static sound-->cd changer-->problem-->help (long'ish)
 

long story, but i got a cd changer, and it didn't work. then i got another one, and it only halfway works. someone will die next i tell you!

but before death begins, maybe i can solve the current problem with the current cd changer. firstly, i had it for about 3-4 days in my trunk and let it play several cds just fine until i decided to mount it (i wanted to make sure it worked fine before i drilled holes). then i drill the holes. on THAT DAY, i burned a new cd that went into the changer; it's a newer imation cd (the ones with the musical notes on the front). well, i played it, and halfway through the 1st song on the album, it started making static-like noises. i went to the second track - same thing. then i moved onward to another cd, and it kept doing it. i turned the radio off.

next time i got in my car, that same cd did it to me again. i never listened to that single cd without having that issue while it was in the changer. i even tried moving the cd around and made it disc #5, 8, 2, 12, etc. it still did it. i put the cd in the head unit - no problems. so i left it out of the changer for a bit. next, i got out my other cd burner and made another cd with the same songs on it on a different burner (thinking the burner was the problem, since it is brand new). well this cd didn't do it for several days, then it started again.

i thought about it a while, and then realized 2 really odd things were happening when i had the static noise. firstly, the newer imation cds (i have the older ones in my changer also, and they aren't doing it) are the only cds that seem to cause this static noise, and secondly, the noise only happens when my t-tops are off (which i'm nearly positive that one or both of these are a coincidence). when i pull over after the static (not skipping, just bad reception, like the speakers are cutting out - make sense?) noise happens, the cd changer is completely shut, so i know that no air got into the changer and forced the cd to do some weird skipping and cause static noises.

so i'm stumped. i took out all of the newer imation cds from the changer earlier today, and replaced them with other stuff, and some actual cd's included (not just cd-r's). anyway, i'm going to see if this solves the problem. it probably will not. i played all of these cd's (even the initial cd i made with the new burner that gave me a million and a half problems) and it sounded fine coming through the head unit. what the hell? i've gotten a can of compressed air and blown out the changer and the magazine several times, thinking something got lodged into something somewhere causing something to make some static (the hell if i really know what's going on).

if anyone has any sort of clue as to "what the hell" or has had a similar experience, please help me. this changer was manufactured in 1996. i would appreciate any insight, or even a friendly cup of tea will suffice at this point. i have better luck with women.





ok, scratch that last part. but this is still pretty shitty luck!

Did you ever find a solution to this? Because it's the same
problem I've been having, and so far no luck or clues (I
posted a similar question a while back to no avail).

Some CD players are picky as to what brand CD-R they will play. If you only have problems when you use the newer Imation CD-Rs, try another brand. Usually the issue is the media and not the burner. Blue (the actual writing surface) disks are typically better than gold or green.

I rerecorded my mix discs on new Sony CD-Rs and the
static is as bad or worse than the original Imation CR-Rs.
Both are the pale green media. I looked for some of the
"azo blue" Verbatims I used to use but no luck so far.
Unfortunately the CD-R spindles don't let you see the
material or tell you what type it is... at least, not the
cheapos.

CD-RWs flat don't work even in the front.

CD-RWs don't work on most factory radios and not all aftermarket radios will read them. Sony CD-Rs suck, most radios have problems with them. Memorex CD-Rs (not blue though) are cheap and seem to work fine in my Monsoon headunit.

Here is a similar thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wiring-stereo-electronics/215902-cd-player-won-t-play-cd-s.html

Good news on the static situation....

I got some Memorex "CDR-Pro" type at Office Depot
and these work like a champ; not a bit of noise. Not
cheap, 25/$14.95, but not too bad. The "pro" CD-Rs
have the same blue-green (not pale green) dye as
the old Verbatim Datalife ones I used to use. None
of the CD spindles will tell you what kind of dye,
but the key phrase "superior archival life" seems to
be unique to the better dye types, if you're looking
for "no worries" media.

Then again you could just break the seal when no
one is looking :secret2: