[tsax6010]

We just traded in our 2013 T&C Touring L (with the additional BluRay option for the theater package so it had 2 disc drives and the internal HDD) for a Pacifica Touring L Plus.

I am dumbfounded by how difficult it is to play CD audio over the main cabin speakers. So far the only way I have found is to enter the Uconnect Theater app, connect to one of the 2 rear screens, and listen in - which winds up being something like 8 steps. Has anyone found an easier way? I do not want a USB drive sticking out of my radio all of the time, nor the hassle of maintaining one ripped from CDs with every new Disney soundtrack that my kids cant get enough of for that given week. I found one person suggest an external CD player though the AUX jack, but geeze - I just bought a $45k vehicle and that is such a wonky solution.

Maybe I am finally getting 'old' at 38, but playing an audio CD seems like such a basic thing...

 

[generaltso]

Has anyone found an easier way?

Unfortunately, no. It is quite odd that there is no direct shortcut to play a CD. There's a picture in the owners manual that shows a Disc button in the media screen, but that apparently never made it to production. I'm hopeful that the Disc button comes back in a future update, but I think Chrysler has already decided that CDs are dead.

 

[tsax6010]

There's a picture in the owners manual that shows a Disc button in the media screen, but that apparently never made it to production.

That is a shame. Besides being sub-optimal, it is a safety issue to attempt something this involved while driving. When you have a 2 year old screaming for "Let it go" you just want the loud nightmare to end.

At least I got the Advanced Safety Group on mine, so there is that Advanced Brake Assist to test out...

 

[17lim]

I guess since laptops no longer come with cd/dvd slots anymore, new cars are following that pattern. Finding a vehicle with a CD player will soon be like trying to find one with a cassette deck. You can play music off of your phone if you have it connected Bluetooth. Amazon prime alternatively, you can buy an external cd drive (same that you would have to buy for laptops), and plug it into the usb port on the floor and leave the cd drive down there so it is out of the way. https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-External-CD-Drives/zgbs/electronics/1292121011 Granted I have not tried this myself but worse case you just return the external cd drive (or keep it for future laptops).

 

[generaltso]

you can buy an external cd drive (same that you would have to buy for laptops), and plug it into the usb port on the floor and leave the cd drive down there so it is out of the way

Using an external CD drive sure doesn't sound easier than just jumping through the hoops to use the built-in Blu-ray player.

 

[17lim]

True. I do not have the theater package so not sure what all is entailed to for a cd to play. External is essentially plug and play if that is any easier.

 

[tsax6010]

Let's not overlook the fact that with the Uconnect Theater there is a physical drive fully capable of playing audio CDs. What is lacking is a user friendly method of getting to the functionality.

 

[karthik]

Pacifica does not support playing audio CDs through the HU. The default audio source are USB, Aux, BT. The only way to play CD is to go through the uconnect theater menu ( ofcourse, the theater package have to be purchased ) and hit listen-in button. The listen-in should also be persisted across ignition cycle, so the CD source plays on the next ignition cycle.

 

[squishles10]

We just did a road trip and found out how awful the CD player is. If you hit pause and turn the car off, it'll turn itself back on when you restart. You have to turn the theater off completely for it to actually pause. From now on I'll rip discs to my phone and play through bluetooth if at all possible.

 

[generaltso]

We just did a road trip and found out how awful the CD player is. If you hit pause and turn the car off, it'll turn itself back on when you restart.

Isn't that pretty standard behavior? I'm pretty sure that pausing music hasn't survived an ignition cycle in any car I've ever owned. If you stay on that input, it will start playing again when you restart the car regardless of whether it's a CD, iPod, or flash drive.

 

[squishles10]

Maybe I said that wrong. The fact that it's playing in the background because you haven't dug through 3 screens to hit the listen in button is what my issue is. My last car with a regular CD player would just start playing the CD again but I could hear it. We listen to audiobooks on trips and having it play from the second we restarted the car sucks. My old car also paused the playback when there was a phone call. This one doesn't so again you're digging through what you missed. Why can't they just make a CD app so it'll stay in CD mode? Radio stays in radio when the car is off- there has to be a way to do it.

 

[mtmgtz]

Isn't that pretty standard behavior? I'm pretty sure that pausing music hasn't survived an ignition cycle in any car I've ever owned. If you stay on that input, it will start playing again when you restart the car regardless of whether it's a CD, iPod, or flash drive.

Resuming play of a CD, in the middle of the song, was always pretty common on head units that had CD players built in. External devices via USB or via bluetooth streaming seem to start the song over though.

The 2013 RAM I had with the 8.4 uconnect didn't have a CD player though it was an option and it would be located inside the center console. I don't think that is an option on the Pacifica though.

Somewhat unrelated but is the 8.4 screen on the Pacifica capacitive glass or like the matte finish resistive touch screen? I've always seen the resistive type on the 8.4 but the Pacifica version looks glossier.

 

[squishles10]

Yes but my point is it doesn't turn the audio back on when the CD resumes. I've never been in a car that does that. They always resume with audio, regardless of what the source is. Does it automatically play movies when the car turns back on even if the TVs aren't open? I haven't tried that yet.

 

[generaltso]

External devices via USB or via bluetooth streaming seem to start the song over though.

Not in the Pacifica. Songs will resume regardless of the external source.

Somewhat unrelated but is the 8.4 screen on the Pacifica capacitive glass or like the matte finish resistive touch screen? I've always seen the resistive type on the 8.4 but the Pacifica version looks glossier.

Although the Pacifica has Uconnect Gen. 3, it has a dissociated capacitive screen like Gen. 4.

Yes but my point is it doesn't turn the audio back on when the CD resumes. I've never been in a car that does that. They always resume with audio, regardless of what the source is. Does it automatically play movies when the car turns back on even if the TVs aren't open? I haven't tried that yet.

I see what you're saying now. So if you have "Listen In" enabled when you turn the car off, it's not enabled when you restart the car? I see how that could be very annoying for listening to CDs. If you're watching a movie, I do believe that it will resume playing when you restart the car even if the screens aren't open. I got the impression that Uconnect Theater would turn on and off when you open and close the screens, but that hasn't been my experience. Any time I start the car, Uconnect Theater is on. The only way to turn it off that I've found is to go into Uconnect Theater and hit Power All or go into each screen and power them off. But then when the car is restarted, they're on again.

I think Chrysler has drawn a line in the sand and has declared CDs dead. I opted to get the optional CD player in my Cherokee, and I've honestly never used it, so this doesn't bother me. But if you still listen to CDs, I understand how this could be frustrating.

 

[Nails1]

I recall listening to a CD using Listen-In and being impressed it resumed playing when we restarted the van. I wonder if different software versions act differently? I have a July build date with no uconnect or dealer flashes/updates done.

 

[thx1138]

I think it loses its place on a DVD/CD and forgets Listen In setting if you leave the van turned off for a while and then restart it. Don't quite know how long but definitely more than 10-20 mins.

 

[The trifecta]

So my daughter is in some toddler music class to which they provided a CD - slid it in the Blue Ray slot assuming that this is a normal expectation......nothing. Did not recognize it at all. Troubleshoot, troubleshoot, troubleshoot, read manual. Discover that there is an OPTIONAL CD player that will be located in one of the storage bins?! Now figuring out how to rip a CD when non of our laptops have disc drives........ sigh

 

[generaltso]

Discover that there is an OPTIONAL CD player that will be located in one of the storage bins?!

The Pacifica does not offer an optional CD player. But you CAN play CDs with the Blu-ray player. You'll have to go into Uconnect Theater and change the input of one of the screens to the Blu-ray drive. Then select the "Listen-in" option to play the audio on the main speakers. It's a roundabout way of getting there, but it does work.

 

[dogfan1980]

To the Original Poster, you can get a micro USB stick that you can plug into the front audio USB port and will hardly notice it after installed. sticks out a quarter of an inch.

Granted, all my family music is backed up to an external hard drive, but I imaged a 128GB USB drive with some 30GBs of music so she can toggle through within the native radio. The dilemma here is it's impossible to flip through 30gbs of music while driving. The voice controls are actually pretty impressive. Hit the VR button on the steering wheel and enter the command properly and the artist/song/playlist/CD will start playing. It's pretty slick.

I realize this doesn't solve your issue and I agree it's a dumb issue, but it may provide a workaround that suffices.