Page 1 of Panasonic DMR E55 problem

After a couple of years of faithful service my Panasonic DMR E55 machine is not reading discs.

The problem is with dvd ram and dvd-r blanks and recorded discs.

It is reading pre-recordeds fine.

The error message is `Cannot read. Please check the disk`

I`ve tried powering off for 15 mins but that hasn`t helped.

Is there a known problem? Can anyone suggest anything?

I`ve thought about trying to clean inside but as it is reading pre-recs I doubt that is the problem.

There is a known PSU problem with both the E55 and E85, but you usually find the machine gets stuck in "Self Check".

Have a look at the AV Forums there is about four threads about the PSU issue. Yours might not have the same issue and the repair might not sort it, but it`s worth a read.

Thanks Fred. I`ll have a look.

Well, I`ve got it working again :D

In case anyone else has the same `no read` error this is what I did.

I took the top off and listened to the loading mechanism and laser. It sounded jerky and a bit clunky after the disc loaded and it didn`t seem to be spinning up fast enough.

I unscrewed the 4 screws which secure the top of the disc loading mechanism and eased it up. There`s a bit that protrudes forward which had to be gently pulled back to release it.

This gave me access to the spindle and laser.

I could see some yellow (silicone?) grease on the 2 parallel tracks on which the laser assembly rides and I smoothed that around a bit on the tracks with a cotton bud.

With a clean cotton bud I gently wiped the laser (power switched off of course).

I had a hoover out of some of the dust near the fan, which rarely seems to kick in.

Then I re-assembled. Powered up and bingo. All working fine (fingers crossed) and sounding a lot quieter. :D

Not to raise the dead but I just tried did the same thing to a panasonic DMR-EZ47V after reading this, it was just saying no read and please check disk.... and tada fixed!