CD Changer Problems

[Cbardell]

Evening Chaps,

Tried to load the CD changer up on Friday as was heading away for the weekend. Changer ejects the cassette fine, loaded the CD's, reinserted cassette and it reads the CD's one by one then goes back to the bottom of the cassette as though it is waiting for the head unit to select a disc.

Problem is the unit just shows no cd on 1-4 then on 5 and 6 it thinks it has a cd but it's silent and runs constantly even with the changer cassette removed.

Car has iPod connector in glove box buts on an old connector so not tried it, could they have wired the iPod cable into the cd changer input? Seems abit strange if they have.

Any input greatly appreciated.

[HPsauce]

A CD changer with power will scan the CD slots when you put a cassette in in a rather "mechanical" way, probably irrespective of being connected sensibly to a head unit.
So, yes, if there's some sort of iPod interface, which normally looks like a CD changer for that vintage, it's quite plausible that is the problem.

What is the head unit - looks like an RNS-D? And what is the iPod interface?

Though what is a bit odd is that (I think) the CD changer is usually powered down the cable from the RNS. Maybe the plug/connection has been disturbed, I think the CD is the blue block of the blue/green/yellow big splittable plug.

[Cbardell]

It's a dension iPod connection and it is an rns-d

Will they have swapped the plug for there's or spliced it in?

[HPsauce]

I personally have no idea how it's fitted; hopefully someone here has one and can advise, or find the exact model and a manual. Or look at the wiring, which will tell you for sure.
I'm familiar with the XCarlink equivalent and that is sort of "spliced" in with a loom they provide and you can run BOTH the CD changer and the iPod (and other music interfaces) in a sort of "flip-flop" manner selected via the RNS-D RADIO/CD/TV button.

Note that Track 99 sort of suggests it's an electronic pseudo-CD telling you that as 99 is the maximum track number via RNS-D and obviously a "real" CD never gets anywhere near that.

Does the Dension have any storage, e.g. an SD card or USB stick in it?

[Cbardell]

Cheers HP

Is there an easy way to get to the back of the unit without removing it? Through the glove box?

[HPsauce]

I doubt it, get a set of 4 removal tools, takes seconds to pull it out.

[Shoppinit]

Has it ever worked?

[Cbardell]

First time I've tried to use it to be honest only had car a month at most (used to belong to ChrisRS). Will get some keys and do some digging.

[HPsauce]

Or ask ChrisRS?

[Cbardell]

Have sent him a message but seems to be sat in outbox.

[HPsauce]

Looking at Dension online there seems to be an option (depending what model you have) to retain use of the CD changer in parallel, by default it seems that the Dension unit simply replaces it.
You need to find out exactly what you have and get hold of an installation manual. RTFM time.

As noted above I'm familiar with XCarlink who provide similar units and they do (with RNS-D) allow you to retain use of the CD changer.

[Shoppinit]

Yup. Sounds like the Denison replaces it.

Use it, remove it or get an xcarlink or similar.

[ChrisRS6]

Hi mate, I've picked up your PM and replied.

I have vague memories of being able to switch between the iPod dock and the CD Changer using the head unit, but once I got the kit fitted (paid for a car-audio place to do it professionally, rather than doing it myself) I never used the CD Changer afterwards.

I kept the instructions in the red box-file so have a root-around in there, or perhaps a spot of Googling will bring up the user-guide.

[HPsauce]

I don't know how it works with Dension, but with XCarlink you change source to something else (Radio usually unless you have TV as well) then back to CD and it alternates each time you choose CD.
So if it's on the iPod next time it's on CD and then iPod again.

[Cbardell]

Got your message mate thanks, my messages seem to just sit in my outbox for ages before they go.

Will have a root in the box of stuff tonight and see what I can find thanks for your help everyone.