Hey guys,
Having a problem with a Sony 5-CD changer. When I load a disc, the mechanism grabs it and starts to spin it, but the disc won't read. No track count, total time etc. Pressing play only shows an attempt to read track 1, but then it goes back to showing "0" on the display. The disc spins perpetually, even if I press the stop button. It will only stop and return the disc to the slot when you press eject.
When spinning, it makes a chirpy sound -- like the laser is trying? Not really sure (see video: Shared album - Simon Cohen - Google Photos ).
I've tried cleaning the CD and the lens with isopropyl alcohol -- no difference.
Other things I've tried to diagnose:
- Laser diode appears to work -- I can see a faint purple light when the diode pops up to read the disc
- Tracking servo appears to work -- when I advance the module on the rail manually, and press play, it returns to the closest position to the hub.
Any bright ideas or is this thing toast?
Thanks!
Having a problem with a Sony 5-CD changer. When I load a disc, the mechanism grabs it and starts to spin it, but the disc won't read. No track count, total time etc. Pressing play only shows an attempt to read track 1, but then it goes back to showing "0" on the display. The disc spins perpetually, even if I press the stop button. It will only stop and return the disc to the slot when you press eject.
When spinning, it makes a chirpy sound -- like the laser is trying? Not really sure (see video: Shared album - Simon Cohen - Google Photos ).
I've tried cleaning the CD and the lens with isopropyl alcohol -- no difference.
Other things I've tried to diagnose:
- Laser diode appears to work -- I can see a faint purple light when the diode pops up to read the disc
- Tracking servo appears to work -- when I advance the module on the rail manually, and press play, it returns to the closest position to the hub.
Any bright ideas or is this thing toast?
Thanks!
Last edited:
CDP-C515
Hey,
I am new here but maybe I can help. I am not a professional stereo tech, but I have messed around with quite a few of these. I bought a C515 last week at a thrift store here in Austin for $5.00. It was dirty and the tray was not rotating correctly, figured it was the belt. Turned out to be broken teeth and bad grease in the rotary mech. My original intent with this was to swap the entire laser mechanism into a C75ES that has a touchy spot in the gearing (It randomly and wildly skips several minuites ahead). I had a C225 that I paid $5 for too that I stole the gear for the C515 and will use the laser deck for in the C75ES. Yes, complicated.. I have about 15 different players I bought and am goofing around with. Not a huge fan of the "C" changers, but one of my current favorite players is a C601ES.
Long story short, many of the Sony CDP-Cxxx players like the C515 have similar (If not identical mechanisms, double check) Older ones like the C70 are different, but a huge advantage of these is that parts swapping is easy.
The KSS-240A laser is common and not expensive. Did you use some light oil on the steel rail the laser travels on? Some good lithium grease on the gears can help. Used changers are super easy to find here, if you have access to other units swapping lasers is not a super hard task, you seem to be up to it.
Reomving and cleaning the ends of the green flat flexible cable with iso alcohol may help. It does sound like a laser issue. Good luck!
Hey,
I am new here but maybe I can help. I am not a professional stereo tech, but I have messed around with quite a few of these. I bought a C515 last week at a thrift store here in Austin for $5.00. It was dirty and the tray was not rotating correctly, figured it was the belt. Turned out to be broken teeth and bad grease in the rotary mech. My original intent with this was to swap the entire laser mechanism into a C75ES that has a touchy spot in the gearing (It randomly and wildly skips several minuites ahead). I had a C225 that I paid $5 for too that I stole the gear for the C515 and will use the laser deck for in the C75ES. Yes, complicated.. I have about 15 different players I bought and am goofing around with. Not a huge fan of the "C" changers, but one of my current favorite players is a C601ES.
Long story short, many of the Sony CDP-Cxxx players like the C515 have similar (If not identical mechanisms, double check) Older ones like the C70 are different, but a huge advantage of these is that parts swapping is easy.
The KSS-240A laser is common and not expensive. Did you use some light oil on the steel rail the laser travels on? Some good lithium grease on the gears can help. Used changers are super easy to find here, if you have access to other units swapping lasers is not a super hard task, you seem to be up to it.
Reomving and cleaning the ends of the green flat flexible cable with iso alcohol may help. It does sound like a laser issue. Good luck!
If You order the laser Online, make sure You order two or more units. I've repaired two identical Sony units. Mine & my brother's. The first laser worked well, the second not.. could read the toc & play but was skipping to much even on new disks, albeit tweaking PCB pots. The third one I ordered did work also well. Problem is China doesn't care about quality. I ruled out the second non working laser swapping it with the first working one from the first unit repaired. Also check the optical sensor IC on the underside. Original Sony have more pins than the said compatible ones. I have chosen by picture one with the same pin number. They were ~25 or 30 € each. The compatibles are half the price.