Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Chungalin
    Badcaps Veteran
    • Jul 2014
    • 422
    • Spain

    #1

    Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

    This nice and simple CD player based on KSS-240A doesn't read discs. Disc spins with apparent normality but after a few seconds it throws NO DISC message. Disc stops spinning but it doesn't actively brake.

    25 years old and it's clean as new, incredible. This even rules out dirtiness. I suspect of badly bend 12 track FFC, but replacing it doesn't improve anything.

    CD Servo PCB doesn't have any electrolytic cap to check. That's a source of problems in Sony CD PCBs with a few caps (either through-hole or SMD). I'm running out of ideas but I resist to replace optical pickup. Then I check front PCB, since in this minimalistic model all circuitry but Servo is there. Check ESR for all small electrolytic caps and I find two with disturbing >10Ω ESR due to aging. Both 10uF/10V, around IC291 special 5V regulator. I replace them and it's fixed!
  • momaka
    master hoarder
    • May 2008
    • 12170
    • Bulgaria

    #2
    Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

    Nice work! So two small caps was the issue here? I guess I better bookmark this for future reference. My uncle has an old Sony CD player that doesn't work and he wants to get it fixed. Most shops he went to already said they can't do it. I guess next time I see him, I just have to remember to bring my cheap cap tester with me.

    Comment

    • Chungalin
      Badcaps Veteran
      • Jul 2014
      • 422
      • Spain

      #3
      Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

      I’ve repaired more than 150 Sony CD players from the 90’s and they’re always repairable. KSS-240A insides can be cleaned with care, never require replacement. Main failures are: dirtiness, loading belt, broken FFC, broken sled gears, and capacitors.

      Comment

      • momaka
        master hoarder
        • May 2008
        • 12170
        • Bulgaria

        #4
        Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

        So the lasers don't wear out on these older Sony CD players? Basically, my uncle had the same problem with his (I forgot what the model number is, but it's from the 90's I'm pretty sure): CD spins up and sometimes plays for 1-5 seconds, then CD player gives NOCD error. Pretty much every service shop he went to told him he had a worn laser and nothing that could be fixed (or maybe they just couldn't be bothered to fix it?). Not sure if dirtiness is an issue - the player looks pretty clean inside. He already tried cleaning the laser lens with alcohol. Perhaps it's dirty on the bottom (under) side or the pickup itself? From what I saw, the sled gears were okay too - clean and easy spinning. So perhaps that leaves only the capacitors as you suggest.

        Also, sorry for the silly question, but what's an FFC? Is that the flat ribbon cable between the laser sled and the main board?

        Thanks!
        Last edited by momaka; 10-02-2018, 06:27 AM.

        Comment

        • Chungalin
          Badcaps Veteran
          • Jul 2014
          • 422
          • Spain

          #5
          Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

          In this context, FFC is Flexible Flat Cable, but it can also mean Flexible Foil Circuit (a thin transparent foil where a circuit is printed and SMD components can be soldered).

          These KSS-240A players use a 12 track 1mm pitch FFC. When the two layers of material split at certain point (due to repeated bending) then air begins to corrode tracks and they eventualy break. You can use a more common 16 track 1mm pitch FFC from KSS-213B, C, E, F, etc. (and many other CD pickups) and cut extra 4 tracks.

          KSS-240A can be cleaned internally with a thin cotton stick. You must NOT remove lens assembly because it's callibrated and glued. Other CD pickups allow lens assembly to be removed and this makes inner cleaning easier. This one not. I don't recommend IPA alone to clean lenses. I don't clean my eyeglasses with alcohol, but with a special liquid from eyeglasses shop. So the same for laser lenses. It's not magic, it contains alcohol, of course, but there's something else that makes it slightly soapy.

          I've replaced very few KSS-240A, most of the times they can be cleaned or the problem is somewhere else.

          Comment

          • Andrew F. Ali
            Badcaps Legend
            • Jan 2014
            • 2450
            • Trinidad & Tobago

            #6
            Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

            FFC means Flat Flexible Cable. There is nothing like FFC meaning Flexible Foil Circuit in any of the books I've read so far. I think you mean FPC which means Flexible Printed Circuit.

            Comment

            • momaka
              master hoarder
              • May 2008
              • 12170
              • Bulgaria

              #7
              Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

              Thanks for the info again fellas and sorry for hijacking the thread with questions. I just don't want to create a new thread as I don't have the unit in front of me and if someone asks for more info or pictures, it would be silly as I wouldn't be able to post any of that.

              That said, I think my uncle's unit used a KSS-271a laser - or at least based on some bookmarks I've made.

              Comment

              • Chungalin
                Badcaps Veteran
                • Jul 2014
                • 422
                • Spain

                #8
                Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

                Originally posted by momaka
                That said, I think my uncle's unit used a KSS-271A laser - or at least based on some bookmarks I've made.
                KSS-271A ? Looks like you are talking about a ES series from Sony ("flagship" series). Never repaired one of these. ES series means quality but also more complexity, sometimes unnecessary except for price inflation.

                Comment

                • momaka
                  master hoarder
                  • May 2008
                  • 12170
                  • Bulgaria

                  #9
                  Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

                  ^ Yeah, it's a high-end model, which is why my uncle is trying to get it working (for himself).

                  Comment

                  • Chungalin
                    Badcaps Veteran
                    • Jul 2014
                    • 422
                    • Spain

                    #10
                    Re: Sony CD player CDP-397 repair, No Disc, fixed

                    Addendum to original CDP-397 repair: it wasn’t so easy, like almost all repairs. That’s why this, as a job, sucks.

                    The CD returned two weeks later with even weirder/crazy behavior. When it was able to play a disc I noticed some audio artifacts similar to bad reading or massive jitter. Touching the front board close to IC302 seemed to improve or fix the problem. Upon closer inspection I saw that IC291 had many broken solder joints, because of repeated heating/cooling effect over years of use. It has some sense, because replaced caps were related to this regulator, and working close to that IC worsened solder joints state.

                    Comment

                    Related Topics

                    Collapse

                    • bogosort
                      Sony DVD player stuck tray (DVP-SR310P)
                      by bogosort


                      Hello,

                      I have a Sony DVD player with a stuck tray. It seems that moving or pressing on the tray makes it work.

                      Anyone knows why?

                      Thank you....
                      05-11-2024, 04:29 PM
                    • Junior††
                      PS5 Disc Not Supported/ Disc Not Recognized Board Num: EDM-020
                      by Junior††


                      Good Afternoon fellas,

                      Issue:
                      Disc is showing as not supported when a disc is put in.

                      Here's what I've done, you can skip this if you just wanna know the question:
                      - replaced with a disc drive from a donor ps5 (honestly questionable if this is known to work)
                      - reflowed the disc drive connector
                      -reflowed the chip in question (shown on image)
                      - I will say this console was very dusty so it's conceivable that it got so hot that it made the chip joints cold and potentially other things on the board

                      Question:
                      I...
                      02-19-2025, 12:48 PM
                    • Carlos#2003%
                      Schematic de una Sony VAIO PCG-41217u, Sony VPCSB45FL (MBX-237), 1p-0117j01-a012 mbx-237.
                      by Carlos#2003%
                      Buenas mi nombre es carlos me uni al foro porque estoy buscando el schematic de una sony vaio pcg-41217u otras formas de escribirlo son 1p-0117j01-a012 mbx-237 numero de placa revision 1.2 o Sony VPCSB (MBX-237), en fin me gustaria y ayudaria un monton si alguien me puede dar dichi svhematic para hacer las mediciones de una laptop de la mencionada anteriormente(Sony VAIO PCG-41217U) con el fin de repararla dejo de funcionar solo prende el led de la bateria al pulsar el boton de power el disco empiesa a hacer ruido de actividad pero los leds del frontas no reflejan acividad y no enciende la pantalla....
                      02-15-2024, 07:52 PM
                    • mikey5791
                      Sony CFS-5000S radio cassette player no FM reception
                      by mikey5791
                      Hi forum members,

                      In the past i have had many helpful hints from generous forum members in diagnosing and solving issue related to most of my electrical things.

                      Fyi, i have been keeping this unit of Sony radio cassette player as the cassette belting has worn off but the radio has been working fine before. Recently, out of a sudden i found out i can't get any radio reception at all (no signal from FM,MW or SW band) except some buzzing warp noise from the speakers.

                      I opened the casing inside and checked for any dry solder, burned component or loose wires...
                      02-24-2023, 03:48 AM
                    • Document Archive
                      MEDION AKOYA S15447 + ext. DVD Player Notebook Specification for Upgrade or Repair
                      by Document Archive
                      This specification for the MEDION AKOYA S15447 + ext. DVD Player Notebook can be useful for upgrading or repairing a laptop that is not working. As a community we are working through our specifications to add valuable data like the S15447 + ext. DVD Player boardview and S15447 + ext. DVD Player schematic. Our users have donated over 1 million documents which are being added to the site. This page will be updated soon with additional information. Alternatively you can request additional help from our users directly on the relevant badcaps forum. Please note that we offer no warranties that any...
                      09-06-2024, 05:30 PM
                    • Loading...
                    • No more items.
                    Working...