I just bought a 99 LS400, the In dash 6 CD changer doesn't seem to work, if any of you people could help, that'd be great. First off when I got the car, the cartridge wasn't there, so I assumed it probably didn't work, ha, so I went out and got a replacement. The cartridge I bought for 15 bucks was a CRW1342-B. I'm pretty sure that is the correct model, if not please let me know. Anyway, after putting two regular CD-R's in the cartridge I put it in the changer as described in the manual, and nothing. No loading phase as described in the manual, absolutely nothing. At first I thought there was no power going to the unit, but when i push the eject button, the cartridge pops out mechanically, so there is definitely power going to the unit. I disconnected the battery terminals I heard resetting might help but still the same thing, the radio just doesn't recognize or even attempt to start the loading phase. Is the unit dead? or am I just missing something obvious. And yes I did close the cd changer door after loading the cartridge, and yes the cartridge is in all the way. Thanks. Also, when I press, or hold down the CD button, nothing happens either.

 

Be sure the CD is facing the correct direction. Reversed from the normal cd player.

 

It is, besides I'm sure even if it wasn't, the unit would attempt to load the discs, i'm not even getting a "load' process. Thanks for replying tho.

 

This is the Nakamichi system. Yes, the playing surface is inserted face up - label side is down.

If that does not produce results, you can hunt a CD unit from a salvage yard. I would suggest a new head unit for MP3 compatibility though. The Nak system was pretty nice in the day.

 

Well, i'm attempting to figure out if anyone here has had a similar problem. I assume once you load the cartridge in the changer it should automatically enter a loading phase, but it is almost like the cd changer doesn't even begin that phase, yes the discs are properly loaded into the changer. Most of the problems I read with these units show that there is an "Err" message when loading. Mine doesn't even attempt to load the disc. But there is power to the unit, so maybe there is an easy fix. If anyone knows let me know thanks!

 

Figured out the problem, was hilarious. I was looking over the repair records for the car and at around 30,000 miles in 2001 the woman brought it in to the dealer complaining it wasn't working. So I cross-referenced the repair records with the maintenance records on lexusdrivers.com. It showed notes of where the work was performed, and I got the dealer number. I called the dealer and gave them the work order number and the notes were hilarious. It said, "CD Player Diagnosed as NON Functional, Customer quoted installation charge, customer refused, customer left CD cartridge at dealership, not responding to calls. " So i'm like..well there's the mystery of the lost CD cartridge... So I attempt to figure out WTF the problem is myself since it's just mind boggling that A) the system died at 30,000 miles in 2001, and B) that it has power and not even attempting to load.. So i go in there with a mini flashlight and there's a hairpin jammed inside where the motor attempts to load the discs.. haha..as soon as i removed it the cd player was functional. This shows how much failures the lexus dealers are that they just recommend a new one without even putting a flash light into the changer. The CD player works like new now, and only has about 2 years of use on it since she hadn't used it since 30,000 miles in 2001 ..haha..just funny hope you guys had a laugh like i did..

 

that's pretty awesome

 

glad that was an easy solution.

 

yeah it also showed that in 2010 she spent 3200 replacing the exhaust system, Y-pipe, front pipe sub assembly and mufflers and cat @ 110k miles (now 120k)... is it really that much ??? man..

 

Yikes! What do they mean "CD player diagnosed as non-fuctional"?? They tried to turn it on and it didn't work?? There's a mechanic at work for ya!

That's almost as bad as taking your car in for a no-start condition, and the shop just says:

"Well, the engine doesn't work. so that must mean you need a new engine!"

Good find man!

 

Yes! - and this actually increases the value of the car, if a Lexus dealer did the work with all OEM parts. (not that any of these parts were actually bad at 110K, but that's another story - lol)

 

Yeah it was a one owner car, and the owner was a woman in her 40s.. she said she took their word for it for all the repairs.. I feel bad...but i also feel good, because its in great shape, but then i feel bad about her opening her purse going like...well ok... but then i feel good because its not my wallet... but then i feel bad because of the glass ceiling she probably had to deal with at her career to pay for all this stuff..(she was single).. then i feel good because i turned on futurama with a cold one... what was i talking about again? ha