Hi,

I'm looking to fix my OEM standard CD radio in my stock '07 Monte Carlo.

The problem started with only certain CD's that would play, now none will.
It takes CD's in and out just fine but it's like it can't read them.
Everything else works with the radio.

I've vacuumed around the mouth and sprayed can air into to clean any dust away to no effect.

Has anyone been able to fix such a problem?
Is there perhaps a rubber band that the motor drives that needs replacing due to age?

I know CD's are very out of date and that a new double din could replace this unit.

Thank you

Jim

 

Had the same issue with mine. So I found a very cheap used one and tried to swap it out. Nope, used unit looked very similar but was not the same in the plugs. So the next experiment was try and replace the CD mechanism from the original with the one from the cheapy. Nope to that too, Mine was a 6 disc unit and the cheapy was a single. So with nothing working out, I reassembled the original and put it back in the car. Tried again to trouble shoot its problem and the darned thing worked. Could have been dust in the laser path or a re-seating a connector inside that did it. Worth trying.

I later got an adaptor that would take an ipod and make it mimic the satellite radio and control the ipod from the stock head unit and steering wheel controls.

 

Thanks for sharing.

My friend has a collection of cd’s.

I’ve tried getting him to use digital stuff.

I’ve read the radio units are programmed To our car’s vin number so they can’t be swapped out for a salvage yard one without seeing our dealer.
I wonder how true this is.

I may try to take it apart and clean the laser eye with a Q tip and a drop of rubbing alcohol.

-

Q.
So you were able to plug something into the back of the unit to attach your iPod or did you use the front input plug?

Q.
Did you see any rubber band that the CD motor used to spin things?

 

Yes. In fact I still have it someplace in the valuable electronics vault with all the other useless but paid too much for to throw it away stuff. I searched eBay for isimple and see a bunch of them, just not sure I seen a GM version that fits that stock unit. It plugs in between the radio and wiring harness, has a small control box that hides under the dash and a cord with a 30pin iPod connector. I kept the iPod under the center console, no need to touch it. All the iPod commands to play, skip, change playlists etc were converted to the buttons on the head unit that normally controlled satellite radio. Thing cost like $250 but it was on sale for $85. You do need a head unit with a CAT button under the right **** - don't see that in the picture so all this typing was for not.

Do not remember. Most CD players to have a drive belt to turn the disc. When taking the radio apart, the black plastic face comes off of the radio first. It had a big plug and socket, easy to do. There were several more connectors inside that I did unplug and replace (take pictures!!). That's why my theory is a bad connection in one of them was causing the problem.

 

Side note, I recently learned the 00-05 CD players use a drive unit made from Clarion. Not sure of the 06-07 is the same. If so, it looks like you can buy NEW from AliBaba/AliExpress. I actually had to buy replacement gears for a couple of my CD players from there. Also, learning it was a clarion unit opened up some more videos and info I did not otherwise have.