Hi there, trying to fix a problem in my mother's 1997 SE7 with the 6 disc CD changer under the passenger seat. Ejecting the magazine and the changer cycling through disks is fine, but pressing CD on the head unit results in "ERR" being displayed. Pressing any other button on the head unit does not change anything. Every other part of the head unit works, just not in the CD mode. Any ideas on how to fix this?

 

I'm guessing that the data cable between the cd changer under the passenger seat and the head unit has been fouled.

If the head unit doesn't see the 'heart beat' of the CD player, it thinks there is an error.

There is a rectangle connector at the CD changer end which looks like this...


The other end of that cable connects to a round 13 pin connector at the head unit. Labeled "DIN 13P" in this diagram.



I opened up that cable and tapped the audio lines, installing an iPod/phone hookup. It is critical to keep all the other data signals so that the head unit believes the CD changer is functioning.

 

Hmm, any idea how that cable runs from the changer to the head unit? I'll check the connector at the changer and see if there is something obvious there. Hopefully the problem isn't in the middle of the cable hidden way in the dash.

 

could be the connector at the head unit. If I recall correctly (not certain) the cable runs under the carpet on the passenger side up into the dash. Very difficult to remove/replace. (I planned to originally, but went a different direction)