CD Changer

[Mikec]

Hi. Hope someone can throw some light on my year 2000 cd changer problem. My XJ8 Jaguar Alpine CD unit reads no disc. It has previously been repaired in 2007. So I recently sent it off to Blue Ice Electronics in Romford Essex for repair via Ebay. They returned it saying they had put in a new motor and laser assembly and it tested as working ok. I put it in the car and sure enough it played for 2 mins, the first track of cd one, two and three but would not play cd 4,5 or 6 and then stopped playing at all and now reads No Disc again. So, I though maybe the problem is the magazine, so I bought a brand new magazine on Ebay and tried this and it still will not play. It reads Loading disc and makes all the usual wirring noises, then reads No Disc and wont play. I am now quite frustrated and £115 poorer. Can anyone advise a solution as I am loathe to pay £400 for a new one from Jaguar or pay £80 for a 12 year old unit from a breakers, which might pack up in a week. Does anyone have a similar experience or suggestion as to what the problem might be as Blue Ice are likely to say the unit works fine on the bench but wont work when plugged into my car! Could it be the boot connector or a broken cable between the dash and the boot connector? If so surely I would not get read outs? Would be most grateful for any ideas or suggestions. Kind regards to all. Cheers. Mike (work) 01622 212566.

[bmc123]

You hit the nail on the head - its old. I had a similar problem, and I fixed it twice by pulling apart the unit myself and removing the stuck disks. but I knew I was only delaying the inevitable. So, I simply bought a little MP3 player that transmits a signal out via FM and by simply tuning the cars radio to that frequency I get a reasonable sound without having to burn any more discs.

Now while that was a solution of sorts, I found myself having to remember to charge up the player, and then once I got sorted with an in car adaptor to power it, I was still left with untidy wires (the unit uses its headphones as an antenna)

So, I started looking for a new head unit - at this point my engine died and my priority's changed somewhat dramatically

I had sourced a chap that makes replacement fascias for standard head units - and then I started looking at new stereos. I also really would have liked to have had my phone blue-toothed through the cars system and then I found this:

http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands ... ot-rki8400

aha! all problems solved in one then?

hmm.. not sure as I have also found mixed reviews on google - and also Kenwood and Sony etc all now make similar units - so I am now torn between the parrot unit or spending more for a double din all singing and dancing unit with DVD and satnav....

Maybe not the answer you were looking for, but my own opinion is that the CD changers are all getting on now and it's going to be hard to find a good one - and you could end up spending the cost of a decent new system while trying to fix up the old one.......

[daveji]

Please see the announcement at the top of this section for support from Alpine Electronics......now Dtronics Ltd.
Used units are often obtainable from Eurojag....... with warranty.

[bmc123]

I can't comment as I don't know what they charge - Personally I am moving away from old technology and getting something new - Having said that, if I was intending to show my car and/or keep it as original as possible then that would be the way to go Of course, I am keeping all the old components safe - as if I ever sell the car (unlikely after putting a new engine in) I can take the new system out and put the old one back in.

[Mikec]

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions guys. Blue ICE have agreed to have the unit back for tests etc and they might put yet another motor in it. I will know in a week or so if I have a solution. I have also now found DTRONIX in Milton Keynes so they might be able to help me. Its a shame a converter hasnt been produced to make it possible to install another make of cd changer in the boot. They seem to be available for BMW's and Audi's but not Jaguars. I can play MP3's through the cassette player but want to be able to also play CD's. Thanks for responding. Mike

[TROY]

hi mike
did blue ice fix your problem with your cd changer. my 2002 alpine changer is suffering from the same issues as yours.would you recomend them? i am not sure wether to go for an aftermarket unit. any info would be good.cheers troy.

[robv12]

sound like one of two faults, the failure of the loading motor or the laser, quite common, i have all my units refurbished with these guys who do mail order for non local customers

http://www.carhifiservices.com/

hope this helps

[SV8Predator]

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[TROY]

hi all
i can have fitted a kenwood kdc-bt51u single cd player unit s+f for £240.this includes the jaguar facia,i would still be able to use the stalk controls. there would be a seperate mike fitted above my head as the stereo is bluetooth.this unit also has a front usb. so i can play music from a memory stick.i dont wish to have the cd boot changer repaired as i believe it 10yrs old and it wont be long before it packs up completely,and at a cost of £150. its not cheap.
however my dilema is i would be altering the look of the centre consul and i am not so sure if this is the right thing to do.what do you all think.
regards troy

[TROY]

hi all
i was going to have the kenwood system fitted, i was told that a facia 4 the xj8 was available,and that i would be able to still use my steering wheel controls.however on the day the new unit was to be fitted i was told that i had been given the wrong info. the only stereo facias available was for a s type and x type.there was no facia made 4 the xj8 or stalk controls.does anybody know where i can get these bits.also ihave my phone in the armrest,if i was to buy a payg. sim.where does the sim go. and do you think the phone would work.everything looks to be where it should.
cheers troy

[Ianblair]

Hi all,

I had a similar problem a few years ago. The worm drive had slipped out of position and therefore no disc selection possible.

If you type into GOOGLE "xj8 cd player worm drive" or similar you should find the information to fix this, plenty of photo's and step by step guide on how to do the repair.

regards

Ian