Good people of the Forum,

I need some help.

I'm trying to work out who is the Original Equipment Manufacturer of my RDS Radio/Tape/CD Head Unit in my Jun'00 S2000.

The previous keeper had installed an Alpine CHM-S620 CD Changer which is not directly compatible with the Honda Head unit.

The CD Player was only playing through one channel when I first looked at the car before buying, and I got the Garage (not a Honda Franchise) to get it fixed, which they did.

They gave the car to an "Audio Specialist" who replaced the 'Bus Changer' which rectified the problem.

HOWEVER, yesterday the CD Player stopped Mid Track... and the Head Unit, displayed CD EEE (Mis-connect or Dis-connected CD Changer.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I may be in the market for a new 'COMPATIBLE' CD Changer, but i ned to know the manufacturer.

All suggestions help greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

Stiv

 

Sounds like a job for..... Tifosi Red!

He's our resident expert on such matters Stiv

 

The Honda OEM CD Changer and tha Alpine that you have are identical apart from 2 pins swapped on the Honda unit (I replaced a OEM Honda changer with an Alpine CHM-S620 when I changed to an Alpine Head Unit).

When you say the 'Bus Changer' was replaced, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean the cable?

I think your options would be to either get an identical Alpine changer or replace the lot.

 

Along with Steven, of course

 

The chances of 2 Alpine changers going tits up is too small to think about. If you are getting a CD EEE error I'd bet on a faulty or damaged bus cable (between CD and head unit) or the 3rd party interface loom/box being FUBAR. I've heard horror stories about dealer fitted aftermarket CD changers (Keith's install by Southern Cowboys still amazes me) so the BUS cable would be my 1st bet. Check all the connections are sound before anything else, unless they are taped up I know they can work loose and even an intermitent connection will lock the headunit into an error code.

The OEM changer option is a pretty expensive chnge at this point...

HTH

Tif

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Can I just clarify a little on the detail.

Its the same CD Changer. The only thing they changed was this Bus Changer, ( Soundlinx "HON02ALP")
The info I've read on the web says the HON02ALP is a Boss Head to Alpine Changer Converter, hence suggesting that the OEM Honda Head Unit is a Boss??? but is this my problem?

I've checked the Fuses and all OK. The Alpine CD Changer Unit still has power. (ie ejects CD cartridge, loads one cd when I re-instate the cartridge)

I've check the connections from the back of the Honda OEM head to the Soundlinx box Looks sound.

All thats left to do is check the cable from the other side of the soundlinx to the Changer itself.

What I was considering was if I can work out the manufacturer of the Honda Head Unit I could consider a CD Changer from the same manufacturer. (ie stick with the same 'bus' config)

I hope this helps you guys with your diagnosis.

Hoping for more Feed back.

Stiv

 

This will still not work as Honda change the pins to encourage you to purchase the overpriced Hoda OEM changer.

If you think the CD Changer is still working OK get yourself an Alpine head unit and a KCE-865b dash interface. The so long as the Alpine head is an M-Bus it will plug into the Alpine changer using the existing cable (minus the Boss/Alpine interface)

This lot do Alpine stuff at a good price but I don't know what their delivery times are like:

http://www.mcs-direct.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

 

On this subject, my Honda OEM unit plays normally when I use the radio or cassette player, but when I use the CD Changer, it will intermitently only play through the right speakers.

I've got it booked in at the garage next week, but has anyone had this, and is there a simple cure?

 

Hi Stiv,

the BUS cable supplies power to the changer from the headunit so at least part of the cable is OK, it also recives the audio signal from the chnager and I suspect that is where the connection problem lies.

The Honda headunit uses a derivation of Alpine's M-BUS interface but as Steven says they reversed a number of pin connections to be a PITA and try and sell proprietary changers To the best of my knowledge only Alpine M-BUS changers (with adaptor) are compatible with the stock headunit.

I'd try disconnecting the BUS cable, turning on the head unit, turn it off, reconnect the headunit and see what it says. My money is still on a dodgy connection somewhere in the signal path.

HTH

Tif

 

Tif,
maybe you could help me. On my s2k (just bought) the original Honda head unit was replaced by a Sony TX-469 (from memory) head unit and changer, all works flawlessy with good sound. I was given the virtually unused original Honda head unit.

Only negative, non of the dash controls function to operate the new Sony head unit/changer, which I would like to get going. Any advice for me?

Colin