[Biturbos4] CD Player Troubles

[David Bray]

Thanks to you both for trying to help.  :)

If I can clarify:
1.  The CDRs I made are in standard CD-Audio (WAV) format so this is NOT a
case of trying to access a non-existent MP3 decoder in the S4's Bose stereo.
2.  This CDR, AND many others I've made, have played fault-free in my car.
In fact, on the day in question, it had been playing for over 70 minutes
flawlessly.  I am aware of the lower reflectivity of CDRs vs. pressed CDs,
but if it played, clearly it wasn't too low to be compatible.  (BTW, CDRWs
won't play because they have even lower reflectivity.)  However, if the
electronics in my unit have drifted "out of spec" due to age, possibly
exacerbated by temperature and/or dampness, that is plausible.

That said, it's also possible that the cleaning of the photo diode would
alleviate these symptoms.  Perhaps someone on this list could tell me
whether this is something an Audi tech could do ... (Keman)?

Thanks again,
David

> -----Original Message-----
> From: biturbos4-bounces at www.audifans.com
> [mailto:biturbos4-bounces at www.audifans.com]On Behalf Of Russell Romano
> Sent: January 8, 2004 10:58 AM
> To: BiturboS4
> Subject: RE: [Biturbos4] CD Player Troubles
>
>
> He didn't say he was trying to play MP3s so I'm assuming he
> simply had a generic audio CD format that he burned on a disc.
> The in-dash CD player on my A6 has no problems with this at all,
> but obviously won't play MP3s.  The changer in my old A4 would
> sporadically refuse to play CDRs.
>
> The thing to remember about CDRs is that they have a significant
> lower reflectivity (to the laser light reading them) than a mass
> manufactured disc.    So the laser pickup is only seeing like 60%
> of the signal strength when reading a CDR.  So even thought the
> data is identical and SHOULD play, the player is always working
> harder to see the disc.  Any environmental thing that would lower
> the signal level being read will hurt the playback of a CDR
> first.  If the player then tries to compensate electronically I
> can see how it might get confused and not play anything until you
> completely power cycle it (I design electronics for a living).
>
> This, by the way, is why first generation DVD players couldn't
> play CDRs.  DVDs are read with a different wavelength of laser
> than CDs... so when you use one to read a conventional CD you
> already have less useable signal (say 80%).  Put in a CDR and
> read it with a DVD laser and you might get 50% signal, and that
> is below the threshold of readability...
>
> This is probably a LOT more than you wanted to know about this :)
>
> -Russ
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: j y [mailto:jimnetpa at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 10:15 AM
> To: David Bray; BiturboS4
> Subject: Re: [Biturbos4] CD Player Troubles
>
>
>
> If you have VAG.com loaded on your laptop - then run a diagnostic
> on the radio. If a fault code was generated - VAG should retrieve
> it. I do know from personal experience that the Symphony radio
> will not play CDs with MP3 files (so if u burn your own CDs with
> MP3 files - u will get that CD ERR1 msg - i did.) If you want to
> listen to your own burned CDs you must purchase PHATNOISE or
> PHATBOX, not sure which is the trade name from your local VW
> dealer or purchase it on the NET. The other option is to get an
> aftermkt system (www.crutchfield.com) installed to play CDs with
> MP3 files. From my research, the factory installed (stock) BOSE
> Symphony radio does not. I also have the factory CD changer (in
> the trunk). I haven't tried, but I assume that this unit doesn't
> understand/play MP3 files either.
>
>
> David Bray <brayd at rogers.com> wrote:
> I wonder if I could get some info/advice from the group.
>
> On Dec 24th near the end of a 90 minute trip, the CD playing in my S4
> hesitated at the last song where it would normally "wrap" around to the
> first song. This exact CDR (& others I've made) has played countless times
> in my S4 without problems. After about 10 seconds of trying to seek on its
> own (it seemed), the display showed "CD ERR1". I proceeded to try to
> track-seek forwards or backwards to no avail - same message. I
> then tried 2
> other CDs (one commercial, and one I had burned) and both had the same
> result once inserted into the player and wouldn't play at all.
>
> Due to the holidays, I didn't use the car for several days. When I did use
> the car, all my CDs played OK again. I haven't noticed a problem since.
>
> I'm thinking that if it was just a dirty (or wonky) CD (though visually it
> looked perfect), changing CDs should have cured it immediately.
> It was damp
> out, but not particularly cold - nothing unusual as far as I could tell.
>
> My questions to the group are:
> 1. What could/would cause this?
> 2. Would the error code(s) be saved?
> 3. If so, for how long?
>
> I just don't want to take it into the dealer only to have them tell me "No
> Fault Found", which clearly, would be a waste of my time and theirs.
>
> TIA,
> David
> 2001 S4, 6 spd
>
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