CD Stuck in CD Player Onkyo DX-C340 (by 2 users)

My CD player suddenly stopped playing. It cycled without recognizing any CDs in the 6 CD disc cartridge (box/holder.)
I discovered a CD had gotten stuck inside the CD player beyond reach, it was wedged inside. It somehow got out of the 6 CD disc cartridge and prevented the recognition of discs in the cartridge; the unit made a funny sound in cycling fruitlessly from disc to disc.

After removing the CD holder, I quickly shut off the power to the unit to prevent the door from closing automatically. With the door open, I could work on it. A nice size silicone spatula from my kitchen was flexible, pliable and long enough to get to the disc, straighten it from it's lopsided position and slide it out enough to get it out with my hand. I think had I not tried the maneuver first with a chopstick (to no avail) the CD would probably have come out intact. It ended up with a few scratches but the unit works again like before. I avoided a hefty repair charge and/or having to buy a new unit.
My unit is a Philips/Magnavox CDB 586 (6 CD changer.)

Hi Sureshot :)

Dunno about your changer; but perhaps worth mentioning
anyway.

Take a look at the front of the unit, near to but not
on the tray itself.  See if there isn't a tiny hole
there - about a sixteenth of an inch.

If you're lucky and there is, you can put something like
a very small jeweller's screwdriver, or a long thin
finishing nail into it and push.  The drawer should
open for you.

Take care.

Ken

You might want to take the cover off the unit and retrieve your CD. It
may have fallen from the carousel somehow. Just don't force anything.

These players usually won't open until the turntable is properly
aligned with the traverse unit (playing mechanism), and the traverse
unit has been lowered out of the way. If you're hearing rotation, the
unit is in the lower position already.

The sensing devices that determine the table position may not be
functioning. The most common cause is a defect in the "flexy" cable
from the drawer to the main PCB.

If the trouble is more involved than just an out-of-place CD, be kind
to your Onkyo and take it to a repair shop. It doesn't sound like a
real serious (expensive) problem.

Good Luck

Doug

This applies to CD-ROM drives, not a home cd changer.

Mark Z.