Anyone had CD changer INITIALIZING message?

JAustin · 11-24-2006, 06:23 PM

Has anyone else with the factory CD changer experienced the situation where the CD changer stops playing, the CD disc icon (to the left of the list of loaded disc numbers) starts flashing, and the display changes to "INITIALIZING"?

This just happened today for the second time on our '06, and we've never experienced it with our '05. The first time it happened, the changer "figured it out on its own" after a few minutes. This time, more than 15 minutes passed; no joy.

There's a reference in the owner's manual to a "CD ERROR" message, but no reference to "INITIALIZING," or anything related.

We've had the same 6 discs loaded for the last couple of days, with no problems up until a couple of hours ago. Now, the changer won't play or eject any of them.

If anyone's had a similar experience, I'd appreciate any information regarding how you resolved the problem. We're in the middle of a road trip, and I love my wife and all, but it's a long drive home with no auditory stimulation other than conversation ...

Ricochet · 11-24-2006, 08:02 PM

STRANGE,... Try pulling the radio fuse. Leave it out for 30 mins then try re installing the fuse and see what happens. Also remove any discs that might be in the changer and re install them. See what happens.

striaghtup · 11-24-2006, 08:48 PM

maybe a bad or scratched disc and the player is trying to read it but can't

Mike in AZ · 11-24-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAustin

Has anyone else with the factory CD changer experienced the situation where the CD changer stops playing, the CD disc icon (to the left of the list of loaded disc numbers) starts flashing, and the display changes to "INITIALIZING"?

This just happened today for the second time on our '06, and we've never experienced it with our '05. The first time it happened, the changer "figured it out on its own" after a few minutes. This time, more than 15 minutes passed; no joy.

There's a reference in the owner's manual to a "CD ERROR" message, but no reference to "INITIALIZING," or anything related.

We've had the same 6 discs loaded for the last couple of days, with no problems up until a couple of hours ago. Now, the changer won't play or eject any of them.

If anyone's had a similar experience, I'd appreciate any information regarding how you resolved the problem. We're in the middle of a road trip, and I love my wife and all, but it's a long drive home with no auditory stimulation other than conversation ...

We were on the trip to Kingsburg this spring with 4 or 5 CDs loaded when we got the identical set of symptoms. Turns out that it's a known problem with this model head unit. We tried everything we could think of to fix it, but no joy. When we got home, I went to my local Chevy dealer. The Service Writer owns an SSR and is probably the best I've ever had. He downloaded a fresh set of audio system "knowledge" with the tech 2 and we still had no response.

The techs removed and replaced the head unit and our old one (with CDs still inside) went in for repair. The repair facility was supposed to return our CDs after they got it open, but we never saw them again. I'll be asking my Service Writer when I talk to him next time...... I think someone owes us a few CDs.

Sorry for the bad news........

Mike

JAustin · 11-25-2006, 07:22 AM

Ricochet: Thanks for your thoughts. As I mentioned in my original post, the head unit refuses to eject any of the discs. I'll try pulling the radio fuse and see if that helps.

Mike in AZ: When I got in my "worst case" mental mood over this last night, I started thinking that part of the cost of this failure would be the need to replace the CDs stuck in the unit.

There are far worse things that can go wrong ... at least we're not stranded with a mechanical problem or tire failure!

As much as I want to keep my SSR(s) stock, I'm really tempted to replace the head unit with one that will accept a USB thumb drive or something. I used to dream of the day when head units will play DVD-RWs loaded with MP3 files, but now I'd like to banish all optical discs in favor of solid-state media.

bgetz · 11-25-2006, 07:57 AM

Ours "froze" up with 5 CD's. The dealer replaced the head unit after other attempts with software failed. About 3 months later I was surprised with a phone call that my CD's were in for pick up

Back in business...... I have since went with an ipod and use the monster FM modulator. Happy with service and getting the CD's back. Check with your dealer, they're probably sitting in the service dept on a shelf.

Mike in AZ · 11-25-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgetz

Check with your dealer, they're probably sitting in the service dept on a shelf.

bgetz - Thanks for the encouragement. I'll check next week. From what I understand, this is a common problem for this head unit all across the product lines. My new one has been in since May and I have no issues.

JAustin - Have a safe trip and enjoy your spouse's company.

Regards from the Desert,

Mike

Bagger · 11-25-2006, 09:20 AM

Hmmmm...I guess I need to use the CD player more and see what mine does. I listen to XM 99.9% of the time. The other .1% is listening to Adam Corolla in the A.M. on terrestrial radio.

JAustin · 11-27-2006, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Before I have the stock head unit changed under warranty, I'm going to see if GM has produced a compatible changer unit that plays MP3s. Anyone know if such a unit exists? If so, it'd be worth paying for to replace the standard audio CD-only changer.

If not, I'll probably have it replaced under warranty just to have a working stock unit on-hand, and still replace it with an aftermarket unit that either plays MP3s or accepts solid-state media.

WOW_FCTR · 11-28-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAustin

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Before I have the stock head unit changed under warranty, I'm going to see if GM has produced a compatible changer unit that plays MP3s. Anyone know if such a unit exists? If so, it'd be worth paying for to replace the standard audio CD-only changer.

If not, I'll probably have it replaced under warranty just to have a working stock unit on-hand, and still replace it with an aftermarket unit that either plays MP3s or accepts solid-state media.

I thought that the single slot CD player played MP3s (just the 6 disc didn't)
The single slot player is in the standard (non-upgraded) SSR stereos...
More info in other threads here...

JAustin · 11-28-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOW_FCTR

I thought that the single slot CD player played MP3s (just the 6 disc didn't)
The single slot player is in the standard (non-upgraded) SSR stereos...

Wow:

You are correct, as far as the SSRs go. However, Chevy now has several models in the '07 lineup with six-disc changers that will play MP3s. I don't know if any of these units are compatible with the SSR (physical installation requirements, Bose sound system hook-up), but I figured I'd at least investigate before having a dealer replace the existing unit under warranty.

JAustin · 12-13-2006, 10:57 AM

Just wanted to post a brief message to follow-up and close out this incident.

On the recommendation of BYERS, I contacted Bob Wrinkle at the Classic Chevrolet service department in Grapevine.

It took two different head units and three days to get the job done, but I'm all about getting it done right rather than fast but wrong. Bob was very proactive and kept me informed throughout the process.

After picking up my 'R at 5:00 pm Monday, I was less than a mile away from the dealership when I discovered that the coin tray wasn't reinstalled correctly (front cover came off in my hand, and the rest fell into the dash assembly). I pulled off the road and called Bob, and got his VM, so left a message and drove back to the dealership. He returned my call just as I was driving onto the dealership property, and was waiting for me. He got the tray reinstalled correctly in about 15 minutes.

It's great to have an operational CD changer again. Bob estimated 4 weeks for me to get back the CDs that were stuck in the original head unit.

Bottom line, I won't hesitate to use Classic Chevrolet's service department again. Bob's a great guy, and a pleasure to deal with.

P.S. The 2007 Tahoe used by the courtesy drivers that shuttled me between the dealership and my office was equipped with an AM/FM stereo with an in-dash 6-CD changer that also plays MP3s and has an auxiliary audio input jack. If only!!!

JAustin · 01-03-2007, 11:44 AM

I dropped by Classic Chevrolet yesterday and picked up the CDs that were stuck in the failed head unit they had replaced last month. So instead of taking 4 weeks to get my CDs back, it only took three.

Given the date on the letter accompanying the CDs (12/15/06), I might have had them back in less than a week after picking up the SSR, had my service advisor not been out for 2 weeks for vacation / holidays, but I wasn't in any rush.

The returned CDs are in excellent condition, each stored in a separate plastic sleeve, and all six sleeved CDs and the letter from GM Service and Parts Operations packed in a plastic "zip lock" bag. It was a form letter, of course, but it still contained an apology for the inconvenience caused by the radio failure.

All in all, as pleasant a service experience as I could have hoped for.

Please forgive the shameless plug, but I won't think of taking my SSRs anywhere but to Bob Wrinkle at Classic in Grapevine for all their service.