thepm Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Hi My car is a recently purchased, stock, Audi A8 D3 2003 with Bose and 6 disk CD changer in the glove box (which I believe is connected via optical connections). I have noticed a problem with by CD changer. When playing CD's I get a interference sort of noise (if it were a radio station as if you had a weak signal). The noise is not constant but only on certain frequency's (higher frequency's like guitar solos). I have tried the basic stuff like using different CD's and genuine CD's. I have also removed the fuse for the CD player for 1 min to make sure it is reset. I do not get the problem when listening to the radio or the TV they both sound fine. If I have the volume fairly low the problem goes. If I turn the treble all the way down it almost goes and if I turn it all the way up it gets worse. The interference sounds like it is coming from the dash board speakers, which kind of ties in with the treble because that is were the tweeters will be (I guess). If I change the balance to the rear it is better but again it ties in that you will get less high frequency from the rears. Changing the balance from left to right makes no difference. If I play about with the surround sound setting it does not resolve the problem (some are slightly better, some are slightly worse). So what do you think could be wrong? My thoughts are that I don’t think it could be speakers as I would expect to hear the problem on the radio or TV. I don’t think it could be an amp problem as I assume it uses the same one for the radio as CD but I might be wrong. Thanks Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 in or out of warranty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 No warranty, hence why I want to have a look my self. Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I'd ebay a repalcement CD changer - sounds like that is the fault.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Yer I did think that, but I wanted to be sure that a replacement would fix it and it is not something else. If I have to replace might as well replace with MP3. Any more ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Not really. By the fact that TV and Radio are ok, it sounds rational that it is the changer, or changer cable. Get Dension ipod (fibre optic a8 version)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Thought you guys might like to know that replacing the CD changer fixed the problem. Bought a changer from VAGParts and swapped it out, it only took a few mins. Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenamesross Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Out of interest, how much was the changer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Scrap that, it worked fine for one day, now I get 1 second of music a high pitched squeal and then another second of music etc etc. I have done a MMI reset and a hardware rest on the changer but no joy. I have put the old one back in again and it is fine (but with the original crackle). I guess that means my new changer is a DOA! Very frustrating, I hate Audi's, such is life! It cost £185+Vat from VAG Parts, You can get an exchange unit from Audi for £175+Vat but they will wont the old one back and you get a set off free radio keys. Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 It's in component protection mode, I was going to warn you about that, but you said it was working. You need a trip to the dealer to remove it. It is there to stop people nicking parts off one car and installing them into another. It reads the VIN from the cluster and says "Hey this is not the car I was built with" so feck off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Are you sure about the component protection? The reason I ask is that before I bought it I spoke to my Audi dealer and they said no it is just a plug in job, I spoke to VAG Parts and they said it was just a plug in job as well. Would component protection exhibit the second of music and then high pitched squeal I am seeing? It did work fine the first time I used it just the next time it did not. Is there anyway to find out with out going to a dealer? It is currently packaged up to go back to VAG Parts for replacement but it will only waist time if it is not a dud. Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 100% sure, I've seen many parts from other cars do this. I'm not sure about the high pitched squeel, but when I have put CD changers into my car for test, they work sometimes for 24 hours and then go into comp protection and need to go to the dealers and the symptom is the 1 second play and stop. The A3/A4 CD chnagers is plug and play, but certainly not on the new A6/A8/Q7, but what do I know compared to qualified dealers and parts sellers. Easiest way to check is to VAG the car and see what error message the media player is showing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikw Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ...what do I know compared to qualified dealers and parts sellers... [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 [ QUOTE ] 100% sure, I've seen many parts from other cars do this. I'm not sure about the high pitched squeel, but when I have put CD changers into my car for test, they work sometimes for 24 hours and then go into comp protection and need to go to the dealers and the symptom is the 1 second play and stop. The A3/A4 CD chnagers is plug and play, but certainly not on the new A6/A8/Q7, but what do I know compared to qualified dealers and parts sellers. Easiest way to check is to VAG the car and see what error message the media player is showing. [/ QUOTE ] Well that does sound just what mine is doing. I have spoken to a dealers both say no just plug and play. I have since spoken to an independent and he says yes Audi have to code it. So I rang Audi direct and they said yes we think it does need coding but can not say for sure. So what do you know in comparison to qualified dealers, parts sellers and Audi them selves? A dam site more! Thanks for your help it has saved me a load more waited time sending back a perfectly working CD changer. One thing I don't understand is, the Dension Gateway 500 how does that work with out being coded to the car? I thought it emulated a CD changer and would therefore need coding? Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebw Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Craig, Do you know if the VW Phaeton would have had the same comp protection on CD changers ? I had one a while back and had the changer replaced twice under warranty, and I'll bet the real problem was the dealer not coding the changers to the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Now I can say hand on heart that I know jack sh1t about VW's so I can't help or advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Look at this way, if you install a brand new part, it is uncoded and doesn't know what car it came from, so when it is installed, no problems. Same for the Dension 500. But the second hand part says, this is not my car, comp mode please. It has to be connected to the GEKO database back in Ingolstadt to have comp protection taken off. This database says basically whats in every car at build time. So far I have seen this on 4 CD changers, 1 one kit and 2 voice control modules, all supplied from the second hand / refurbished market. I only use brand new parts where possible/neccessary to avoid this component protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Look at this way, if you install a brand new part, it is uncoded and doesn't know what car it came from, so when it is installed, no problems. Same for the Dension 500. But the second hand part says, this is not my car, comp mode please. It has to be connected to the GEKO database back in Ingolstadt to have comp protection taken off. This database says basically whats in every car at build time. So far I have seen this on 4 CD changers, 1 one kit and 2 voice control modules, all supplied from the second hand / refurbished market. I only use brand new parts where possible/neccessary to avoid this component protection. [/ QUOTE ] Hang on, my new changer is brand new (had to put me hand in me pocket this time, deep, which is why I aint happy!), I bought it from VAG parts and therefore never been in a car until mine. It is not a exchange unit or from a scrapped car (well allegedly, the manufacturing date is 2007 so I am pretty sure). So are you saying then is should have worked and may be it is a dud after all? Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Well if it was brand new it would have worked, but the only way to be sure is VAG com it and see what the fault is, that will answer all our questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Craig, Do you know if the VW Phaeton would have had the same comp protection on CD changers ? I had one a while back and had the changer replaced twice under warranty, and I'll bet the real problem was the dealer not coding the changers to the car. [/ QUOTE ] Were you getting the same issue as mine (1 second of music, pause a second of music etc)? Sounds like there are two possibilities. Panasonic make rubbish CD Changer or the dealers don't know what they are doing.... thought of a third option, both! Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepm Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Finally got it working. VAG Parts sent a replacement and this did the same, worked fine the first time. As soon as I turned the ignition on and tried it 1 second or music and a pause. So it must only put the device into component protection mode after you switch the ignition on. So I have taken it to the dealer and they have coded it in and now it works fine. Charged my £111 for the privilege mind! Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangoose Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hi all, I'm just resurrecting this thread as I have the same issue (the annoying crackling when playing CDs) with my A8. However, I was thinking of getting a Dension 500 Gateway kit anyway and was wondering if this would be impacted or not? I was hoping to only get the Dension and then not use CDs again. Does the Dension hook in through the CD player - and as such, would the crackling still be an issue for the iPod or iPhone music (as it would still be running through the CD player)? Also, does the dension allow bluetooth handsfree phone capability? And what are likely costs and can anyone recommend a fitter in the London area? Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jk88 Posted July 27, 2011 Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 The Gateway 500 connects into the fibre optic systems that connects all the media components in the car. It doesn't actually connect directly to the CD changer, although it's often installed in the dash so you can connect your iPod to it in the glovebox. You can check out any other features on the Dension website. The kit will come with the necessary fibre optic connectors and it's pretty much plug and play. I fitted mine myself in the boot, behind the panel on the left with all the ancilliary MMI and radio gubbins in it. I've an old iPod I leave permanently attached (other than to update for new tracks) so no need to have in glovebox. Took less than an hour, very easy to do, and saved saved quite a bit on the cost of installation. Alternatively, you can now have the factory AMI system fitted by Audi dealers for around £500 or so, may be a better choice if you're going to pay to have it fitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted July 27, 2011 Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 Or you can pick up the AMI for about £250 or so and it's a straight swap for the CD Changer, or there's usually a cable that comes with it to put it alongside the changer, though you may need to modify the glovebox if you want to do that in an older D3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangoose Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thanks for the answers (and sorry for the tardy response - I was on holiday) That is good news about bypassing the CD changer and will save me a couple of hundred. My AV guy has quoted me £500 for Dension fully fitted (with bluetooth). So a couple of things: I want the bluetooth phone connectivity, I know this is an option with the Desion 500 Gateway. Is this something that comes with Audi AMI? I want a chargre and cradle for the phone as well - can the cable be split so I can either use an iphone or ipod (in glove box or boot) If you had the choice - which option is better as an interface and for functionality - AMI or Dension? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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