GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My 9 year old son, in his infinite wisdom, has decided to have a little fun with the CD player. He would press the eject button and physically hold the CD back to prevent it from unloading (at least this is what he has admitted to doing). I'm not sure how many times he had done that but the CD player couldn't take the abuse no longer and the load/unload mechanism stopped functioning.Well, my next step is to take the radio out and see what might have gone wrong. I hope the load/unload motor is OK and it is the motor driver that took the grunt. If I'm really lucky, there will be little picofuses in the motor circuit and those will be easy to replace.Question: does the radio have some kind of a security code on it? Once I take it out of the car, will I have to reenter those codes to make it work again?For the record, this is a 2003 base model. The radio does have a flashing red LED on it but it isn't labelled "THEFTLOCK" as I've seen it done is exact same radios in different cars.Ahy help would be greatly appreciated.thanks

No security code, no theftlock. Feel free to unplug it as much as you want.

Excellent... thank you very much.

if you can't find what's wtong or just can't fix it.look up on ebay, you can find the single disc or 6 disc radios for 100$. it would bea good way to upgrade to the changer.

For help with the removal:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=769the post originator did a very nice job showing how to do it. I just replaced my 03 cd/radio with one from best buy that will play cd-r/cd-rw/mp3 and wma (windows media) with install kits for about $125. The stock unit is really very basic and not user friendly (if using radio, don't know what preset station you are tuned to etc), just about any aftermarket is going to be better in almost every way except possibly except for the display color not matching.If you are going to take the time and trouble to remove it I say don't bother replacing the original! Among other things the aftermarket install kits have a small tray underneath the radio so you have a very convenient place to store cds that are not in use.If you go to my post about the problems I had with the one aftermarket install kit you will also find a post about the antenna amp you will need to get full use of the radio reception.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19435If you are dead set on using only original equipment I would be willing to let mine go cheaply.Good luck.

Hi guys... appreciate the info.I'll definitely have to pop it out and see what's happening in there. I have a pretty good idea as to what is blown, I just hope that they used generic parts as opposed to their "house numbered" ones. If latter is the case, I'll have to find a replacement radio or go for an upgrade as 98cl has suggested.Hey 98cl, when you say "cheaply", what ballpark figure are we talking?

Quote, originally posted by navaidstech1 » If latter is the case, I'll have to find a replacement radio or go for an upgrade as 98cl has suggested.Hey 98cl, when you say "cheaply", what ballpark figure are we talking?It's just the standard am/fm/cd player that came with the car, not moons and tunes or anything like that. I know list price is $400 or something like that if in a new car, but I wouldn't take the trouble to reinstall it if my aftermarket goes south, I'd buy another aftermarket. I plan on keeping my vibe long enough that I won't worry about the resale aspect.1st US$20 plus shipping cost (I'll pack it w/o a "handling" fee) takes it.I hate the GM radios, despite having bought almost nothing but GM's but if it's worth the nominal amount I'm talking about to you, I'd rather see it in a "good home" than the landfill.If you want to see why I'm willing to part with it,http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19435If I had used the install kits recommended on these forums, I'm guessing the removal / install probably only took about an hour and I haven't installed a HU in 6-7 years. As it was, the first install kit (from the local walmart so price and convenience only factor), I'd say I spent an hour on the install part trying to make it work, in the end I knew it never would. Next day after getting the right brand kit, it took me 10min to remove the HU, 20 min to install new one, but I knew how to remove all the wires, etc and the install wiring just unplugged an then plugged right back in.Good luck, whatever you do!