Miata Mailing List: September 1995, Message #177
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   From: "Edgar Greg" 
Subject: RE: Info wtd on factory CD
   Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 15:59:05 -0400

Robert,

I don't know if others have experienced this, but my in-dash CD player quit
working withing the first year.  (Not bad for only $600 huh!) No problem, I
thought, just get it replaced under warranty since I purchased it with the
car.  WRONG!  The warranty specifically excludes the motor drive mechanisms in
the tape and CD players.  Being an Electrical Engineer, I decided to look it
over.  The motor consists of three coils attached to a flex circuit, and a
metal back plate at the motor bearing point.  In case you don't know, a flex
circuit is basically copper 'wires' plated unto a flexible plastic strip. . .
 (details deleted for brevity)  The flex circuit was rubbing against a rough
edge of a printed circuit board, which eventually cut through one of the
'wires' and caused the motor to lose some power.  It was then unable to start
the CD spinning fast enough, and the disk would eject.  I temporarily repaired
the damage, and it worked again, until the rubbing created more damage.  I
ordered a new motor (about $35-40 I think), but was too annoyed to ever
install it.  You need a calibration CD and an Oscilloscope to readjust the
motor after such a change.  I don't have the calibration disk.  

This was purely a case of incompetent design on the part of Panasonic for a
device 'designed' to mount in the dash of a vehicle where vibration is a
given.  It didn't work long enough for me to tell if there were any other
problems. 

I haven't seen any threads to this effect on the list, so they may have
changed the design since mine was one of the first.  I bet there are others
out there who had this problem.  With the design as it was in mine, it was
inevitable.

For the money, the in-trunk changer is a far better bargain, and hopefully
better constructed.

Greg Edgar
90 Red B, 90 Red A
Lone Star Chapter of MCA,   Dallas/Ft. Worth  TX
 
_______________________________________________________________________________
From: Robert V. Meushaw on Tue, Sep 5, 1995 10:54 AM
Subject: RE: Info wtd on factory CD
To: Edgar Greg



On 4 Sep 1995, Edgar Greg wrote:

> Robert,
> 
> I have this unit.  I purchased it with the car new in 90.  My experience is
> not good, so don't ask questions if you don't want the answers . . .
> 
> Greg Edgar
> 90 Red B, 90 Red A
> Lone Star Chapter of MCA,   Dallas/Ft. Worth  TX
> 
> 
Okay, I am sitting down.  Give me the bad news so hopefully I can make 
the best decision possible and perhaps avoid some of your problems.

Bob