How to Clean My Truck's CD Player

Don't place fingers on the surface of the CD when inserting into the Truck CD player.

Trucks used for construction work or other jobs that take them onto dirt roads get dirty quickly. Small dirt particles fill the cab and layer the dash with fine silt. This same dust finds it way into the truck's CD player and causes discs to skip, jump, whine or not work at all. Schedule regular cleanings of the truck's CD player to avoid ruining or scratching your favorites CDs. Repair minor scratches to CDs by applying a scratch-repair product to the CD.

Things You'll Need

• Vinyl and UV protectant
• Compressed Air
• CD lens cleaner disc
• CD scratch repair kit

Instructions

1. Before you clean the CD player, clean the cab of the truck. Vacuum the floor and seats and remove as much dust from the cab as possible.

2. Wipe down the dash with a vinyl-protecting product such as ArmorAll, 303 Aerospace Protectant or Meguiars Natural Shine Vinyl and Rubber Protectant. Besides cleaning the dash, these products help protect against ultraviolet rays, keep the dash clean and make it easier to see when dust builds up. If there's dust on the dash, there's dust in the CD player.

3. Open the door of the CD player and spray compressed air to remove any loose particles of dust or dirt. Repeat until no dust comes out.

4. Insert a lens-cleaning CD into the player and allow it to clean the lens according to the manufacturer's instructions. This involves allowing the CD to run through several cycles of cleaning that may play a sound during the process. Repeat as necessary.

5. Repair any scratched CDs by applying the cleaning liquid and following the manufacturer's instructions. Some kits involve just applying a liquid and wiping it off, others require running the CD through a small machine that helps to buff the scratches out.

6. Keep CDs in their original packaging or transfer them to a visor CD holder or organizer for your truck, to keep them protected.

7. Repeat cleaning procedures on a regular basis as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Regularly cleaning the truck cab and keeping dust down goes a long way to ensuring the life of the CD player.

• Do not use a liquid lens cleaner product on your truck CD player. Truck manufacturer's advise against this as such products may damage the CD player lens. Ensure that all CDs repaired with a scratch product are completely dry before inserting them into the CD player. Do not put any labels onto any part of a CD as this could also damage the CD player.

References

• Chevrolet: Owner's Manual (PDF)