Question:

Does anyone out there have any ideas as to why the standard double DIN tape player in my 95 Explorer won’t hold the CD adapter tapes that pipe Personal CD player output through the tape head. I’ve tried 2 Maxell and 1 Sony versions and the tape player ‘plays’ for between 10 sec and 2 min then tries to turn the tape then ejects it. I know I should just bite the bullet and buy a decent car stereo but this is pissing me off now. Any ideas/comment appreciated. Thanks   Dutty

Response:

this happens all of the time to almost everybody, so don’t take it personal.  :-) I don’t know for sure, but this is the only thing that I can think of that makes any kind of sense, consistently. Most of the newer tape decks have the auto-reverse feature, which uses some kind of sensor that tells it when to flip the tape over, my guess is either by tension from the cassette tape itself, or lack there of. Since these newer tape decks are way more sensitive to said tension (as not to require so much tension that it snaps the tape), the cassette adapter simply overloads the sensor, and the tape player decides to play the other side of the tape, and thereby piss you off.  ;->   That’s the only thing that i can think of. greg

Response:

>Does anyone out there have any ideas as to why the standard double DIN >tape player in my 95 Explorer won’t hold the CD adapter tapes that pipe >Personal CD player output through the tape head. >I’ve tried 2 Maxell and 1 Sony versions and the tape player ‘plays’ for >between 10 sec and 2 min then tries to turn the tape then ejects it. >I know I should just bite the bullet and buy a decent car stereo but >this is pissing me off now. >Any ideas/comment appreciated. >Thanks   Dutty

Hey Duffy– The tape player is ’smart’…  It looks to see if the tape is over by watching to see if the reels are turning.  Since only one is turning on the adapter,  it  senses the tape is over and tries to reverse it. When that dooesn’t work,  it assum,es the tape has jammed so it ejects.  Smart… very smart! I don’t remember seeing any adapters that have a drive belt between the reels.  Seems like it would be a good idea for anybody with an auto-reverse tape deck. The local Fry’s outlet near here sells an FM stereo transmitter designed for sharing music around the other radios in the house.  This little $15 goodie would be the perfect addition– just plug it in to the CD player, then tune the radio in to the transmitter frequency. Thrill other drivers with your taste in music, etc. dr bob

Response:

i just ordered my first new car; a 1998 Explorer Sport with Auto, Cap. Chairs, a multi disk changer, and CA emissions for $20,100…it seemed like a good price considering dealer invoice, etc.  However, this is my first new car, did i get ripped off?   thanks newbie

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I have the "Premium" system in my 94 XLT.  I have had no problems using a Panasonic CD to tape converter.  Although I had to insert it upside down to get the azimuth correct. Mike

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