DarthBudice

Hey everybody!

Haven't posted in a hwhile, maybe this can help:

Finally got fed up with the constant 'Magazine Empty' message on my radio.
Granted my normal listening pleasure is just NPR but sometimes
I need some Black Sabbath / Dio / Megadeth... so today was the day.

Hopefully this can help others who have experienced this as well.

Here's what I did:

To begin, remove the changer from the car.
Pretty sure this has been covered, however a quick synopsis is
use T20 torx bit to remove the screw from the retention bracket.
Gently pull the changer (from the outer side of the car) towards you.
Remove the fiber and power connectors from the rear of the unit.

Brought it inside and went to town.

First, use same T20 torx bit to remove the 4 screws holding the mounting bracket to the changer.

I also removed the curved fiber bracket - 1 phillips screw.

Next, we need to remove the outer chassis cover. Remove 2 large phillips screws at the bottom
of the top cover for each side. Picture below shows screws removed.



Then we will remove the rear corner covers. A smaller phillips screw hold each in.
Gently flex the chassis cover away and remove each corner cover. Image below shows the result.



Now remove the 2 screws holding the fiber/power module to the rear of the chassis cover.
It is connected by a delicate ribbon cable, I highly suggest NOT attempting to disconnect the cable
from the interface module unless one has the skills to replace it without damage.
I don't know your technical capabilities, but be forewarned that it is delicate... Your car/equipment, your risk.

OK then. Now we need to finish pulling the cover. Facing the rear of the changer, just like earlier,
gently flex the sides away from the chassis to get the cover past the anti-vibration mount on each side
and lift up. There should be 2 clips at the front holding the cover. I used a knife and didn't
care about scratches because they will be covered by the mounting bracket.
This should be the result:



Now for the fun part. Took it back out to the car and hooked it back up for functional observation.
Inserted my magazine (only 2 cds) and the disc selection motor (vertical) seemed to have zero issues.
Hmmm... but it wouldn't pull a disc into the player section...

After inspecting the tray loading mechanism, I 'forcefully' (not in the Hulk or Spiderman sense) tapped
the black pivot arm between the two microswitches mounted on the green PCB (picture below) on the next magazine cycle
and my Black Sabbath Reunion disc was playing seconds later.



After 3 mag eject/insert cycles and no load failures, time to put everything back together and reinstall.
Hopefully will not have to do this again, however I know right where to direct my attention next time.

Again I know not the technical skills of those reading this, so please proceed at your own risk.

Hope this can help others - good luck. Happy driving!

Glyn M Ruck

Thanks - very useful post to keep for future reference.

SteveAustin

I just did this last night and fixed my CD Changer...you are the *****! Thanks for posting this, it saved me from having to find a replacement. I pulled the black plastic arm down and felt it get back in the grooves and turn the plastic wheel. The 2005 CD changer has more screws and is a bigger PIA to take apart, but I think it's well worth it. I felt like a meth head taking apart the toaster at 9PM, but whatever the case I have a functioning CD changer!

SteveAustin

Update: I was told by the service department to hold eject and hit the magazine cartridge Fonz-style with the handle of a screw driver. Could save a lot of time disassembling this thing.

Dcandy

Please describe 'Fonz-style'
Thanks

tommy

That's a reference to Fonzi (AKA, Arthur Fonzarelli, Henry Winkler) from "Happy Days". He used to turn on the jukebox by hitting it with a closed fist.

So Steve is referring to basically just knocking some sense into the cd changer with the butt end of the screwdriver first, and then doing the total disassemble thing if that doesn't work, which I'd agree with. The MB changer is entirely too sensitive to getting fuc*ed up.

Dcandy

Tommy, I suspected that's what it meant. I'm taking your advice. Thanks for the quick response.

dcandy

ArmbrusterJo

I'm taking your advice.

tommy

Does that mean that this thread has jumped the shark?

kluvsbenz

Is there a cd changer virus going on? Mine started acting up yesterday. Not playing my cds. I'll have to do it like Fonzi. See what happens.

samaritrey

I broke my cd changer the other day by changing cds and then hitting a huge bump. Luckily with a car key and some anger I got it working again.

SteveAustin

I hope people got their CD Changers working...I was told by the service department that these cartridges warp over time with heat (I'm sure you've noticed how thin and cheap feeling the trays are), so it might be worth replacing the cartridge if it continues to give you issues or has already jammed. I guess i dated myself with the Fonzi comment.

tommy

The cartridges are getting harder to find other than at the dealers too.

I have three I keep in circulation, but I rarely use my cd changer anymore, since I have Sirius.

docwonder

2005 c230. almost never use cd changer. wanted to see what discs i had in there and it jammed for the 1st time ever. wouldn't play and couldn't eject (eject button was lit green and could hear it trying). left it for another day, read this thread, tried the fonz bump with screwdriver head today. single strike to the cartridge magazine. pushed eject button and voila, popped right out! couldn't believe it worked just like that. thanks a million for the posts.

Alba

Worked getting magazine out of a 2004 CLK 320. Just a few two-finger hard taps did the trick.

123Pokey321

Thank you very much. Just tried this and it took a couple tries but sure enough it finally got the hint that I wasn't going to stop thumping it until it ejected. Now it works great. Thanks again to a great DIY community.

C230 Sport Coup

I have about 6 extra cartridges if anyone needs them for a small fee of course.
Sadly, I gave up on the CD changer.
My car just refused to acknowledge it's existance.
I swapped the changer, and put the radio back to stock and no luck.
Even swapped the optical cable, no luck,

I have a CD changer also but no way to test it to be sure it functions properly though I tested both of them way back and they both were OK.

SteveAustin

Anytime bro!

prblewett

I had the same problem with my changer - not recognising the CDs in the magazine and not being able to eject them. I got as far as removing the changer from the boot / trunk before I found the "Fonz method". It worked!! Thank you for saving me a lot of time even if I did spend ages re-attaching the dampening spring to the frame.

geeky lady

Your directions on taking apart the cd changer to un-jam the magazine were perfect and it did the trick without a firm tap. Now I have to put the cd changer back together and enjoy playing my cds again. Thank you!!!

babunda

Thank-You so much as I was able to correct the error by doing the "Fonz-style". Finally, the music(CDs) is back after almost 6 months.

Norman59

Found it on ebay

jesrfs

This "bang on the front" fix worked for me. I had to hit the unit while it was loading the discs. Before it would not find them and say magazine empty, now it finds them.

Thanks!

kluvsbenz

Didn't have to do the "Fonzi" routine. It has been getting stuck on occasion but I was always able to eject and put back in cartridge. So far, it has worked.

Startech

I was getting the "device unavailable" message on my 08 SL55 and the "Fonzi Bang" worked for me! Thank you!