Saab 9-3 anniversary 1.9tid- CD disc fault on touch screen model

[sean]

Hi All,

Just joined your ace site,My name is Sean, I have recently bought my 3rd saab, a 9-3 anniversary 07 diesel auto, just finding a few niggles with it, I am getting a disc error come up on the screen, then the disc is ejecting, tried a disc cleaner, but they need to read first, only good for "working cd players", so I was hoping maybe some of you have heard of this problem, and was wondering is there anywhere that may repair, as saab main dealers all gone. also how does the system come out?, its an integrated sat nav/ stereo etc.. with the nav disc reader beneath the cd player, might have a go at it myself,
cheers all

[sgould]

Welcome!

I not sure who makes the sat nav system in your car.  It's possibly Kenwood.  They have a double DIN model that is designed to slot in to the 2007 onwards cars.  But it comes at £1000!

Does the satnav work?  Is it just the CD bit that has failed? 

Have you been using CDs that you have copied?  If so, that may have caused the problem. The extra thickness of copied CDs makes the laser work harder and the heat can build up and cause problems.  I think that is what killed the Denso system in my 9-5.

You may be able to change the laser and fix it. 

In the end I bit the bullet and installed a new Kenwood unit in my 9-5.  It incorporates a DAB radio and a Bluetooth phone.  My decision was made in the light of the high cost of the Denso spares and the difficulty of swapping bits out.  The ribbon connections were bonded, not clipped, in place.

If it is a Kenwood unit, there could be greater availability of parts.

I'm not sure how your unit comes out.  But I have a workshop manual I could look at later.

[phoenix]

Have you been using CDs that you have copied?  If so, that may have caused the problem. The extra thickness of copied CDs makes the laser work harder and the heat can build up and cause problems.

It's not the thickness so much as the fact that the contrast between light/dark on the disc isn't as great as pressed CDs, and because of that the laser intensity has to be turned up, and the tracking works harder, all of which generates more heat. To help avoid the problem, buy the best quality CD-Rs and always burn them at the lowest speed possible

And welcome from me too

[sgould]

I should have remembered how to remove the satnav.

You take out the vent above it and that exposes the two screws holding it.

The vent is held by plastic clips. You have to ease them up with a screwdriver as you lever the vent out.  Be gentle!!

(Pics are from the manual.  Manual shows LHD ones.).

[sean]

Thanks for the advice chaps,

It is just the cd thats playing up, the sat nav works fine, disc goes in behind the touch screen, (wish I hadn't bought a garmin at xmas now!), and I use original cds so its not copies, but good points, I will burn at slow speed from now on:-),

Cheers sgould for the diagram, I may take it out and look for anything obvious, the cd cleaner disc I bought needs to be read to work, so maybe I can clean the lazer with a cotton bud, and some solvent.

will have a look through the manual to find make etc..

Next to get some fresh auto box oil and engine oil in it, have to say, I'm a little dissapointed in the anniversary equipment, my last saab an 06 vector sport 120 bhp, had heated seats,auto dim mirror, all electric heater controls, I wonder why they changed all this from 06-07? anyway better then the golf i had, thanks again chaps, sure I will find more things for advice:-)

[sean]

Hi All,

I took my stereo out, then found a warrenty sticker, saying void if removed, 3month warrenty, and was surprised to see the date was end of march 13, just over a month ago, and the dealer I bought the car from said he know of knowhere that repairs these stereos, whether it was him or the last owner who had it repaired I don't know, my moneys on the dealer, as he had the car a few weeks before I bought it mid-April, anyway, I rang the company and they said it was in for a new lazer on the DVD drive that runs the nav disk.

He said the unit is Pioneer, that has GM Markings, he is a very helpful chap, had all the time in the world to talk, said to try and clean the lazer but suspected it required anew one. he said he hasn't yet seen one unservicable on the audio before just the lazer.

Anyway the company is CARS,(car audio repairs) 66 Goldstone Villas, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3RU,  chaps name is Richard, thought I would share this in case any of you need a repair.

I have sent it down to him, and he has changed a few dozen on this model, stuggled to find a repairer on coventry where I live

Cheers

Sean