Cassette Problems

[Lorenzo]

Does Anyone else ever had this problem? I recently bought a delco radio from a guy who had an 87 SS and said everything should work on it.The radio has a setting for bass and treb and the cassette says auto reverse on it with eject reverse and FF. Ofcourse everything did, except for the one thing that made me want it in the first place...the cassette player. When i put a cassette in the right arrow lights up and all i hear is a click.click.click.click... noise. When i turn of the volume it makes the same noise. I just thought eh guess the cassette is crap or the guy broke the player. So yesturday i went to a scarp yard and found the exact same radio in an oldsmobile Cutlass took it out and it was in perfect shape. Plugged it into my car and i was happy to see that everything was working! Not bad for sitting in the car for a number of years in a yard. Anyways once again i put the cassette in and it did the exact same thing. Please can anyone help me! I hate using my stupid fm transmitter! Thanks!

 

[L92 OLDS]

Check the cassette transport drive belt. I've repaired several of these things and the belts dry up and crack. If the head unit does not see tape moving it will reverse direction.

 

[Lorenzo]

Check the cassette transport drive belt. I've repaired several of these things and the belts dry up and crack. If the head unit does not see tape moving it will reverse direction.

What does it look like? I took apart the radio today to see maybe if there was some garbage stuck in it but it was pretty clean. I saw one belt around some things that turn and it looked ok, it was on around them and when i turned this circle thing it moved everything else. Sorry about my language for cassette players, ive never worked on them before lol! Thanks!

 

[anthonychacon80]

don't those ETR units require more than the three separate wire harnesses? That sounds like what happens when I put a ETR in my cutlass and didnt plug in the two extra wires to a 12v source.

 

[Lorenzo]

don't those ETR units require more than the three separate wire harnesses? That sounds like what happens when I put a ETR in my cutlass and didnt plug in the two extra wires to a 12v source.

Im Sorry but what is an ETR? lol, Well the radio that was in the car when i bought was just a radio with 4 channels, am/fm and that was it. No cassette or clock. Are the 2 wires ur talking about happen to be orange and black? When i took the radio from the scrap car i made sure to cut the wires from that with the connecter because whoever had this car before me decided to put an aftermarket deck in and they cut the wires. Everything is hooked up to the best of my knowledge. So im not sure why it doesnt work? Thanks!

 

[anthonychacon80]

don't those ETR units require more than the three separate wire harnesses? That sounds like what happens when I put a ETR in my cutlass and didnt plug in the two extra wires to a 12v source.

Im Sorry but what is an ETR? lol, Well the radio that was in the car when i bought was just a radio with 4 channels, am/fm and that was it. No cassette or clock. Are the 2 wires ur talking about happen to be orange and black? When i took the radio from the scrap car i made sure to cut the wires from that with the connecter because whoever had this car before me decided to put an aftermarket deck in and they cut the wires. Everything is hooked up to the best of my knowledge. So im not sure why it doesnt work? Thanks!

yah that sounds like the two extra wires that are not a part of the other three groups of wires. I forget how I got hime to work but i think that only one has to be plugged into one of the 12v PWR ports on the fuse block. Try one at a time?

The ETR deck is what GM called those digital tuning decks. The analog ones were the one with the dial.

 

[Lorenzo]

don't those ETR units require more than the three separate wire harnesses? That sounds like what happens when I put a ETR in my cutlass and didnt plug in the two extra wires to a 12v source.

Im Sorry but what is an ETR? lol, Well the radio that was in the car when i bought was just a radio with 4 channels, am/fm and that was it. No cassette or clock. Are the 2 wires ur talking about happen to be orange and black? When i took the radio from the scrap car i made sure to cut the wires from that with the connecter because whoever had this car before me decided to put an aftermarket deck in and they cut the wires. Everything is hooked up to the best of my knowledge. So im not sure why it doesnt work? Thanks!

yah that sounds like the two extra wires that are not a part of the other three groups of wires. I forget how I got hime to work but i think that only one has to be plugged into one of the 12v PWR ports on the fuse block. Try one at a time?

The ETR deck is what GM called those digital tuning decks. The analog ones were the one with the dial.

Okay i will Check that today! Ill let you know how it goes

 

[azmalibuwagon]

Hopefully you tried more than one tape...

That clicking noise is the unit trying to turn the tape. So you have several possible causes, most of which are mechanical, not electrical. Here are the most likely, IMO:

1) Bad tape that just won't turn easily. Try a couple of different tapes.

2) You are at the end of the tape and the auto reverse is trying to work, but just can't complete the mechanics,
or
3) Weak tape drive mechanism, and the tape deck thinks it's the end the tape whether it is or not, and just keeps trying to turn and reverse, turn and reverse, turn and reverese, etc.

The most likely cause for both 2 or 3 is a bad belt, probably dry and stretched, like Anubis said. Replace the belt with a new one. And yes, the belt is that little black rubber-band-looking thing that runs around a big wheel and a little wheel. Take the belt to a local place that carries such things and have them give you the correct replacement. It should be less than 10 bucks.

Could also be a bad tape drive motor, or the mechanism could be jammed, but doubtful, especially on two different tape decks.

 

[Lorenzo]

Hopefully you tried more than one tape...

That clicking noise is the unit trying to turn the tape. So you have several possible causes, most of which are mechanical, not electrical. Here are the most likely, IMO:

1) Bad tape that just won't turn easily. Try a couple of different tapes.

2) You are at the end of the tape and the auto reverse is trying to work, but just can't complete the mechanics,
or
3) Weak tape drive mechanism, and the tape deck thinks it's the end the tape whether it is or not, and just keeps trying to turn and reverse, turn and reverse, turn and reverese, etc.

The most likely cause for both 2 or 3 is a bad belt, probably dry and stretched, like Anubis said. Replace the belt with a new one. And yes, the belt is that little black rubber-band-looking thing that runs around a big wheel and a little wheel. Take the belt to a local place that carries such things and have them give you the correct replacement. It should be less than 10 bucks.

Funny you should mention the belt being stretched. when i took it apart and turned it it looked wobbly but i thought it was my eyes 😛. Would you know a place that can sell one in canada? or is that belt in every cassette player and i can just take one of those

Could also be a bad tape drive motor, or the mechanism could be jammed, but doubtful, especially on two different tape decks.

 

[malibu80]

I would also agree that the belts need replacing. If you live in Vancouver, BC, I would recommend Main Electronics. They're are Main and 29th. Take the belts with you. They'll match something up for you. Belts are specific to model and make. Another area that needs attention is the rubber wheel that pinches up against the shaft. It needs to be cleans with a Q-tip drenched in alcohol. The wheel gets glazed and becomes slippery. Sure tale sign is that the tape gets eaten or the speed is varied. While your at it, check the condition of the cassette head. Run your finger nail across it. If you feel a groove in it then the head is worn out. The tape is pulled across the head and eventually wears out.