How to Repair a 6-Disc CD Changer

As with any electrical device, a six-disc CD changer can malfunction. But there are steps you can take to fix it.

Remove the screws from the unit by locating the screw holes and taking out the screws with the appropriate screwdriver. Save the screws in a safe place as you will need them again. Pull the player apart. Ensure that all the inner mechanisms stay in place.

Insert the nozzle of a can of compressed air into the player’s body and spray with air until any accumulated dust is completely removed. Accumulated dust can cause issues such as CD skipping.

Dampen a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol and wipe down the CD player lens. This cleans the lens so that it can read the CD without stalling or skipping. Use gentle pressure and motions when doing this. As an alternate method, you can utilize a CD lens cleaning disc. Insert this disc into the player and play the CD as if you were playing a music CD. The cleaning disc cycles several times, cleaning the lens in the process.

Check the player’s fuse to ensure that it is in working condition. If the filament is severed and there is white film on the fuse glass, this indicates that it is broken. Go to a hardware store and get a compatible fuse and swap it out with the broken fuse.

Look at the player’s wires. Make sure that they do not have any visible damage and are in the right place, firm, secured and connected. Look at the gears and the gear belts. Lubricate the gears with WD-40 if they appear dry. If a gear belt is loose, place the belt back on the gear securely.

Attach the CD player back together, snapping the pieces in place. Reinsert the screws using your screwdriver. Insert several CD discs into the player and see whether they play properly, without any skipping or freezing and see whether the discs changeover without a problem. If the unit fails to respond, it might need to be taken to a repair shop.