Have had the "skips with bump" syndrom on a CD/tape/radio combo from a '91. According to repair shop with good reputation it needs a new lazer. Pioneer does stock the laze for about 95.00. However, the shop here in Grand Rapids, MI cannot get its hands on the allignment harness needed to install the lazer. Has anyone out there had thiers fixed and would you share the name/phone of the shop so my guy can borrow/rent the one where yours was fixed.

BTW, I do indeed understand the stock units in both the Clarion and Pioneer are a POS. I am just trying to keep my '90 GXL as original as possible.

Thnaks for any assits.

Jerry

 

The first step the shop took was the disassembly and cleaning. Said they tested it by taping on the case with a screw driver.. Ya like that is the really best way to check when a road bump made it ship. Jerks. Put it back in and "bumpity & skip". Honest tho, said will apply cleraning charge to follow-up repair.

Thanks for the suggestion tho.

Jerry

 

how big r the bumps??? if they r big of corse its goin to skip!

 

That is incorrect.

actually it is very common to have the Sled (the lazer assembly) go out of alignment or spec. The simplest method for repairing is to replace the assembly, and frankly at only $90 thats a deal.

Unless you have the tools that build the assemblies it is almost imposible to re-align a lenses/lazer in the sled and certinly not cost effective to do it by hand (usually around 3 hours, by hand without the reader). Since most shops charge between $50 and $75 an hour it is way cheaper to just replace the whole assembly.

Also as the lenses age they develop darkend areas on the lenses and pickups from the lazer. Much like a regular light bulb does. This darkening will increase the fequency that errors (read skips) happen.

Which leads me to why don't they just replace the sled??? the lazer would be pre-aligned and other than a couple of screws in and out there is no other work needed.

Sounds like they just don't want to do it.

 

Which models do CD players come in. Would this be the '91 coupe because I have one (I haven't seen it yet, it's in Fla).

 

It is my understanding that all radio/tape/cds were options at the time of purchase. I got my new '90 GTU with the radip/tape/equalizer. It was a Clarion. No problems other that tape cleaning through 310,000 miles and 12 years. Then boom.. the both LCDs blow at 315,000. The Clarion LCDs are no longer available.

The CD combo unit is made by Pioneer. LCD is much better but apparently the CD is prone with age to the "skips with bump" syndrome.

Without the Mazda options pages, I believe there was a base Clarion radio with the tape player, the Clarion radio with tape player and equalizer, and the High energy Pioneer with radio/tape/CD.

All units come up for sale at this forum from time to time and on Ebay. Several Mazda bone yards have them but you have to ask and often come trashed. I got two from Mazda Recycling that ended up not working and to their credit they did refund me for both.