Ever try cleaning your CD players laser lens?

[idahjo]

I recently replaced my XJ's tape player with a 1998 OEM Jeep/Chrysler radio/CD player(no tape). It had apparently been in a dusty environment so I decided that the laser lens probably should be cleaned. Research showed that there are cleaning disks with little brushes attached to the bottom that brush off the laser reader as the cleaning disk rotates in the player. Also noted was that the cleaning disks used for the tray-type entertainment (CD/DVD) players will not work in the automobile players as they use 'through the slot'-type insertion and apparently have different brushes. I ordered a MAXELL "automobile CD lens cleaner" and it arrived today. I just discovered that the Jeep/Chrysler player in my XJ would not run the cleaning disk and it would display "ERR" (error) and eject the disk. Worthless in this unit!
But, I put it into the CD player on my '97 Chevrolet K1500 and it worked as stated by the manufacturer. I have also found that the XJ's player will not play the music CD's made on my computer, but the GM one will. Apparently the XJ's is just plain "finiky"? (NO NOT 'pirated' music; I copy MY in-house CD's to keep from screwing-up MY good ones in the cars)

The purpose of this dissertation is to warn anyone in advance of a probable waste of your money if you buy a cleaning disk specifically for your Jeep's CD player; and to inquire "if" anyone else has any words of wisdom in this area.

Thanks

[jblaze5779]

I don't think the fact that the burned cd's willnot play in your player is a jeep issue. Alot of older players will not play burned cd's. Also the media that you are using might be the problem with your factory unit.

[steveC]

I'll second that, media choice makes a big difference. Most of the old ones turn up a nose at CD-RWs, and some CD-Rs. If they do play CD-Rs, it's inconsistent.

Try sampling some 5 or 10 packs of different media, especially the 650MB meant-for-audio ones. You might have better luck. Or not...

[RichP]

I too have been looking at getting a factory cd/cass player but geeze, they think those POS things are made out of gold. Been looking at a couple of new cd/cass players in the din 1.5 size and may go that route.

[idahjo]

Thanks guys, I believe you made some valid points there about both the 'older' units sensitivity and selectivity of the different media it will read. It has been my understand that there was no difference between the actual medium on the standard CD's and the Music CD's. This seemed correct when using the GM player; until the Chrysler unit was installed.
[any audiophites care to weigh-in here?]

Rich, I don't know about you but I have this thing for keeping factory stuff in my vehicles. Even though, unarguably, many of the parts/units from aftermarket are far superior. (more of a 'fit' thing I guess... all the plugs and wires work without hacking and drilling holes in things)

I got my OEM CD unit on e-bay for $127.00, and also found that the OEM radio/tape players are commonly going for $10.00(+/-) plus shipping. Great bargain if anyone needs one of radio/tape units. And the installation in the '98 was so easy it nearly jumped from the shipping box into the dash by itself!

[Pioneer89XJ]

MY 98 XJs factory CD player will play any burned disked I put in it, just an FYI.

[jblaze5779]

I got me a sony cd deck that fits perfectly into the radio slot on my 91. it looks like it was meant to be there. if you want bigger click on the photo

http://img105.echo.cx/img105/7215/dscn05576oy.th.jpg (http://img105.echo.cx/my.php?image=dscn05576oy.jpg)

[RichP]

I know about the ebay thing, I was looking at the ones the two guys on there sell, bought an AM/FM/Cass to replace a bad cass deck in one of TJ's we bought. Local booneyard shop around here sells the Jeep am/fm/cass/cd for $300 'Professionally refurbished' whatever that means with only a DOA warranty.
The adapters for the aftermarket ones mount to the factory plugs and are just as easy as the factory ones to install. Yes, I like the factory look too and thats one of the reasons I have not bought one of the aftermarket, too much bling on them for my taste.

[jblaze5779]

man I put some new speakers into the jeep after I got it from my mom and they sounded like crap... until I got rid of the factory pos radio and put the sony from my blazer there. You should go get the 100 dollar sony cd player and use that instead of putting any jeep factory unit back in. Also as you can see above it fits in there perfectly

[RichP]

Thats not the issue, we listen to book tapes alot and need cass and cd, would be nice since my sister-in-law is buying all her books on CD's now and my mother in law is starting to.

[jblaze5779]

Ah well... good then. The factory unti I had liked to play games whenever you put a tape in. I got tired of seeing how many times I could put it in and it would spit it out. AHHHH those were the days

[jeepinandy]

still listening to Kenny Rogers on the 8 track.... whats the big deal about CD players....j/k no offense to the Kenny fans or the 8 track fans either......I wonder how many don't even know what an 8 track is.. to the younger generations.....

[jblaze5779]

I know those are the things I see at the goodwill store for like one dollar for a dozen...

[jeepinandy]

I know those are the things I see at the goodwill store for like one dollar for a dozen...

LOL LOL LOL

[defenestrate]

my pioneer fits nicely in the stereo slot and DOES play modern cds.

standards for cd tolerance changed with newer models of cd player. could be that the mechanism in the GM is simply more modern. i have some old cd players that dslike cd-r's but work with some of them, even some older cd-ROMS that don't like cd-r's. figure THAT one out.