Panasonic CQ-5251JU User Manual

¡Please read these instructions (including “Limited Warranty” and “Customer Services Directory”) carefully before using this product and

keep this manual for future reference.

MP3 CD player/weather band receiver

Model: CQ-5251JU

Operating Instructions

TEXT

2

CQ-5251JU

Safety Information

Warning

Observe the following warnings when using
this unit.

❑

The driver should not operate the system while
driving.

Operating the system will distract the driver from looking
ahead of the vehicle and can cause accidents. Always stop
the vehicle in a safe location and use the parking brake
before operating the system.

❑

Use the proper power supply.

This product is designed for operation with a negative
grounded 12 V DC battery system. Never operate this
product with other battery systems, especially a 24 V DC
battery system.

❑

Protect the Deck Mechanism.

Do not insert any foreign objects into the slot of this unit.

❑

Do not disassemble or modify the unit.

Do not disassemble, modify the unit or attempt to repair
the product yourself. If the product needs to be repaired,
consult your dealer or an authorized Panasonic
Servicenter.

❑

Do not use the unit when it is out of order.

If the unit is out of order (no power, no sound) or in an
abnormal state (has foreign objects in it, is exposed to
water, is smoking, or smells), turn it off immediately and
consult your dealer.

❑

Refer fuse replacement to qualified service per­sonnel.

When the fuse blows out, eliminate the cause and have it
replaced with the fuse prescribed for this unit by a qualified
service engineer. Incorrect replacement of the fuse may
lead to smoke, fire, and damage to the product.

❑

Any NOAA broadcast weather report, including cur­rent and forecasts, may not reflect your actual
weather conditions at your exact time and loca­tion. You should always pay attention to your actu­al weather conditions to make safe decisions
accordingly.

Observe the following warnings when
installing.

❑

Disconnect the lead from the negative (–) battery
terminal before installation.

Wiring and installation with the negative (–) battery termi­nal connected may cause electrical shock and injury due to
a short circuit.
Some cars equipped with the electrical safety system have
specific procedures of battery terminal disconnection.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE MAY LEAD TO
THE UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRICAL
SAFETY SYSTEM RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHI­CLE AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

❑

Never use safety-related components for installa­tion, grounding, and other such functions.

Do not use safety-related vehicle components (fuel tank,
brake, suspension, steering wheel, pedals, airbag, etc.) for
wiring or fixing the product or its accessories.

❑

Installing the product on the air bag cover or in a
location where it interferes with airbag operation
is prohibited.

❑

Check for piping, gasoline tank, electric wiring,
and other items before installing the product.

If you need to open a hole in the vehicle chassis to attach
or wire the product, first check where the wire harness,
gasoline tank, and electric wiring are located. Then open
the hole from outside if possible.

❑

Never install the product in a location where it inter­feres with your field of vision.

❑

Never have the power cord branched to supply
other equipment with power.

❑

After installation and wiring, you should check the
normal operation of other electrical equipment.

The continuation of their using in abnormal conditions may
cause fire, electrical shock or a traffic accident.

❑

In the case of installation to an airbag equipped
car, confirm warnings and cautions of the vehicle
manufacturer before installation.

❑

Make sure the leads do not interfere with driving
or getting in and out of the vehicle.

❑

Insulate all exposed wires to prevent short circuit­ing.

This pictograph intends to alert you to the pres­ence of important operating instructions and
installation instructions. Failure to heed the
instructions may result in severe injury or
death.

■

Read the operating instructions for the unit and all other
components of your car audio system carefully before using
the system. They contain instructions about how to use the
system in a safe and effective manner. Panasonic assumes
no responsibility for any problems resulting from failure to
observe the instructions given in this manual.

■

This manual uses pictographs to show you how to use the
product safely and to alert you to potential dangers resulting
from improper connections and operations. The meanings of
the pictographs are explained below. It is important that you
fully understand the meanings of the pictographs in order to
use this manual and the system properly.

Warning

This pictograph intends to alert you to the pres­ence of important operating instructions and
installation instructions. Failure to heed the
instructions may result in injury or material dam­age.

Caution

3

CQ-5251JU

Caution

Observe the following cautions when using
this unit.

❑

Keep the sound volume at an appropriate level.

Keep the volume level low enough to be aware of road and
traffic conditions while driving.

❑

Do not insert or allow your hand or fingers to be
caught in the unit.

To prevent injury, do not get your hand or fingers caught in
moving parts or in the disc slot. Especially watch out for
infants.

❑

This unit is designed for use exclusively in auto­mobiles.

❑

Do not operate the unit for a prolonged period with
the engine turned off.

Operating the audio system for a long period of time with
the engine turned off will drain the battery.

❑

Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight or exces­sive heat.

Otherwise these will raise the interior temperature of the
unit, and it may lead to smoke, fire, or other damage to the
unit.

❑

Do not use the product where it will be exposed to
water, moisture, or dust.

Exposure of the unit to water, moisture, or dust may lead
to smoke, fire, or other damage to the unit. Make especially
sure that the unit does not get wet in car washes or on
rainy days.

❑

To ensure safety, never attempt to preset stations
while you are driving.

❑

Depending upon the transmission condition of
electro-magnetic waves, the geographical reasons
and/or the weather conditions, you may not
receive the NOAA radio partially or at all.

❑

Make sure that your weather radio can receive
properly before driving, especially, before use in a
critical condition.

❑

Set the volume level to low enough before the AUX
connection is completed.

Failure to observe this, the loud noise may come out and
damage your speakers and your hearing. Direct connection
of the speaker/headphone output of an external device
without any attenuator may distort sound or damage the
connected external device.

Observe the following cautions when
installing.

❑

Refer wiring and installation to qualified service
personnel.

Installation of this unit requires special skills and experi­ence. For maximum safety, have it installed by your dealer.
Panasonic is not liable for any problems resulting from
your own installation of the unit.

❑

Follow the instructions to install and wire the product.

Not following the instructions to properly install and wire
the product could cause an accident or fire.

❑

Take care not to damage the leads.

When wiring, take care not to damage the leads. Prevent
them from getting caught in the vehicle chassis, screws,
and moving parts such as seat rails. Do not scratch, pull,
bend or twist the leads. Do not run them near heat sources
or place heavy objects on them. If leads must be run over
sharp metal edges, protect the leads by winding them with
vinyl tape or similar protection.

❑

Use the designated parts and tools for installation.

Use the supplied or designated parts and appropriate tools
to install the product. The use of parts other than those
supplied or designated may result in internal damage to the
unit. Faulty installation may lead to an accident, a malfunc­tion or fire.

❑

Do not block the air vent or the cooling plate of the
unit.

Blocking these parts will cause the interior of the unit to
overheat and will result in fire or other damage.

❑

Do not install the product where it is exposed to
strong vibrations or is unstable.

Avoid slanted or strongly curved surfaces for installation. If
the installation is not stable, the unit may fall down while
driving and this can lead to an accident or injury.

❑

Installation Angle

The product should be installed in a horizontal position
with the front end up at a convenient angle, but not more
than 30˚.
The user should bear in mind that in some areas there may
be restrictions on how and where this unit must be
installed. Consult your dealer for further details.

❑

Wear gloves for safety. Make sure that wiring is
completed before installation.

❑

To prevent damage to the unit, do not connect the
power connector until the whole wiring is complet­ed.

❑

Do not connect more than one speaker to one set
of speaker leads. (except for connecting to a
tweeter)

Caution

•

PLEASE FOLLOW THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF YOUR STATE, PROVINCE OR COUNTRY FOR WIRING,
INSTALLATION, AND USE OF THIS UNIT AND THE DEVICES TO BE CONNECTED.

Find the model number and serial number on either the back or bottom of the unit. Please record them in the space
below and retain this booklet as a permanent record of your purchase to help with identification in case of theft.

MODEL NUMBER CQ-5251JU SERIAL NUMBER

DATE PURCHASED FROM

4

CQ-5251JU

Safety Information (continued)

Warning

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK OR
PRODUCT DAMAGE, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO
RAIN, SPLASHING, DRIPPING OR MOISTURE.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, AND
ANNOYING INTERFERENCE, USE ONLY THE INCLUDED
COMPONENTS.

Caution

THIS PRODUCT IS A CLASS ILASER PRODUCT.
USE OF CONTROLS OR ADJUSTMENTS OR PERFORMANCE
OF PROCEDURES OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFIED HEREIN
MAY RESULT IN HAZARDOUS RADIATION EXPOSURE.
DO NOT OPEN COVERS AND DO NOT REPAIR BY
YOURSELF. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
PERSONNEL.

Laser Products:

Wave length: 790 nm
Laser power: No hazardous radiation is emitted with safety

protection.

The following applies only in the U.S.A.

Customer Services Directory

U.S.A.

Customer Services Directory
(United States and Puerto Rico)

Obtain Product Information and Operating Assistance; locate
your nearest Dealer or Servicenter; purchase Parts and
Accessories; or make Customer Service and Literature requests
by visiting our Web Site at:

http://www.panasonic.com/support

or, contact us via the web at:

http://www.panasonic.com/contactinfo

You may also contact us directly at:
1-800-211-PANA (7262),
Monday-Friday 9 am-9 pm; Saturday-Sunday 10 am-7 pm, EST.

For hearing or speech impaired TTY users,
TTY : 1-877-833-8855

Accessory Purchases:
(United States and Puerto Rico)

Purchase Parts, Accessories and Instruction Books online for all
Panasonic Products by visiting our Web Site at:

http://www.pasc.panasonic.com

or, send your request by E-mail to:

[e-mail]

You may also contact us directly at:
1-800-332-5368 (Phone) 1-800-237-9080 (Fax Only) (Monday­Friday 9 am to 8 pm, EST.)
Panasonic Services Company
20421 84th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032
(We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express,
and Personal Checks)

For hearing or speech impaired TTY users,
TTY : 1-866-605-1277

Part 15 of the FCC Rules

FCC Warning:

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules for Radio
Receiver. Operation is subject to the condition that this device
may not cause harmful interference. Any unauthorized changes or
modifications to this equipment may void the user's authority to
operate this device.

5

CQ-5251JU

Limited Warranty

U.S.A.

PANASONIC CONSUMER ELECTRONICS COMPANY,
DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094

PANASONIC AUTO PRODUCTS
LIMITED WARRANTY

LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE

If your product does not work properly because of defects in materials and
workmanship.
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company or Panasonic Sales Company
(collectively referred to as “the warrantor”) will, for the length of the period
indicated in the chart below, which starts with the date of original purchase
(“warranty period”), at its option either (a) repair your product with new or
refurbished parts, or (b) replace it with a new or refurbished product. The
decision to repair or replace will be made by the warrantor.

During the “Labor” warranty period, there will be no charge for labor. During
the “Parts” warranty period, there will be no charge for parts. You must carry
in or mail in your product prepaid during the warranty period. If non­rechargeable batteries are included, they are not warranted. This warranty
only applies to products purchased and serviced in the United States or
Puerto Rico. This warranty is extended only to the original purchaser of a
new product which was not sold “as is”. A purchase receipt or other proof of
the original purchase date is required for warranty service.

CARRY-IN OR MAIL-IN SERVICE

For Carry-In or Mail-In Service in the United States and Puerto Rico call 1­800-211-PANA (7262) or visit
Panasonic Web Site: http://www.panasonic.com

LIMITED WARRANTY LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS

This warranty ONLY COVERS failures due to defects in materials and work­manship, and DOES NOT COVER normal wear and tear or cosmetic damage.
The warranty ALSO DOES NOT COVER damages which occurred during
shipment, failures which are caused by products not supplied by the warran­tor, failures which result from accident, misuse, abuse, neglect, bug infesta­tion, mishandling, misapplication, alteration, faulty installation, set-up
adjustment, maladjustment of consumer control, improper maintenance,
improper antenna, inadequate signal reception or pickup, power line surge,
improper voltage supply, lightning, modification, commercial use (such as
use in hotels, offices, restaurants, or other business uses) or rental use of
the product, or service by anyone other than the technician from Factory
Servicenter or other authorized service centers, or damage that is attributa­ble to acts of God.

THERE ARE NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES EXCEPT AS LISTED UNDER
“LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE”. THE WARRANTOR IS NOT LIABLE
FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE
USE OF THIS PRODUCT, OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS
WARRANTY. (As examples, this excludes damages for lost time, cost of hav-

ing someone remove or re-install an installed unit if applicable, travel to and
from the servicer, and loss of media, data or other memory contents. The
items listed are not exclusive, but are for illustration only.) ALL EXPRESS

AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MER­CHANTABILITY, ARE LIMITED TO THE PERIOD OF THE LIMITED WARRAN­TY.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or conse­quential damages, or limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so
the exclusions may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state. If a problem with this product develops

during or after the warranty period, you may contact your dealer or
Servicenter. If the problem is not handled to your satisfaction, then write to
warrantor’s Consumer Affairs Department at the addresses of the warrantor.

PARTS AND SERVICE WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS LIMITED WAR­RANTY ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Customer’s Record
Model

No.
Serial

No.
Dealer’s

No.
Code

No.
Dealer’s

Address
Date of

Purchase

Categories Parts Labor

Audio Components (except items listed
below)

One (1) Year One (1) Year

MXE Series Audio Components (except
items listed below)

Two (2) Years Two (2) Years

Speakers
Defective Car Audio Speakers under war­ranty must be exchanged at the place of
purchase. Contact your Dealer for details.

One (1) Year Not Applicable

Accessories (in exchange for defective
items)

Ninety (90) Days Not Applicable

Before Reading These Instructions

6

CQ-5251JU

Panasonic welcomes you to our ever growing family of electronic product owners. We know that this product will
bring you many hours of enjoyment. Our reputation is built on precise electronic and mechanical engineering, man­ufactured with carefully selected components and assembled by people who take pride in their work. Once you dis­cover the quality, reliability, and value we have built into this product, you too will be proud to be a member of our
family.

Accessories

1. Operating Instructions ..................................................................................................1

2. Supplied Hardware.............................................................................1 set (➡ page 21)

Contents

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Customer Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Before Reading These Instructions . . . . . . . . . . .6

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Front AUX terminal, Rear AUX terminal, Sound Control, USB
Connector

Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

First time power on, Clock adjustment

Controls Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Power, Source Selection, Volume, Mute, Display Change

Sound Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

SQ (Sound Quality) , Audio Modes (Bass/Treble/Balance/Fader)

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Band, Frequency adjustment, Auto Preset Memory (APM),
Preset station selection, Manual Preset Memory, Tuning in a
Weather Band Station

CD/MP3/WMA Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Disc loading/ejection, Track/File selection, Folder selection
(MP3/WMA), Pause, Display change, Scan, Repeat, Random

USB (MP3/WMA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

USB device connection, File selection, Folder selection,
Pause, Display change, Scan, Repeat, Random

iPod Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Song selection, Pause, Display change, Playing Mode
selection, Repeat, Random

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

If You Suspect Something Wrong, Common, Radio, CD,
MP3/WMA, USB, Product Servicing

Error Display Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

CD/MP3/WMA, USB

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Cleaning this Unit, Caution

Notes on MP3/WMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Cautions as to compressed audio files, Cautions as to the
display of this unit, Cautions as to compressed audio files,
Common

Notes on Discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

How to hold the disc, Unusable discs, Disc insert, Disc
cleaning, Notes on CD-Rs/RWs

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

General, FM Stereo Radio, AM Radio, Weather Band Radio,
CD Player

7

CQ-5251JU

Front AUX terminal

Your mobile audio player and other devices are connectable to
this unit without any difficulty.

Rear AUX terminal

For more convenient connection, rear AUX terminals are now
provided on the unit itself.

Sound Control

SQ (Sound Quality)

You have four preset modes (FLAT, ROCK, POP and VOCAL).

USB Connector

The USB Connector is equipped on the front panel. (➡ page 16)
By connecting a USB memory (not included) to USB connector

via a USB extension cable (USB 2.0, not included), you can
enjoy MP3/WMA files stored on the USB memory (not included)
in your car.

By connecting iPod

®

series to USB connector via a USB
extension cable for iPod (USB 2.0, not included), you can enjoy
music files stored on the iPod series in your car. Further
information about the controllable iPod is described on page 18.

*iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries.

"Made for iPod" means that an electronic accessory has been
designed to connect specifically to iPod and has been certified
by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.

Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its
compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Features

8

CQ-5251JU

Preparation

First time power on

1

Turn the key in the ignition until the accessory
indicator lights.

2

Press [SRC] (PWR).

Clock adjustment

The 12-hour (AM/PM) system is used for the clock adjustment.

1

Press [DISP] (CLK).

(Clock display)

2

Hold down [DISP] (CLK) for 2 sec. or more.

Hour blinks

3

Adjust the hour.

[d]:Sets ahead.
[s]

:

Sets back.

Hour entered

4

Press [DISP] (CLK).

Minute blinks

5

Adjust the minute.

[d]:Sets ahead.
[s]

:

Sets back.

Minute entered

6

Press [DISP].

Completed

Notes:

¡ “ADJUST” is displayed before adjusting the clock.
¡ Hold down [d] or [s] to change numbers rapidly.
¡ When you want to readjust the time, repeat steps

2 to 6.

*Indicator for AM or PM time

: Represents PM (Post Meridiem) time.

: Represents AM (Ante Meridiem) time.

*
*

9

CQ-5251JU

Controls Layout

Disc slot

VOLUME (a page 10)
PUSH SEL Select

(a page 11)

Preset Buttons [1] to [6]

(a page 12)

SCROLL (a page 14, etc.)
SCAN/REPEAT/RANDOM (a page 14,16)
FOLDER }/{ (a page 14, 16)

USB Connector

(a page 16)

u (Eject) (a page 14)

SRC Source (a page 10)
PWR Power (a page 10)

MUTE (a page 10)
SQ Sound Quality

(a page 11)

AUX

From line output of
external sound/audio
device (ex. Silicon­audio player, HDD
player, etc.)

TUNE/SEEK s/d(a page 12)
FILE (Track/File) s/d(a page 14, 16)

DISP Display (a page 10, etc.)
CLK Clock (a page 8)

BAND (a page 12)

5

y

Play/Pause

(a page 14,16)
APM Auto Preset Memory
(a page 12)

10

General

CQ-5251JU

Power

Turn the key in the ignition until the accessory indicator lights.

Power on: Press [SRC](PWR).

Power off: Hold down [SRC](PWR) for more than 1 second.

Volume level (0 to 40)

(default:18)

Volume

Turn the knob clockwise to increase volume, and counterclock­wise to decrease volume.

Up

Down

Mute

Press [MUTE] to mute the sound completely.
Press [MUTE] again to cancel.

Note: “ADJUST” is displayed when the clock is not adjusted.
(a page 8)

Display Change

Press [DISP] to switch to the clock display.
When the power is off:

clock display (default)

No display

Source Selection

The source changes as follows every time [SRC] (Source)
is pressed.

Radio

FM, AM, WB
(a page 12)

Disc player

CD, MP3/WMA
(a page 14)

USB

MP3/WMA
(a page 16)

AUX1

Device connected to
the front AUX terminal
of this unit

AUX2

Device connected to
the rear AUX terminal
of this unit

11

Sound Controls

CQ-5251JU

SQ (Sound Quality)

SQ is a function that can call up various sound types at the
touch of button in accordance with your listening music type.

Press [SQ] for more than 2 seconds to select the sound type as
follows:

(ROCK) speedy and heavy sound:
exaggerates bass and treble.

(POP) wide-ranged and deep sound:
slightly emphasizes bass and treble.

(VOCAL) clear sound:
emphasizes middle tone and slightly

emphasizes treble.

(FLAT) flat frequency response:
does not emphasize any part.

(default)

Audio Modes (Bass/Treble/Balance/Fader)

1

Push [SEL] to select the audio mode.

Note: If no operation takes place for more than 5 seconds in audio

mode (2 seconds in volume mode), the display returns to the regular
mode.

2

Turn [VOLUME] clockwise or counterclock-
wise to change each level.

(Setting Range: –12 dB to +12 dB by 2 dB,
default: 0 dB)

(Setting Range: –12 dB to +12 dB by 2 dB,
default: 0 dB)

(Setting Range: 15 levels each and 0 (center),
default: CNT)

(Setting Range: 15 levels each and 0 (center),
default: CNT)

(Setting Range: 0 to 40, default: 18)

q: Increased
w: Decreased

q: Increased
w: Decreased

q: Right enhanced
w: Left enhanced

q: Front enhanced
w: Rear enhanced

q: Up
w: Down

(Bass)

(Volume)

(Treble)

(Balance)

(Fader)

SQ indicator