The factory 3-disc CD changer in my 97 4runner has given me E-02 errors twice now. I have been able to eventually get the CD back out by jiggling the cartridge in the slot.

Are there any cleaning/maintenance recommendations for this CD changer? Or am I going to get a permanent E-02 error soon and have to get a new CD player?

 

Is yours the type that come out of the dash to change cd? I had like that on my 95. I posted a question about it a while back. I was told that it is made by alpine. I went to their website and got no help. I was also told to just leave it off and just keep pushing the eject button. I did this for like 2 days and got nothing, so I just replaced it. Took the cd player apart and it had gotten the cd stuck in a very strange place and scratched it really bad. I had to butcher it to get anything back. I would tell you to try to keep pushing eject and hopefully it will come out.

 

yup, it's the one where the cartridge that holds 3 discs comes out partially when it changes discs.

i was able to get the CD out and it is working fine for now. It just seems inevitable it will totally consume a CD unless I figure out how to do some preventive maintenance.

 

Yes I do believe that you will be needing a new one soon, my change keptteling me E-02 for about 4weeks before shejsut quit, but it was never working from the get go when I bought it, I eventualy just took it out and got a Sony Explode single disc, best thing I could havedone, that factory changer was getting on my nerves with that E-02 every other time I changed discs. But who knows that may be me, you might get lucky and work round it ultimatley, good luck.

 

I had the same thing on my stock cd changer. Mine was a single disc player though. I took it back to Toyota, and they said it was shot, and just needed a new one. a week later I had a new cd player free of charge, since i was still under warranty!

If you're thinking of replacing it with another stock one, I'd go in to the dealership soon so they can order you one. Or just get one from an online parts place. Going a week without tunes is HELL!!!

 

FYI: E-02 or E02 is a universal code for CD Players and DVD Players alike. It means; The disc is scratched or dirty, or the cd laser lens is dirty and cannot focus.

This may be the case for your cd changers also. Try spraying some compressed air into the changer and see if that helps.

Dan

 

I've got a continuous supply of compressed air, so I will give that a try.

If it does finally stop working, I will likely go with a name-brand stereo. Any recs for a mulit-disc player that doesn't skip too much on rough roads?

 

Pioneer. Tried and true. Their 6disc change is amazing. I have beaten the crap out of it and I cannot remember it ever skipping.

Dan

 

I run a 6 disc Alpine Changer in my truck.. I love it.. It's nice and small (fits in my glove box) and works like a charm. I've owned the changer for 3.5 yrs. now and it still works like the day I got it.

Just my .02

Eric

 

can i run the disc changer through the factory stereo or will i also need a new head unit?

 

A week w/o tunes is nothing, the day my girlfirend left for a month stay in India, my CD player died(the Sony) and I went that entier month and 2 more weeks w/o one sound. I never had her around for most of it to kill the silance and I found myslef singing to myself just to kill the insanity of no noise, that was a dark time for me, windows down, nice weather, no tunes, and alot of strange looks from people who wondered what I was singing for with no other sounds coming from the Runner, . Oh and don't go wth Sony, I've gone throuh two now and will never get another, they can't hold up to the bournces ofmy stiff ride when it comes to skipping and seem to take alot of hard hits from slight off-raoding, go figure, they just don't seem to be structurally sound, go figure, my next will be a Pioneer definatly. Good luck.