Trouble with CD player

I used to work extra in a CD store through high-school/college when CD players where still newish (and before the ipod craze). So many people used to come in and complain that their CD player didn't accept their CDs that we sat up a side service to try to fix CD players. The two most common things wrong where 1) The lens was dirty and back then you could buy a "CD" with a little brush on it that would spin and clean the lens (or you could take the player apart and clean it even better) and 2) The rubber suspenders the lens rested on (to stay vertical) had dried up making the lens go out of alignment (missing the 'track'), this could easily be changed and back then most if not all CDplayers used the same rubber "mallets" and cost like $0.03 to buy (in bulk). So for $39 for a 1/2 hour service we managed to fix a large majority of our CD customers problems (the ones that we couldn't do the two simple steps above with we had an electronics store next door look at, but most of the time they where then truly malfunctioning). Being a Student it was great money (apart from that most money I made went into CDs) and a fun job!

So, yeah I think they can fix it as most of the times there are simple mechanical problems (rubber suspenders) or simply a dirty lens. At least back then, but I don't think it has chanhed much now. So have your dealer look at the unit as I don't think/know how you can reach the lens in the Prius yourself.

 

On your burned CDs. If they have not been properly finalized the CD player will not play them. I have actually found that the Prius CD player is very tollerant of burned CDs. I have a friend with a Grand Am from 6 years ago and it won't touch burned CDs (early copyright protection? ) Anyway, all of my CDs in the Prius are burned, I have the originals at home, and they run great. I also have Toast put the CD text on the CDs so that track information will display on the MFD.

But I doubt that you have a problem with your CD player, but rather your burned CDs are probably a huge problem, and your manufactured CDs might not be in good shape, specifically, if the purchased CDs are scratched up, that might be preventing the player from recognizing them and playing them.

However, if this persists, I would definitly get a warranty job done before your warranty is out. In other words, if you can replicate this behavior for a dealer service department using purchased CDs, they need to get it fixed for you under warranty.

 

bring it in before your warranty is up. there's an issue with your head unit. they'll probably replace it, and you definitely want that done under warranty.

definitely. can't stress that enough.

bring in a few CDs that have given you this problem before to demonstrate.

 

thanks for the update! glad you got it taken care of- always good to hear a happy ending.

when a head unit's dead, it's obvious, which is why they up and ordered a new one so quickly.

happy driving!