Car CD player has stopped playing CDs

[Sue]

I have a Sony car music thing which has suddenly stopped playing CDs. It gives a message "read" (so it appears to recognise that there's a CD there), then "error".

It's fine playing music from a memory stick or from the radio, it's just CDs that won't play. Obviously I have tried various CDs in it, but none of them will play. I've tried taking the whole unit out and putting it back a few times, with no effect.

I have tried emailing Sony but have had no response (not surprised as their supposed "help" website appears to be total crap).

Any ideas? It's about five years old but it was quite expensive so I am not keen to replace it, however I need a car CD player to listen to demos when on longish journeys.

Haven't yet tried cleaning the head (or whatever it's called) as I have no idea where my CD head cleaning CD is as it hasn't been used for years :))

I bought it from the car music place in Bellenden Road, so unless anybody has any bright ideas I will see if they can help, but it's well out of its guarantee period :(

[Townleygreen]

maybe try googling "cleaning car CD player head" or something similar?

[Sue]

Yeh thanks, had googled before posting on here.

It came up with nothing apart from what I already knew :(

[Jah Lush]

I'd get a new head cleaning CD first and try that and if that doesn't work I would suggest that the laser has gone and you'll need a new CD player.

[DulwichFox]

Hi Sue ..

This is from a Sony site.. Step 7 you have already done steps 1-6

If no discs will play, remove any discs from the player and leave the CD player powered on with the door opened (if possible) for approximately one hour to resolve the possibility of moisture condensation inside the player.

https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/39271

Foxy...

[Annette Curtain]

Maybe it's taken a dislike to the music you play

[*Bob*]

It's a disposable consumer world, Sue.

I'm afraid you'll just have to replace the whole car.

[Sue]

Thanks Jah Lush, yes unfortunately that seems right :( I'll try the cleaning first.

:)) :)) :)) to The Curtain and The Asterisked One. Actually the music player is probably worth more than my car :))

Foxy, does that sound like a good solution to you?!!! I sit in my car with the door open for an hour? This time of year, it's more likely to suck moisture into the CD player!!!

The unit stays in my house when I'm not in the car, so I think it's highly unlikely that it's anything to do with condensation. CDs were playing fine last time I used it.

ETA: Push comes to shove, I can transfer all the demos to a memory stick and play them in the car from that, but sometimes life is just too short, innit.

[aquarius moon]

My CD player did the same thing (not a car one though)

Went suddenly out of the blue & it was only 2 years old.

I tried using a cleaning disc, but nothing worked, so think it was the laser. Ended up having to buy a new CD player.

[Sue]

GRRRRRRR.

Christmas is expensive enough without having to replace things :(

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> Foxy, does that sound like a good solution to

> you?!!! I sit in my car with the door open for an

> hour? This time of year, it's more likely to suck

> moisture into the CD player!!!

>

> The unit stays in my house when I'm not in the

> car, so I think it's highly unlikely that it's

> anything to do with condensation. CDs were playing

> fine last time I used it.

>

It is an official recommendation from Sony..

You know , the people who made the device...

Still.. I'm sure you know better..

Went to the trouble to try and help you..

Thanks...

DF.

PS. I don't think they meant your car door.. They were referring to the device door.

The hole where the CD goes in.

[Sue]

I have now had a response from my email to Sony, with instructions to reset the device and if that does not work, to get back to them. There was no mention of condensation .....

Fox, there is no "device door", but thanks for your help. Actually, you had jumped over suggestion 6, which is what Sony have now suggested.

Fingers crossed .... but resetting sounds ominous. All my settings down the drain .... oh well. Needs must.

I think I'll wait till after Christmas, to minimise my stress levels :))

ETA: Luckily, just also seen this advice: "IMPORTANT: Sony does not recommend the use of over-the-counter CD/DVD player lens cleaners."

[Otta]

Of course they don't, because they want you to buy their cleaner.

[Sue]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Of course they don't, because they want you to buy

> their cleaner.

xxxxxx

How very cynical, Otta :))