USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK! LOL

My changer had a problem. Well, since it was produced 1994 its way too long for it to be in working condition.

It had this list of problems:

1. Skipping badly over the road bumps and potholes.
2. Couldn't read music CDs which were written on more than 10x speed.
3. Once it skips it can't find the track and goes to next CD in magazine or shows CD ERROR message.
4. I couldn't flip tracks back and forward, changer was getting lost and also showed CD ERROR message.
5. Changer was playing music CDs till track 5 or 6, couldn't play till the end (12-15 tracks).

I don't listen to local radio becase it is serious crap, so you can undestand my frustration. :)

Anyway, I was reading on the Internet how people are fixing cd-roms, home cd stereos, Playstations, DVD-players, etc. There is couple of methods which can help. Right now its not really worth to fix most of home stereos because of its cheap cost, but changer is something else. I decided since changer already on its last leg why not to try to fix it.

The are 3 DIY methods:

1. Clean lense with alcohol and Q-tip
2. Adjust the angle of laser head - put it closer to the disc.
3. Adjust power of the laser beam - laser beam getting weaker with time.

Ok, I opened cd-changer, went all way down to the laser head (don't ask me its too much to disassemble, changer was built pretty good). First I blowed the dust off with compressed air (in a can, for electronic purpose) put some isopropyl alcohol on Q-tip and gently cleaned lense.

IMHO, laser head doesn't have ajusting screws, so no #2 applicable here.

Third method is very dangerous without proper equipment and knowledge because it can burn out the laser head. I decided, anyway since I'm already here why not and changer anyway still useless. So, I marked potentiometer on its current position with marker and rotated clock-wise for about 30 degrees.

Assembled all the parts back in the changer and went for a test drive.
I know exactly parts of the road in my neighborhood where changer was skipping badly.

My observations so far:

1. Skips only on very serious bumps (I'm thinking now I need new rear shocks :) LOL )
2. Reads everything.
3. If it skips it gets back in half second and continue playing.
4. I can finally flip tracks back and forward, no problem!
5. Plays whole CD till last track, no problem.

This is link as example how to locate potentiometer (pot for short) on the laser head :

Playstation fix

Ok, Thanks for reading!

Yuri, Toronto/Canada, 02/95 740i cosmoblack/black.

• My CD-Changer Fix (long) (url) - MiB 2007-09-24 01:19:23 (3632 views)
  • Hmm, might be worth a try (nt) - nbate 2007-09-24 09:02:40 (210 views)
  • Great info thanks! (nt) - Edwin 2007-09-24 01:55:25 (153 views)