Stock Sony head unit has stopped recognising CD-Rs?!

[Kool PT]

Is this something that has happened to others, CD-Rs that used to play fine are no longer recognised. I thought it was just more sensitive to CD-Rs getting minor scratches, so I burned a new CD-R today...same problem.

Unit makes a weird winding noise (like an old Amiga floppy disk drive or something) and then says ERROR.

[uktotty]

When the laser gets dirty or worn it has more issues to see CDR than CD
This happened to my Sony 8800 in my jeep.
Try a laser cleaner

[Anonymous]

+1
Had eactly the same problem with mine before I decided to swap it out for an Alpine Ipod only HU
I ran a lens cleaner cd through the Sony and that sorted the problem.

[Kool PT]

bought a lens cleaner, made no difference!

[uktotty]

Buy a new one then

[Kool PT]

doesn't make economic sense. glass mastered CDs play fine, downloaded audio can go on my iphone instead thanks to my new hands free/bluetooth thingie.

[uktotty]

I am sure its down to the laser, I have had a few of these where they can read mp3s, then they can read cdr but not mp3 and then they can only read OEM discs.