2003 Factory Sound System - Service or Replacement?

[The Japsican]

I bought my beloved Murano new in August of 2003. Have had (knock on wood) zero problems.

Over the holidays, my 3-year old put an unknown amount of coins in the factory 6-CD changer and tape deck. I know this now because while I was driving and listening to the CDs, it started to smell like "electric burning" and then the speakers popped and smoke came out of the CD player.

When I peered into it, I saw nothing; however, when I looked into the tape deck, I saw some pennies, and realized that he had put them there while playing inside the car while I was replacing the tail light bulbs.

EEEEEEEEEEEEESH.

So my questions are these:

Am I probably going to have to replace the whole system, or is this a reparable situation? I don't know that much about electronics.

If I have to replace the system, is it better to go with factory equipment or to an aftermarket place like Best Buy? I have heard that Muranos don't work well with aftermarket equipment, but this could be just rumor.

Thank you for any assistance given.

[Jeremy Martin]

My wife has a 2005 with a single CD player and it will not load a CD. I have a repair guy coming over this weekend to pull it out of the truck to see if he can repair it. He also said that the Murano has a circut board on the back of the head unit and that is why you cannot replace the factory head units on the early models.I'll post back on Saturday night what the status is.

[The Japsican]

Thank you in advance for your update post! It is appreciated.

Best of luck.

[Jeremy Martin]

Well, the guy that was supposed to tear into it and fix it no call no showed me. So, now I'm back to my search for someone who fixes OEM radio's in OKC. I'll post back if I finally get it fixed. I have to do something, the wife is breaking my balls almost daily now. My other option is to find one pulled out of a salvaged truck.

[The Japsican]

UPDATE:

I was referred to a guy (by Best Buy) who runs an independent radio shop here in San Antonio. He was able to pull the radio out, replace a transistor and a diode, put it back in, and it works like new.

Cost me $70.

I was really thankful!

[Jeremy Martin]

Great, I wasn't able to find another repair person in the OKC area. So, I purchased a refurb on ebay. Put it in today and it works great. Come to find out the previous owners kids put at least $1.87 and a house key in the CD slot in the old one.