The CD changer decided to play up as I was driving to work this morning.

:(

I thought it was taking a long time to change CDs, and when I glanced down at the display, it said "MECHANIC". Obviously, a cry for help....

Tried ejecting the magazine once I had parked; it seemed to take longer than usual. Reloaded the magazine and switched on again; this time it came up with "CHK MAGAZINE".

Is there anything obvious I should check before taking it into the dealer?

TIA

chk magazine is a normal display,

its letting you know that its checking through the magazine to see what slots have cd's in.

KLB,

Yes I thought I might be alone in this.

First time did the usual, eject insert, nope...hit nope.

Took it to the dealer and an hour later he gave it back with a perplexed look on his face, not had this before, had to remove it all and reset somthing...

That was a month ago, went again last night. I'll get a more accurate diagnostic this time.

My autochange did something similar a couple or so weeks ago.

I was changing a cd, put the magazine back in and got "NO DISCS". Obviously there were 6 in there so this was wrong. Took out and put back the magazine a few times and eventually it started working again.

I think because it was a really cold day the discs were getting fine condensation on them when the magazine was removed. This condensation was probably preventing the lazer from picking up the disc.

That's my supposition anyway. :scratch: :roll:

I've seen this kind of problem on cold mornings, both on a Mondeo and a Galant -they had the changers under the passenger's seat. The discs would refuse to play with some kind of error, and you'd find them covered in condensation. I'm surprised that it happens to a boot mounted changer though -I'd have thought it would stay at a fairly constant temperature.

Phil

I had some problems with mine when it sometimes says "chk magazine" - I thried taking it out and replacing the cart a few times whicvh sometimes worked. I later found out that turning the head unit on and off generally seems to cure it....?????????? :?

Aye, checked for the usual CD issues. However it goes into mechanic mode and needs a reset apparantly.

Wouldnt popping the battery terminal reset it.

Ie you would have to enter the radio code again therefore resetting it

Just a thought

I've just popped out to the car park and tried it again. It works fine now :!:

Most strange :scratch: - must have been something to do with the cold weather (-0.5 degrees this morning). Can't have been the music - it had just finished a Howlin' Wolf CD and was about to load Nina Simone

Off to the dealers in 20mins to find out what the primary cause might be.

I'll ask if a quick fix ala roadside is possible, if not then replace it next time I think.

Imagine, middle of nowehre, coil goes, walk 5 miles to get a signal on your mobile for the AA man, return to your car and no radio signal, tape..eh what are tapes(okay I have one) and then CD goes mechanic please...I don't carry enough tobacco to cope with that scenario.

Anything to do with cold soak, perhaps? CD changer and contents get very cold overnight, then works OK in the morning until nice warm moist air from the cabin reaches it on its way to venting from the rear of the car and, voila (as Didier would say), condensation on the discs or laser. Its only an idea, but I bear the principle in mind when bringing cold power tools from the shed into the house in very cold weather. I don't use them until they have warmed up a bit just in case... (VCRs have a warning about not using them when they are very cold because of possible condensation on the heads).