Question Hi. We have a Ford factory tapedeck radio in our 2001 Ford Escort. We bought the car @ about 1 year old. The problem is that the tapedeck one day started playing thtape wierd and then it wouldnt work at all.
Question: will cleaning the heads or demagnetizing fix this or is it going to be worse? If so how often should I do this process? Desperate, my wife would love me for it .
AnswerAs long as it is 'just' dirty, cleaning may actually fix it.
First of all, be sure there are no foreign objects in the tape transport area.
I would clean it manually using Q-tips™ and Isopropyl Alcohol the 1st time. Make sure you pay special attention to the 'transport area' {metal capstan pin(s) and pinch roller(s)} as well as the tape head, and do not stop cleaning until the roller(s) look new (that is, with no evidence of any dirt/oxides at all on the transport).
Once it is clean, (and if cleaning fixes it) you should use a good tape cleaning system like an Allsop system. I would use such a system every 15 hours of tape usem as preventive measure.
If cleaning it does not 'fix it, it may be in need of repair. However, it would very likely be more cost effective to replace a tape deck than to repair it.
I hope this aids you in getting that 'love' :)
Sincerely,
Jerry Mael
