I have a 1998 SC 400 with a Nakamichi sound system including the trunk mounted 12 CD changer. I am the third owner. the car has 89,000 miles and is in great original condition.

Recently the CD changer has been skipping when driving on bumpy roads an has also jammed so nothing would play.

I would appreciate recommendations on a solution to this.

My preference would be a repair of the existing CD changer. Is this possible?

If not I would appreciate recommendations on a replacement.

Thanks for your help

Jim Perry

 

Repair of a CD transport is generally not possible unless you have a parts donor. Sometimes the laser diode gets dirty cleaning it will restore proper tracking. Since the mechanism is jamming up it's probably simply worn out.

 

Thanks for your comments. Any thoughts on a factory looking replacement with bluetooth?

 

I had this issue with my 93 SC’s CD player. There wasn’t any way to repair the CD changer back then, other than getting one from another SC or upgrading to an aftermarket headunit.

 

Don't think they exist. Also modern head units sound awful to my ears they are all about the fancy software the audio stage is an afterthought. I made a thread about it

Consider finding a replacement transport on Ebay but that is a gamble.

 

I still see them in pick a part places and Ebay

 

Thanks. I think I will buy a used unit on eBay

 

You can add a hidden bluetooth module by adding on to the aux-in hack modification. I think someone finally figured out how to do it on factory Nakamichi head units but I don’t know the thread offhand, sorry.

As for aftermarket head units, most of them don’t satisfy me on features or aesthetics. I found a nice exception with a Continental/VDO single-din aftermarket head unit with a built-in CD player, aux-in jack and built in Bluetooth for hands-free calls and audio with basic control of your Apple music player from the phone.

It’s a very clean 90’s looking deck almost in the same style as 90’s aftermarket Nakamichi car stereo decks.

Continental model #CDD-7418UB-OR




The VDO version has a light bluish LCD but other than that and the logo being different it is exactly the same.

There is also a mech-less (no CD player) version of both but I like the classic style of this one best in the SC. Very simple, reliable and easy to use by touch without looking at it while you drive.

Bluetooth connection to your phone after initial setup is automatic and seamless every time. Bluetooth audio playback has its own mode setting on the head unit that you select (easy) since the radio is the startup default but even if you do not select Bluetooth audio playback mode any incoming or outgoing phone calls override any audio mode you happen to be in and phone music even pauses for you during the call.

It will basically play any multimedia audio playback of any kind from the phone from any application through Bluetooth.

It has no XM/Sirius satellite radio capability so if that’s a dealbreaker for you then this is not the right radio for you. I have no interest in that service so it didn’t matter.

For this company’s aftermarket head units a tiny PAC-TR4 module is required to create an external amplifier turn on signal. Most aftermarket stereos have an amplifier turn-on wire built in. Not a big deal to install one and it’s a cheap component.