Just got my '96 SC4 and the 12-disc changer skips over the smallest bump. Drives me CRAZY when I change lanes in Houston over those round things that divide the lanes. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? I was thinking of putting the changer on a piece of soft foam. Will this work?

 

you can experiment with dampening the chassis and it might help a little, but it's very common for them to skip. they were before the "read ahead" technology where cd units would use memory to store ten or more seconds of music ahead of what was being played so the changer could play out of memory if the unit hit a bump and lost tracking on the cd momentarily. Since the changer is made before this great idea was in production, the cd player plays in real time with no read-ahead or memory to store detramental information before the laser is jarred out of alignment with the cd.

In this case, dampening is all you can do, but the problem with that is that the changer doesnt actually sit on anything. It is hung by each end on brackets that actually DO flex a bit already. i don't see any way to make it flex anymore without the changer sagging and leaning in if you were to loosen the bolts, BUT you can try this:

My only recommendation is to take the bolts free that hold the unit and put soft rubber washers between the brackets and the frame mounts and it WILL help a bit.

good luck!

 

Other than that, you can think about changing the CD-changer. You'll have to go with an FM modulator, but it's better than skipping.

My 93 not only skips but is temperamental when it comes to reading CD-R's.

You can always get a portable CD player with MP3 capabilities and plug it in through a car kit. That way, you can burn 100+ tunes onto 1 CD and just leave the player in your glove compartment. That's what I do. Make sure to get an MP3 player with a remote control ... so you don't have to fudge around with the unit while driving.

 

I heard if you clean the cd changer sometimes that helps or if you get the unit refurbished by someone. Search for those items if you are interested there are talks about it somewhere. Also KyleSC400 (don't know his nick name for sure) did a padding project that was talked about on the aussie webbsite, looks like the padding project would work well... basically lefitates your cd changer on some type of foam... to make it simulate 'floating' effect.

 

Thanks guys. I'll try the padding this week to see if that helps any. I'd just hate to have to buy more stuff just to play my music collection. I thought the anti-skip technology came out way before 1996. Guess not.

 

i had the same problem....im my case i got a CD cleaner and it helped alot...but it still cuts off on big bumps..

 

I think it started to get popular around 1992 but was expensive on diskmans and such. The CD changer was designed probably in late 80s or early 90s so don't think they would have used the technology back then, cars with CD players or disk changers were uncommon, one of the camerys we had back in 88 didn't even had casset player!!

 

Guy's,

Your suggestions have good intentions, but they are Band-Aid fixes. The reason your unit is skipping and not playing Cdr.'s is because you optics have gone south. They don't last forever. You can have them replaced, United Radio did a good job you me or do the trade in deal with a Lexus Dealership. Do a search you will find lot's of info.

Nobb

 

Okay, went and shelled out $20 for a CD optic cleaner and to my surprise, it actually helped quite a bit. I tested it by driving over grooves on the shoulder and also all those bumps between the lanes and it didn't skip. Bigger potholes still makes it skip, however. But I am fairly happy with the result.

 

SEE...good job that is what i had suggested in the first place..it worked for me!!!!

CEO

 

the cd changer helped a bit, but it far from fixed the problem for me. im going to try the padding soon, hopefully. ive meant to get around to it for a few weeks now, too bad time is so scarce for me now whenever i do get around to doing it, ill definitely post the results up here and will probably take some pictures, too.

 

Go to the lexus electronics section there is a whole post of adapters and other solutions. the easiest was brought up by lexusaudio, replace the stock 12 disc changer with the 93 LS400 6 disc. it will run off the stock connectors and will plug rihgt up. i haven't heard of anyone doing this but it sounds like the best solution to the problem we all have.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=16789

if anyone has the chance to try this let me know

Arthur

 

I had the same problem with my 95 sc400. I placed an ad on this web site for a replacement cd player. A good guy sold me his, since he installed an entire new system, for $100. Never had the problem again. Sometimes the chips go bad within the player themselves and can not be fixed. It is easy to replace if you can find a good working replacement.
Good luck

 

my suggestion would have to be... get rid of the whole POS stereo system

 

I got my changer rebuilt by LaJolla Audio. It plays everything I put in it, CD-Rs included, and has never skipped. It was not cheap ($470 with shipping), but it works like a charm.