Help! My stereo has a mind of it's own!!

I have an Aiwa stereo (NSX-555S) with 3 cd changer and the problem I have is that the cd player will not read most of my discs. Note how I said 'most'.

When I insert cd's I can hear whirring and clicking before the changer kicks in and switches to the next disc. It does this for all 3 and fails to play any of them.

The puzzling (and creepy) thing is, if I put a cd in that it has never played before, it nearly always works, so surely there can't be that much wrong with it? All my discs used to work so it's getting a bit frustrating!

Although about 12 years old, it is in immaculate condition and has been hardly used. None of the cd's are damaged and I have tried the usual lens cleaning remedies - to no avail.

I don't think paying for a repair would be worth it considering the low prices of some new ones on the market, but would love to know what the cause is and would be eternally grateful for any solutions.

Please, is someone here able to help me?

I think the lens is trying to focus, the whirs and clacks, are the lazer unit trying to focus. Cleaning the lens might be an option? Or the tracking might be out? It gets sticky, so the lens is in the wrong position? The grease gets sticky? Or even the spindle motor might be getting worn, so the disk isn't at speed.

Run a scratched disk, see how it performes.

Run the same disk But run a black marker pen around the outside of the disk. And compare. Apparently it makes a difference.

Thanks for the tips Micky.

I've just tried the scratched disc and black marker thing, but neither were successful and have already tried the lens cleaning dozens of times.

As I type, it is now playing a disc that I have never tried in it before but still won't pick up others. Every cd I own works in another stereo, so you can see my frustration.

I think you could be onto something with the spindle motor as I can see the discs that do work seem to struggle starting before getting up to speed. Any DIY fixes for this or is it repair job?

Also is there anything I can try to adjust tracking in case that is the fault?

Cheers!

misterhelpful said:

Thanks for the tips Micky.

I've just tried the scratched disc and black marker thing, but neither were successful and have already tried the lens cleaning dozens of times.

As I type, it is now playing a disc that I have never tried in it before but still won't pick up others. Every cd I own works in another stereo, so you can see my frustration.

I think you could be onto something with the spindle motor as I can see the discs that do work seem to struggle starting before getting up to speed. Any DIY fixes for this or is it repair job?

Also is there anything I can try to adjust tracking in case that is the fault?

Cheers!

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Did you try cleaning the lens manually, or use a cleaning CD? The cleaning Cd's are useless, but too much pressure on the lens could break it. There is an adjustment that can be made via a minature pot, that is normally sealed with glue, but is trial and error, without expensive test equipment. I've had limited success. The grease can be cleaned off the head motor spindle, as it becomes sticky sometimes, so the head doesn't get to track 0, but the spindle motor can't be repaired. It's also dangerous working on it 'live', as apparently looking direct at the laser unit can blind you?

There are often modifications along the line, and either the block, or spindle can be replaced seperately, but the laser unit on arrival needs to have a unit unsoldered, then calibrated. So definately a pro job. Neither unit is expensive, but labour, and calibration costs, and might outweigh the cost of a new player? Rubbish technology CD players aren't they? I think I'm onto my 5th Cd player, 3rd cd player for the car, and 4th PS2, and 2nd CDi, all due to CD player failure, where I'm sure the old record player in the loft still works. Good luck!

There are often modifications along the line, and either the block, or spindle can be replaced seperately, but the laser unit on arrival needs to have a unit unsoldered, then calibrated. So definately a pro job. Neither unit is expensive, but labour, and calibration costs, and might outweigh the cost of a new player? Rubbish technology CD players aren't they? I think I'm onto my 5th Cd player, 3rd cd player for the car, and 4th PS2, and 2nd CDi, all due to CD player failure, where I'm sure the old record player in the loft still works. Good luck!

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I suspected as much.

Now you come to mention it, I remember the same thing happening to my original PS which was still under guarantee, and the shop just gave me a new one - they obviously knew it wasn't worth fixing!

So far as CD players being rubbish technology, I'd probably have to agree. I think even record players are too advanced for me!!

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

misterhelpful said:

There are often modifications along the line, and either the block, or spindle can be replaced seperately, but the laser unit on arrival needs to have a unit unsoldered, then calibrated. So definately a pro job. Neither unit is expensive, but labour, and calibration costs, and might outweigh the cost of a new player? Rubbish technology CD players aren't they? I think I'm onto my 5th Cd player, 3rd cd player for the car, and 4th PS2, and 2nd CDi, all due to CD player failure, where I'm sure the old record player in the loft still works. Good luck!

Click to expand...

I suspected as much.

Now you come to mention it, I remember the same thing happening to my original PS which was still under guarantee, and the shop just gave me a new one - they obviously knew it wasn't worth fixing!

So far as CD players being rubbish technology, I'd probably have to agree. I think even record players are too advanced for me!!

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Click to expand...

I think origionally you return to base (RTB), faulty equipment, and they are reworked, and resold as seconds, and you get a seconds as a replacement. Now you tend to get the origional back, if faulty. Used to happen with Sky boxes too, and laptops. I know a TV rental company, and laptop repairer that do this internationally.

But if you buy electrical equipment from a large supermarket chain, and it has a fault, from blowing up, to you not following the instructions how to tune it in (ie nothing wrong with it), when you return it to the supermarket, they are NOT returned to the manufacturer for repair, they are BINNED! The supplier is then deducted the supply price vs losses, as it's more cost efficient to bin them nowadays, than to repair them. Even if there is nothing actually wrong with something, and someone doesn't know how to install the batteries in the remote, hence it's faulty. And destroyed.

But if you buy electrical equipment from a large supermarket chain, and it has a fault, from blowing up, to you not following the instructions how to tune it in (ie nothing wrong with it), when you return it to the supermarket, they are NOT returned to the manufacturer for repair, they are BINNED! The supplier is then deducted the supply price vs losses, as it's more cost efficient to bin them nowadays, than to repair them. Even if there is nothing actually wrong with something, and someone doesn't know how to install the batteries in the remote, hence it's faulty. And destroyed.

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No wonder new technology costs so much!!

Thanks for advice - will look into repair costs and if not financially viable will stick with my second stereo.

mrh