CD Autochanger Repair, 2001 build unit

[PTR200Jag]

The six CD changer in the boot has decided, after working fine since I got the car last year, to cough up an error code "E-01".

According to the manual in the handbooks this is a "disc-change malfunction" ! you don't say!
And the solution..... yes you've guessed it, " See your Jaguar Dealer"

Well, being a tight wad, I will be wading into it... can't see much info on the XK8 site re the problem but I guess its a generic unit to Jaguar and someone will have been there before me. Using the internet I have found a number of references to this problem which apparently is caused by cycling the CD unit too quickly... err, what ! It seems the software can't keep up with the action? surely not....

Anyway, I will be dismantling the unit and having a look see, reasoning that if it is "broke" then at least I can get my CDs back, if not, then maybe fixing it... it only seems to be a mechanism error as opposed to an electronic failure.

So first job was to get access to the unit, removing the carpet trim around the unit was easy, just remove the battery board top, undo the two knurled head screws on the right rear taillight cover and remove the cover.
Bit of bending of the carpet under the boot lip etc and out it comes.






The CD unit is held in a cradle (two large brackets either end of the CD unit) which in turn is held in a rather large metal outer case bolted to the boot floor. Probably holds an optional amplifier/booster?
The CD unit / cradle is held in this metal case by four 7mm bolts through captive nuts/threads in the outer case, a 7mm 1/4 socket and rachet is ideal as the left side bolt is easier "felt" than seen !
Just a matter of undoing these, the side ones first as the weight of the unit / bracket is supported by the top ones, then the left hand underneath the unit to hold it and the tops bolts come out with very little effort. Then pull it out...carefully, after releasing the plug connection held on the left hand side of the bracket, there is enough cable to put the unit on the boot floor and then pull the electrical connection apart.









So to the bench for dismantling.

[robv12]

had this issue many times, two usual problems, loading motor failure, so take the case off and manually eject the cartridge, IF, the discs are not jammed half in and half out of the laser part of the CD. 2nd problem will be a failed laser. Both are fixable, but with the cost of used unit so cheap now, it's hardly worth it. I have 20 or so known to be good used units here. Should you go the repair route, I use these guys

Car Hi-Fi Services Ltd.

Unit 5 Croft Estate, Glasgow Road, Bonnybridge

Phone : 01324 841888

[PTR200Jag]

had this issue many times, two usual problems, loading motor failure, so take the case off and manually eject the cartridge, IF, the discs are not jammed half in and half out of the laser part of the CD. 2nd problem will be a failed laser. Both are fixable, but with the cost of used unit so cheap now, it's hardly worth it. I have 20 or so known to be good used units here. Should you go the repair route, I use these guys

Car Hi-Fi Services Ltd.

Unit 5 Croft Estate, Glasgow Road, Bonnybridge

Phone : 01324 841888

Thanks for the info re the repair guys, used to live, lot of years ago, up the road from there !

I guessed that there might be more to it than meets the eye ! Laser problems can be difficult to deal with but it is possible to get lasers / replace them which is what I presume the guys at Bonnybridge will do.
I know what you mean re the used units cost but it is so much more satisfying to fix the problem yourself... if possible

If the disc is jammed across the carrier and the reader that might present a problem. When I get it open I will be able to see how the unit works I hope.

[PTR200Jag]

The temptation is to dismantle the unit on the workbench in the garage,,,, don't ! Take it inside, commandeer the kitchen / dining table / kitchen worktop and put a clean piece of paper or similar down... you do not want a lot of sh*t inside your autochanger and the garage environment is not the place...unless it looks like a Formula One workshop





Remove the brackets from either side of the unit first, two cross head screws tapped into the case hold each side bracket on.



Make a note of where the brackets are screwed through and also which holes in the autochanger are used..( there are TWO pairs of tapped holes in the autochanger each side.)

Now, on the end, left and right, of the auto changer are two small screws plus two on the back case, six in all that have to be removed. They are very small crossheads, make sure you have the correct size screwdriver otherwise you WILL strip the heads off.

[PTR200Jag]

Lift the case away from the back of the base, mind because there are a couple of bent corners that will catch on the rear corners, very obvious when you see it lifting up.
The front of this case top is pushed under the front cover where the cartridge goes in... you do NOT need to take the front off or remove the "shock absorber" springs. Just wiggle it carefully out the recess in the front face and the top will come away.





Now you can see the mechanism.

[PTR200Jag]

Just a reminder, the fault code on this was E-01 which apparently can be due to jammed disc holders, etc, and in this case the disc holder cartridge would NOT come out at all, giving the fault code E-01.
This picture shows the reader unit hard down at the bottom of its run, recessed into the unit if you like. It was impossible to get a photo but one disc was half way across the holder and the reader so no way would the cartridge holder come out on its own.



The large black cog wheel controls the disc movement from the holder into the reader.. if it is manually turned carefully anti-clockwise the disc should slide back into the holder.

Then turn the unit onto its front face and at the back should be this smaller cog.



This controls the eject mechanism... so again anticlockwise viwed from the top and the cartridge will jump out at you ! the springs that are attached to the cartridge carrier virtually fire the cartridge out so keep a hand over the front as you turn the wheel.





Now head back to the car with the autochanger and plug it in, leave the unit on the boot floor it will be fine, don't put the casing back, fire up the radio / cd and the unit should reset itself with the reader coming to the top of the unit.



Don't worry about the laser, you won't get zapped !

[PTR200Jag]

If you are happy with the reset, stuff the cartridge in with a couple of cd's in it and see if it operates. If it works, great, if not try and see if you can determine where it is sticking.
On mine it was obvious that the cogs were in need of some lubrication, so some lithium based grease was used, very sparingly and wiped off the surrounding parts and excess cleaned off some that just minor grease remained.

These are the areas I covered, then wiped of the excess you can see in the photos.









As they say in the Hay*** manuals, reverse the procedure for reassembly !

I did test it several times whilst putting things back in the boot and all seems ok at the present, anyway, I now know it is easy to do, I reckon I could do this in less than an hour at a leisurely pace so if it sticks again,no problem.
One thing I will NOT be doing is cycling through the disks again !

[mike020150]

Thanks, a great explanation. Mike.

[dhdove]

PTR200
That's a fantastic post with great pics!
Just what the BB is all about.
TonyS

[Orkney]

Fantastic job, great photos and description of the whole process. As this applies to many other models, you really ought to send an article to Nigel for publication in the magazine. You've already done the hard work. As you say, it's so satisfying to achieve a result all by yourself for very little outlay - you could be made an honorary Yorkshire man!
Ian

[PTR200Jag]

Thanks, a great explanation. Mike.

Cheers, appreciated.

[PTR200Jag]

PTR200
That's a fantastic post with great pics!
Just what the BB is all about.
TonyS

Thanks, maybe it might help someone to keep their unit running too.

[PTR200Jag]

Fantastic job, great photos and description of the whole process. As this applies to many other models, you really ought to send an article to Nigel for publication in the magazine. You've already done the hard work. As you say, it's so satisfying to achieve a result all by yourself for very little outlay - you could be made an honorary Yorkshire man!
Ian

Eyup, oh no, it's 'appen in already.........