CD Player error message

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. The factory CD player worked great until about 3 months ago and then would give me a error message when i would try to play a CD. The message read E-04 on the CD player display. The radio and everything else worked great. I just replaced the factory CD player with a Sony CD player and when i went to play a CD, it gave me the same error message on the screen. Anyone have any ideas what is doing this?

Are you referring to the in-dash deck, or a CD changer? Are you using a Sony changer with the factory deck, or you replaced the factory deck with a Sony deck? (Sony was the OEM of Ford audio for a few years, as was I believe Clarion and Alpine.)

-Rod

Hey. Thanks for the reply. I replaced the factory CD deck with Sony CD deck. No CD changer. Both give me the same error message and won't play CD's. Any idea?

It sounds like this error means the deck is not able to read the CD. Are you using burned CDs, or purchased CDs? If burned, did you be sure the "close" the write session and not leave the CD open (multisession)?

It could also be that the lens is dirty, the CD is damaged, or the CD is inserted upside down. Whatever the cause, the player is not able to read the CD.

As for burned media, I see some people have had issues using media burned with a DVD burner (E-04) but success when using a regular CD burner.

-Rod

All the CD's I am using are not burned, but purchased CD's. I just think it's funny that both CD players are giving me the exact same error message. I will try cleaning the lense and see if that works. I know the Sony i replaced the factory CD player with had been sitting in a box for about 6 years. Thanks for your help.

This won't be what you want to hear, but I am an electronics technician by hobby (electrical engineer by education) and the only CD player lasers that I've seen fail have all been Sony's. For what it's worth, I am not a fan of Sony audio products.

Since Sony made audio systems for Ford at one time, it doesn't surprise me that you get the same error code on both, as your factory deck may have been Sony internals and software. It doesn't appear that really any external factors could cause the E-04 error code (assuming the deck is installed correctly and getting good supply voltage).

Hopefully cleaning the lens will take care of your issues. If not, you may also want to try cleaning the spindle motor with electrical parts cleaner or DeOxit. If that doesn't work, the spindle platter may have "settled" and not be at the correct height, causing a focus issue. As a last result, you may try turning up the laser's power (there is usually a potentiometer for this) but too far and it will certainly burn out the laser diode.

-Rod

Thanks a bunch for your help. I'll try cleaning the lense, and if that doesn't work, i'll just buy a new "non-Sony" CD player. Thanks again.
-Austin

Just wanted to let you know that cleaning the lens worked. Thanks again for your help.
-Austin

Hey, great job, that's good news. And thank you for following up!

-Rod