Welcome to Beoworld !
I've lost count of how many times we've heard this story.
The repairer diagnoses the poor thing badly. Thinks the laser is at fault
and sends the Beocenter back with a note telling the owner that parts
cannot be found.
Plus a bill.
Admittedly, it does look like a laser fault at first glance but the truth is
that in the majority of cases with the exact symptoms you describe,
it's a matter of lack of current supplied to the laser diode.
But it does take a minimum of measuring (one voltage reading) inside the Beocenter.
This again requires the Beocenter to be opened and unfortunately it's not always
that this takes place when a repairer "diagnoses".
The laser is starved for power and cannot focus.
No focus = No reflection from the CD.
No reflection from the CD suggests no CD loaded.
No CD loaded = No play.
Sometimes, depending on the deck version and the exact fault, the CD will
spin a little before being rejected.
The faulty component(s) are almost always capacitors, cheap and available.
One of the capacitors need to be of an exact brand and type but a kit has been
put together (by me) for this and I would recommend you grab one
and send in together with the Beocenter for repairs.
The kit contains a handful of capacitors. Tell them to replace the lot and DON'T adjust anything.
In more than 95% of the cases, this will fix the fault.
Do a search on the forum pages and you will find lots more info.
The same fault occurs in a lot of different Beocenter and Beogram CD models
and it happens at an alarming rate these years.
Kits are available for a lot of the different CD decks used and if one
isn't available for your version, it can be made.
Martin
