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Cleaning CD Player Lens

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Old May 23, 2009 | 02:39 AM
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Cleaning CD Player Lens

does anyone know how to do this? i've been trying to figure out a way to stop my head unit from skipping and after testing with countless songs i think it might just be the lens is dirty because it skips at random times well before the anti skip should run out. i have one of those lens cleaner cd's but i think that only works with tray loading cd players. i'm just wondering if anyone knows of any way to or items that will clean the lens of a slot loading cd player, or should i just open it up and wipe with a lint free cloth?
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:42 AM
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I would open it up (if warranty isn't an issue) and use a very soft towel/alcohol to clean the lens.

I have not had luck in the past with any type of "disk cleaners" and I haven't heard great things either.

Maybe someone else has a better idea?
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:43 AM
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I've always just opened mine and used rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth to carefully wipe across the lens. Be careful because the lens will move around and if you push it too hard you could damage it.

HTH
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Smoke_31
I would open it up (if warranty isn't an issue) and use a very soft towel/alcohol to clean the lens.

I have not had luck in the past with any type of "disk cleaners" and I haven't heard great things either.

Maybe someone else has a better idea?
ha ha x2!! lol. Was typing when you posted. lol
Old May 23, 2009 | 12:40 PM
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use a lens cleaning fluid. this differs from rubbing alcohol in that is leaves no residue behind. most of the store bought alcohols have impurities or perfumes added and are just plain junk for this purpose. also get some lint free cleaning swabs from the part source. these look like cotton swabs but are closely wound and leave nothing behind on the lens. some are foam based. either type will work well. please note that when doing this Do Not go back and forth across the lens to clean it. go in one direction only, sweeping the dirt off the lens.

good luck
Old May 23, 2009 | 03:03 PM
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warranty is more than likely expired so i'm not worried about it. i know with my old discman i used to just use a sheet of paper towel and fold it into a point and make circles on it, but i want to make sure it works and do it only once. does anyone know where i might be able to get some lens cleaning fluid? i've looked and the regular major outlets like the source and best buy and they appear to only have camera lens cleaners, or these pre moistened cleaning swabs Computer cleaning foam swabs | Computer Cleaning Kits | Clearance Outlet | TheSource.ca
Old May 23, 2009 | 03:53 PM
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Get the same stuff as people use to clean their glasses...
Old May 23, 2009 | 07:58 PM
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I'm not sure what nghtrdr means about rubbing alcohol. You can go to a drug store and buy 99% pure alcohol. I use it all the time for cleaning CPU's and heat sinks before installing them. There is no residue left over as the alcohol evaporates.
Old May 24, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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soooo i opened up my cd player and tried to clean the lens. now putting it back together was probably the most stressful thing i've done, but i think what made it worse is that it didn't help. at first it seemed to work, and i was so happy. then, when it thought i was done and began to drive...it skipped. i don't know what it is. i burned the cd the same way i always do. i'm praying it was just the cd and if i burn another one hopefully it will stop. if not then on the weekend i'm going to try and run a b+ straight from the battery to the deck, i read here that HU skipping can be traced to voltage drop and bypassing the harness helps. does anyone else have any ideas why it might be skipping?
Old May 24, 2009 | 07:51 PM
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How old is your deck? Could just be getting weak..



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