(G) Punto In-Dash CD Changer

Hello all,

My girlfriend has just bought a 2002 Punto Sporting. Very happy with it, except we were told by the seller that the CD changer had stopped working a week or so ago.

It's got the standard fit head unit (with subwoofer) and the optional Blaupunkt IDC A09 changer.

The changer powers up with the head unit, and you can insert CDs and eject them fine. But if you press the SRC button on the head unit, it just cycles between radio and tape, and doesn't recognise the changer.

The changer is the correct Fiat version.

I've pulled both the headunit and changer out of the dash to make sure all the connections were OK which they seemed to be although the connection at the changer end did seem to not be clicked firmly into place.

I'm wondering whether it has for some reason lost it's security code which is stopping the head unit recognising it. But I downloaded the Blaupunkt manual from their website and and it says to press the CDC button which should then ask for the changer code. I've only got a SRC button and that just cycles between radio and tape.

I tried to de-register the changer from the head unit following the Blaupunkt instructions. It said to press CDC on the head unit the press and hold buttons 2 and 5 on the changer. This should make all the eject buttons on the changer light up in sequence, but mine does nothing.

I'm guessing there is some key combination on the head unit that allows you to enter the CD changer code, but can I find what it is??

Just tried going to a Fiat dealer. Thought I was on a winner when the service receptionist said they'd go and ask a technician. But when she came back there was a lot of sucking air through teeth and I was told I would have to book it in for a couple of hours worth of diagnostics "as it's not just a straightforward job you know".

Does anybody have any ideas, or is the head unit or changer goosed??

The CD Changer is in the dash correct?

I also have a CD Changer in my mk1 Punto (which was an option with the standard head unit). It reguarly plays up and says "NO MAG" on the screen. Therefore not recognising the changer. I thought whether to press the reset button and i did. Now works fine (touch wood).

Does the changer spin the CD's around making a loud noise?

Yes it is the in-dash changer. I can load the cd's fine. When I put each one in, the changer spins up the disk fine then makes a quiet beep noise, but seems to behave fine and no funny noises. The head unit just doesn't seem to recognise the changer!

do you have the manual for the 5 disk changer (IDC A09)

It mentions in there ( as I recall) if they are ever disconnected there is a procedure using the 4 digit security code to make it recognised by the head unit.

If you don't have the manual PM me and i will either scan it for you and send by e-mail or type the basics of it out for you.

Hi mate, I've not got teh Fiat manual for the CD changer, just the Fiat manual for the head unit which only tells you how to enter the code for the head unit. I downloaded the changer manual from Blaupunkt, which says that you press the "CDC" button on the head unit which will then prompt you for the code. The problem is that there is no CDC button, just "SRC". When I press this it just cycles between radio and tape and there is no way to enter a code for the changer.

I was wondering whether there is any mileage in disconnecting the head unit power or disconnecting the battery to force it to ask me for the code(s)?

When I bought my Punto new the first time I used the SRC button to select the changer it simply asked for the code and when the fourth digit was entered it activated automatically.

Yours does not appear to be recognising that the changer is there. Possibly no power being supplied to the changer?

I believe that disconnecting the changer and then re-connecting it has been known to kick it into life again

It's got power OK. It switches on with the head unit, and your can put CDs in and eject them again. It's just the head unit doesn't recognise it. I've disconnected the changer and re-connected it but still no joy. Wondering whether disconnecting the battery will force the head unit to re-check the codes?

Not sure about this model, but some head units only check if a CD changer is connected when first powered up - so if the lead was a bit loose it has probably lost the connection.
I would try disconnecting the power lead from the headunit for about a minute - make sure you have both codes first.
Hopefully this will reset everything and detect the CD changer.

i'm not being funny but possibly sounds like the seller put the auto changer in at a later date and then swapped back to the standard headunit for the sale.

Yep, that sounds worth a try. Will have a go tonight. Cheers.

Result. Disconnected the power from the head unit, left it for a couple of minutes, reconnected, switched on and everything (including the changer) works! Cheers everyone.