Audio Systems: Stock disc changer - 97 Mustang, oem replacements, stearing wheel

Question
Hi,
  I just bought a used '97 mustang with cassette player and radio in the dash. It also has a 6 disc changer in the back that connects to a small unit under the stearing wheel that allows me to choose the disc etc. The radio works great! But the CD's dont want to play for some reason? I load the changer and can hear the discs loading and changing and the small unit says it reads the discs, but there is no sound - im not sure if its the changer that is broken or if there's something i need to push or reset?
The Changer wasnt mentioned in the car add, so it is possible that this is why : )
Any help would be great!!!!

Answer
There are many possibilities. Let  me list a few:

-  Audio cable from changer to head unit broken/open circuit.
-  Connectors at either end loose or corroded.
-  Laser diode weak or dead.
-  Optical pickup badly misaligned.
-  Lense on optical pickup dirty or scratched badly.
-  Digital detecting IC or circuits in changer bad.

And so on.  You will have to do some troubleshooting or take it to a car shop where they can look at it.

If this is a stock unit that was installed in the car when new it is most likely the laser diode is shot.  Replacing it is very expensive.

Check with www.partydown.com to see if they have oem replacements for your car. If so, they cost around $300 (not worth it in my opinion).

You would be better off using an iPod interface and put your music on the iPod.  Then you can carry it with you.  An iPod or mp3 player will hold much more music than a 10 disc changer!

good luck with it.

cleggsan