Decks with motorized face plates?
 

Just wondered how many of you have had problems with decks that have motorized face plates? I have had issues with both my Eclipse units (55040 and current 8061 twice) and don't know if I should stay away from another.
I have a opportunity to pick up a barely used Alpine CDA 7998 for cheap but it has the face that flips over also, is this deck known for problems also? Whats your take on this stay away from the Alpine one also?

I had alpine 9853 that had chronical problems with the face, but that was default by design :D.
My 9835 acts up sometimes, not sure if it's the contact pins that need cleaning or it's the mechanism itself.
Otherwise I have no complaints. I've heard that older Alpine decks were build better than anything 9*** series, so it might be as well a no problemo.

i had an alpine 7898 (IIRC) and until it was stolen, it worked great.
now ive got a 7977, top of the line in 2001 and its been treating me really really nice for a while now.

also got a clarion dxz835mp, bout two, maybe three years old. mechanically, the arms that hold the face on are falling apart but they still hold the face and tilt it fine and it still works good.

as for the 9XXX series alpines, ive heard good and bad.

One thing I'm prety sure is that after 2003 model year it all went down... unfortunately.

(GrizZz here, wife' PC)

Yep, I've had tons of problems with mine, a Kenwood KDCX-979. I've had it repaired once, but it needs to go in again. And I had a KDCX-969 for two years before that, that Kenwood Canada replaced after it's fifth visit to the repair shop, under warranty.

That said, I'm not complaining. I knew going in that I would have flip-out problems, as most people do, especially with the extreme use I put it through... My system gets more use than the average guy (average 4-5 hours a day, six days a week at work, plus 12 and 16 hour 'bouts parked at the lake or wherever). I love this HU and all it's features. Kenwood treated me well by replacing the 969 with the 979 on the 23rd month of it's warranty (albeit it's FIFTH break-down). Heading for a yearly service should make it last for a long time, just like me being about maintenance on my van has got me over 430,000km's now with only minor repairs. When I upgrade one day, I'll definately consider Kenwood again.

It's about a year & a half old now, every 8 months or so the problem starts. My repair dude fixed it the first time, a big job, to replace the small ribbon cable for the outside flip. The cable has two micro sliders, that tell the brain where the flip is at any given moment. One of the sliders fails, and the flip freaks out, shutting the HU right down, until it warms up to over ~18c. He also said that Kenwood uses smaller than normal gears/rollers/etc. and that's why I keep having problems with it.

Anyway, it needs to go in again, Rod ordered the part from Kenwood Canada and it came, with it's paperwork stapled to the bag, right through the new ribbon cable. :retard: So another is on order for next week.

So, if ya like the flip-outs then by all means go for it, but treat it well and be prepared for a service or two through it's life. More goodies = more maintenance/work

Most Alpines arent motorized anymore I know they had a huge issue with there glide touch and screens mine(9855 Alpine) you would take out the CD and and once you put the CD in it gets stuck So then i tryed to out smart it and play with the tilt feature well that just ****ed it up even more..... but that was the first Gen of them I was the first one to get it from the once (A&B sound)
and they thought i was on Crack.... wouldnt doubt it but anyways yah major issue.... so now with the 2006 models have of them arent motorized

Of all the Eclipse cd players I sell in a year, I have had perhaps 2 faceplate issues due to motorization and with the no charge 3 year warranty from Eclipse, all were repaired. There has been zero failures of a repaired mechanism on any of my customers units that had this issue ever.

with my 9853, ive yet to have not one problem with it. :cheeky4:

you just got lucky you didn't buy a deck from the first batch, like me and twistedsickness.:D

In 9 years of steady use of motorized face decks (Pioneer DEX-P1, Alpine 9835, Eclipse 8053) I have had zero issues with them.