Memorex 2027 open/close problem

[langdonallger]

Sorry for the uninteresting title. My memorex 2027 does this thing, where you can only open it after it's just been turned on, and then it immediately closes, leaving only about a 5 second window to insert a dvd. Then after that, sometimes it doesn't even load, so I have to turn it off and then turn it back on in order for the disc to simply play. After you've watched something and opened the player to remove the disc, it stays in it's "open mode" or whatever, where it doesn't proceed to read the disc and proclaim that there is no disc there, it just stays on "open", so I have to sort of force the thing closed. Can anyone help please? Thanks.

[Roundabout]

Most of these units have a motor/drive belt arrangement that loads and unloads the disc. You will find the belt somewhere on the chassis of the mechanism (top or bottom), remove it and use some rubbing alcohol on it to clean it off from wear/smog damage. Usually these belts dry out over time, and smog can make them slick and degrade the rubber to where it stretches out or just slides instead of gripping the pulley it is on. Use a rag and alcohol and just pinch it between your fingers and pull it through your fingers inside the cloth to remove a thin layer of rubber. You should see a little black area on your rag, good. Just don't pull so hard you stretch or break the belt. If you do, you can probably find a new one a Radio Shack or your local electronics part store (usually just by matching up the size, not necessarily by part #). Don't forget to use a q-tip and the alcohol to clean the pulleys where the belt rides, too - very important. You may find this will cure your problem - for a while. If possible, you should get a new belt, so it won't be dried out, worn, stretched, etc. for a while.

The other possibility could be a dirty tray limit switch, this is the switch that tells the cpu that the drawer is in open or close position. If it gets dirty or corroded, it can cause false triggering of the units drawer. You can find this switch usually under the drawer, but you'll have to remove the entire assembly to access it in most cases. If you can get to it, you can use some contact cleaner to make it work properly again, available at your local RS or equivalent.

Both are relatively simple problems that you could try to repair yourself. I'm pretty sure your problem is one of these two causes.