CD changer problem

[RENN 951]

On my way to VIR this past Sunday, the CD changer suddenly stopped playing, and the Nav system went into restart mode. Nav came back up fine, but I received an error message on the screen: "System Error: CD Changer Not Available." I get the message every time I start the car and turn on the PCM.

I haven't checked the fuse yet, but when I take out the CD magazine and then reinsert it, I hear the changer cycling through the loaded CDs, so I figure it is getting power. I have noticed over the last couple years that the CDC-4 has gotten balky about playing discs loaded in certain slots on the magazine, but it has always played at least 3-4 of them. So, I'm thinking now the unit has just basically died. Single discs play in the head unit OK, although I was getting some skipping (I'll clean the CDs and retry.) I suppose there could also be a faulty fiber optic connection, but I'm not sure how to test for that myself. Can the dealer quickly diagnose FO problems, or would I be paying them $125/hr to go through a lengthy trial and error process?

After searching the archives, it looks like replacing the CDC-4 is a PITA because of all the trim panels that have to be removed. And I don't think I want to buy a CDC-4 if I'm not sure the problem isn't a FO connection.

Would the best bet for me right now be to get a mObridge installed? I'm open to thoughts and recommendations.

[gchu]

Few years ago, I installed a new CDC-4 changer myself and it worked for about a week. Then all of the sudden, I got the same error on the PCM. I took it to a dealer and they replaced the changer and it has been working fine since then.