CD player

[bcgreen]

Cd player has been skipping for since a year ago, so we have not used it. Took the car into a audio repair shop and was told that it could be only done at the dealership. My wife says that there is an independent guy who works on it at the dealership and requires a complete day to make the necessary repairs.
What do you guys know of this.
My Explorer is a '96 V-8
Thanks

 

[KAiRO]

They're not that expensive. You can probably get a new one (better than yours if its a year old) for as much as the guy will want to fix it. Pioneer makes units for ~100$ and if you buy it from a shop, often times they will install it for free. Car toys and audio express do this and they'll have it installed in about an hour. If you have a stock cd player, you'll like the features much better on a new head unit.

 

[janikphoto]

Yes, a differnet unit will most likely sound much better too. But if you want to keep it stock, you should ask around if anyone on the board has a stock cd player they will sell. Maybe you can get one for $75 to $150 which is what labor to look inside your bad one will probably be... Have you tried a disc cleaner kit yet? One with the liquid drop you put on the cd? It might just be a really dirty lens... Car toys had several units on sale and clearance that would sound better though. Surprisingly, you really can notice a difference. Kinda like stock tires vs. better aftermarket tires I guess. or stock shocks vs. new shocks...

 

[bcgreen]

Thanks for the info. I would like to remain stock, by that I mean, by outward appearance it must look the same. I am not too well versed in these things so bear with me. Are we just taking about replaceing the unit that is under the arm rest or should I say the center arm rest. If that is what needs to be repaced and the replacement unit will fit in there, then I am on it.
If you are talking about replacing the unit that goes in the dash, then I will definitely have to go stock.
Oh, yes I have tried the CD cleaner thing a few times and it didn't make a bit of difference.
Will stand by for your answers, thanks

 

[mhn3773]

so just the cd changer skips right??

if it is just the changer u can pick one of those up fairly cheap from either someone on this board or e-bay..mabey an auto dismanteler it will just be a drop in replacement aslong as u get the same model number

 

[bcgreen]

When I play my CDs it skips, especially when I hit a bump in the road and sometimes it just skips when the vehicle is not moving. Also I noticed, when I hit the CD button on the console to play CDs, I get the message "no CDs" even though I have the CDs loaded.
I don't know if this is related or not.

 

[mhn3773]

so in the dash theres a CD player? and u have the 5 or 6 disc changer?? and neither are working?

hmm i think i missed something

 

[janikphoto]

Either way, my answer is the same, though you never said anything about a cd CHANGER the first time that I can remember. You said cd player, which implies the cd unit in the dash. Though they are both technically cd players, you need to ask for a cd changer when getting this repaired or replaced.

Yes, you can still find a used one that will probably be an easy swap, and several car companies can use certain aftermarket changers that will just plug in. Like honda owners could (and probably still can) just go to a stereo shop and spend $199 for an apline changer instead of $600 at the dealer for the 'honda' changer. I don't know what brand is compatible with ford, but there should be something...

And many used ford units should be available online. Start by asked here in the for sale section...

Install should be 20 minutes worth of labor, a few screws and one or two plugs to connect... real easy stuff...

 

[bcgreen]

Sorry to be a nimrud, but this is a factory unit. When you want to play your cd, you push the cd button next to the radio which is on the dash, and this starts the cd player. Under the arm rest in the center between the seats is the cds themselves and I can hear them being switched whenever I want another cd.
Sorry about the confusion I thought most everybody here had a similar explorer.

 

[Brandons]

My 10 disk changer, its sony, doesnt seem to want to work. I had it going for a while, but sometimes it just turns on, tries to read the cd, then restarts, trying to load the cd again, there is no problems with the cds and i think i need a new hidden main unit for the system.. Its the one were you have the little console seperate, and switch your sterio to a channel like 883.0 fm or something around that.

It usually works fine after i kick the hidden main unit . But it would be embarrasing driving a friend around lol.

 

[mhn3773]

see thats why i just bought the cd holder that goes on the visor =) my arm works everyime lol

 

[Brandons]

my kick works every time...

 

[janikphoto]

Sorry, but our explorer, like most, has a cd player in the dash, but no changer to hold multiple cd's. You must have an eddie bower edition or something...

 

[bcgreen]

No, mine is not an eddie bower, its just a plain '96 V-8. It came with the CD player when we bought it new in '96. You lift up the center armrest and pull out the changer and slip in you CDs. On the dash are a number of buttons including CD, which starts your CD player.