Stereo eating itself (from the inside out)

Okay, so this is not in a Tundra, per se, but I own a Tundra so maybe it’s fair game? I have a Pioneer AVH-2300NEX (out of warranty) head unit installed in my wife’s Odyssey. Recently it makes a grinding noise like the CD motor at random times, but there’s no CD inserted. Anyone have any experience or ideas before I go drop lots of money to be told, “Sorry, Pioneer’s junk...we’ll sell you this nice Alpine for $1,400.”

 

Yikes never heard of that, does the face come off? Maybe something going on there,...why Alpine tho? Why not another Pio for that amount of cheddar?

 

I had a VHS player do that several years ago. I opened it up and a plastic drive gear was coming apart, I guess from age.

 

Pioneer makes some very nice HUs, Alpine units get nice at the 1k mark, below that I would personally go with Pioneer or more preferably Kenwood.

The noise, if its not the CD drive, is probably the rear cooling fan beginning to fail. If the HU starts rebooting or turning off you'll know for sure, otherwise you can pull it out and listen for it.