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98 Outback CD player Broke? PLEASE HELP!


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98 Outback CD player Broke? PLEASE HELP!

 

Hi everyone.. very glad I found this message board…

 

I have a 98 Outback Limited Legacy.. Just yesterday my CD came out while it was playing for no reason.. Now when I put a CD in, it comes right back out after a few seconds?? I have no idea what to do or where to take it to get repaired… It’s the factory head unit with a single CD player… Everything else seems to work fine…

 

Right now I think my only options would be to somehow fix it myself…or Replace it with another factory head unit, or just install a 6 disk changer and run it off the existing head unit… Also where would I purchase a replacement… I can not really afford to go to a dealer…..

 

If you have any suggestions or options please send them my way! Thanks so Much!…

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Same thing happened to my '97 OBW. I replaced it with the 6-disk + cassette + AM/FM out of a WRX. They're all over E-Bay. It made a huge improvement in the sound even with the stock speakers. I also added the tweeters from 1stSubaru.com and it's like a whole new sound system.

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WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T TRY PUTTING THE CD IN AGAIN!!!

 

Sorry about the caps, but I can't stress it enough. Bottom line, Subaru factory stereos are nice, but the workmanship SUCKS! Mine ate all of my CDs (6 disc changer) one day a few weeks or so back. My subie dealership's repair facility said they had to ship the crapped out CD player back to Subaru, Subaru would get the CDs out and send them back to the dealership for me to pickup. Although my CD player was replaced in one day by the dealership, my CDs have yet to be returned and that was over 3 weeks ago!! I am pretty anal about my property, especially CDs (being a collector and all), and having them for out of my possession for so long is driving my nuts (why couldn't the dealrship just "crack" it open?)! Anyway, I hope the same doesn't happen to you as it is not a fun predicament to be in! Go to your Subaru dealership, and they may cover a replacment under warranty is you ask them nicely enough.

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I have the six disk system in my 97 OBW limited, I would have much rather the single disk, you know what you are putting in, and can carry many different disks and listen to what you want when you want. Now, I have worked on stereos for years, and I had that problem with an aftermarket Jensen cd player. The issue layed, with that unit at least, with a gear that was not seating properlly. The disk would go in, I would hear grinding noises and then would spit the disk back out. There were times it would take the disk, and as long as I left it in there it would play fine. Unless you are a bit skilled with the repair of stuff especally stereos I would not try it until you have agreed with yourself that if it cannot be fixed you are going to replace it. The cover needs to be removed and a 12 volt power supply connected, as the previous post, I would use a disk you know works but don't care about, I borrowed someones brittney spears and it scratch the hell out if it :brow: With the cover off keep inserting the disk and watching where it binds, a piece of plastic might have broken off somewhere and needs to be re-attached, or an allignment problem, good luck.

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Who makes the unit for Subaru? I'm sure the "grease guys" don't assemble these things during their lunch breaks. Anyway, I have attached a site for some common problems (common problems happen commonly).

The unit doesn't seem that old and I don't know if the play mechanism is gear or belt driven but if belt, you can easily change the belt as they stretch after a while. Have you tried another disc that you know works?

Other common problems relate to a dirty lens and a touch of cleaning alcohol on a sponge tip has fixed a few units for me.

The site below has some repair tips based on manufacturer and you can also Google it for other tips.

Good luck.

http://elmswood.guernsey.net/

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