the changer while you drive. Maybe let someone else drive while you watch. Watch to see what the changer does, does its chassis move, when it skips. Also examine and remember what the console does, if the changer doesn't move but the console shakes like a ton it would yeild the same effect. If it doesn't skip, try the same route with the door shut, though unlikely, this could be causing the problem.

If the console does shake or move when skipping, try to think of any way you may be able to prevent this. Possibly a foam insert to prevent the movement. If the console nor the changer moves, than the problem may not be changer movement and you should probaly try to get it chekced out by a dealer or audio expert.

Please re-post or email me with what you find. Hope I could help.

 

[tokillamurderer]

Hey I have the exact same problem as Stephen. I have a '96 Explorer XLT with a factory 6-disc CD changer mounted in the center console just as he does. Mine skips a TON when I go over bumps, making it very difficult to listen to CDs. It also skips sometimes when I am on flat land or even stopped, so I am thinking that maybe there is some internal problem.

Anyway, I have an odd question: does anyone know how to tighten up the center console? I looked quickly one night for any bolts that would hold the center console in place, but couldn't find any... are they clearly visible on the floor? Anyone know where I can find them, because my center console seems to shake a good deal when I am on the road, especially going fast.

Also, this is not fact, but every now and then it seems like turning my heat on helps the skipping problem, although this is not all the time, so it may just be coincidence.

My next question is this: I don't even like the CD changer really... I like being able to select more than one CD to listen to while driving, but I have the mounting location and I hate not being able to change discs myself while on the road. I want to pull the head unit out of the car and replace it with a Ford Explorer head unit with a single in-dash CD player. Does anyone know if I can just pull one out of like a 1998 Explorer from a junk yard and just let it slide into the hole for mine? What I am asking is, if I have a '96 Explorer and I go to a junk yard and pull out a '98 Explorer's head unit, should it fit into my car without any modifications? Thanks for any responses that you guys can give me.

 

[ksaldibar]

i have a 99 eddie bauer with the mach audio and 6 disc changer. when i play a cd in my head unit or changer it will skip even when my truck isnt moving. i tried the laser lens cleaner on both and it didn't work. it usually starts off fine then skips then just stops playing. i went to ford and they said i could exchange my head unit for a new one for $400. i said thanks and good bye. i'm going to lose my changer and steering wheel controls by going with an aftermarket HU, but it'll be alot cheaper for me.

ken

 

[tokillamurderer]

You could always go to a junkyard, which is what I am going to do...