2002 - CD Player errors

[Unoose]

The CD Player in my 2002 4Runner gives error messages that basically tells the CDs are bad; the dealer tried his hand too with brand new CDs, with no luck. He recommends chaning the unit. (no cleaning...of the CD player with cleaning kits helped)

I have heard that going in for after market audio kits sometimes might mess up with other wirings... ?? Any suggestions pls ?

thanks

 

[drmorbius]

Try it with the engine off and listen near the CD slot for the sound of the CD spinning up. If you can hear it spin, the laser sled is most likely stuck. If you can remove the unit and it's top cover while leaving the plugs in the rear plugged in you can look inside and you should see a glass lens about 1/4" in diameter (do this without the CD in). This lens should be near the center of the player as CDs play from the center out. I don't know how mechanical you are but I usually remove the top cover of the player (be careful it hangs on springs and has two plastic pivot points at the rear, one on each side, so no downward pressure). Anyway once inside I use Windex on a Qtip and clean and dry the lens. The lens assembly slides on rails which have a very thin grease on them. Over time this grease gets dirt etc in it and becomes a non lubricant so I clean it off with alcohol and grease it with Phonolube. Thats all there is to it.