iFixit - Answers With Device "VCR"

VCR: Why is the sound not working on my VCR/DVD combo?

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:11:58 -0700

I recently got a VCR/DVD combo and the audio doesn’t work. I’ve cleaned the inputs with alcohol, but that didn’t work. The picture works for it, and the dvd part works perfectly. I plan on getting a cleaning vhs, but want to know if there’s any other ideas. Model: Philips DVD/VCR DVP3340V/17

⟐ Commented March 07, 2026 at 18:11 MST

VCR: VCR loads and then ejects tape. Guide rollers dont move

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:39:31 -0700

I can insert the tape and the loading works perfectly fine. I checked the belt and it’s in tact and everything. I can use the eject button but the forward and reverse do not work. Along with that the tape doesn’t play. I insert it and then a couple seconds later it ejects. The guide rollers move with a lot of force about halfway up but not fully. Without force and just automatically with a tape they move maybe a half centimeter. The gears for them seem to move so I dont know if it’s a blockage. Any ideas?

⟐ Commented October 15, 2025 at 20:39 MST

VCR: quasar vh420 VCR receiving power, but not turning on

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 02:23:58 -0700

Sometimes when I plug it in I get a power light, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it also gives me a light on the VCR button. but it never turns on. I opened power supply and didn’t notice any burnt capacitors or broken fuses, so i’m curious if anyone has an idea of what to try

⟐ Edited March 11, 2025 at 2:23 MST

Panasonic Omnivision VCRplus: How can I (first) get the menu page to appear?

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:02:07 -0700

I can't call up the menu page with Action or any other button.

⟐ Answered March 07, 2025 at 20:02 MST

VCR: What bit do I need for this security screw?

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:49:03 -0700

Hello I am facing an issue when trying to open a VHS that is moldy that needs to be cleaned.

The screw looks as follows (It is hard to take a decent photo off)

The screw it self looks round with a dent in the middle.

VCR: Why is my VCR not feeding tapes correctly?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:05:12 -0700

My VCR (Samsung dvd4600-c) spills tapes for a few seconds and then rewinds and stops. The band on the bottom is still tight and the idle gear doesn’t look cracked or worn. What else could be causing it?

Video attached shows issue.

⟐ Commented December 19, 2024 at 14:05 MST

VCR: Rare GE 500X2 Repair Help!

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:52:48 -0700

Please see attached videos for problem!

I apologize for my voice, I just had throat surgery Tuesday!

Thank you in advance!

VCR: Tape is stick in machine.

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:19:46 -0700

O have a VHS tape stuck in my VCR.

Panasonic Omnivision VCRplus: Video is stuck inside machine

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:51:23 -0700

Put a video cassette tape in and it’s stuck

⟐ Answered June 06, 2024 at 8:51 MST

VCR: My quasar vhq-960 is shutting off

Thu, 02 May 2024 09:54:14 -0700

When I insert a tape into my machine it starts spinning like it's gonna play then it just stops and turns off

VCR: My empty tape only recorded audio

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:39:41 -0700

I had a personal project where I wanted to record something on VHS from my computer. I have a Philips VR 605.

I managed to use an HDMI converter to input my monitor onto the VCR, and play it from my AV1 Channel. I actually managed to see my desktop and hear my video from the tv, when I switched to Program E3 with the VCR buttons.

I played my video from the windows media player, and pressed record.

but playing back the tape, I only hear the sound from my computer, there's no video.

Does this mean the video record function is broken?.

I was really really close, so I'd love all the help I can get.

⟐ Edited January 12, 2024 at 20:39 MST

VCR: Pioneer video super VHS

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:29:23 -0700

Why won’t my tape eject out of my player?

⟐ Commented August 28, 2023 at 17:29 MST

VCR: Left tape guide does not work on Toshiba SD-391U

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:53:35 -0700

The left tape guide is very loose and does not come to the top of the drum. I do not know what could have caused this, probably from the mechanism. The best I can do is force it, but even that does not work. Any help?

⟐ Commented April 15, 2023 at 8:53 MST

VCR: Upon inserting tape, play, 4 seconds No Signal and blue screen

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 21:53:52 -0700

Magnovox DVD/VHS combo:DV22OMW9, after a few seconds No Signal appears on the Blue TV screen. From where it stops, and rewind in play mode, you see the movie, just backwards. I've cleaned, still does it.

VCR: My Sony VCR won't power on

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 08:25:43 -0700

I have a Sony combo DVD / VCR (SLV-D360P) so I can digitize some old VHS tapes. I got through one or two tapes just fine. When I put in the third one, it was part way through the video already, so I stopped it and pressed rewind. As it was getting close to the end, it started squeaking. I thought it was just the tape making noise. Eventually it stopped and froze up. None of the buttons would do anything so I ended up unplugging it from the power.

I let it sit for a while and now when I plug it back in nothing happens. No lights, no blinking 12:00, no anything. I took the top off and saw that there was a fuse in there. I removed the fuse and grabbed a multi-meter that I don't really know how to use. I set it to the Omega icon and touched it to the fuse and I did get numbers so that seems to mean the fuse is okay. The tape is outside the housing and wrapped around the various parts like it was trying to play when it died. I have no idea what to do next.

I took some photos and uploaded them to Onedrive in case anyone sees anything here that looks like a bad part or something.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Anw56nEH2SfbiKcN2G24...

Anyway, thanks for any help. Might need to go pay a visit to the local Salvation Army or something.

VCR: How do I take apart my vhs?

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 07:58:41 -0700

I was ripping some home videos when one of my vhs players wouldn’t eject the tape. When I manually removed it, I noticed the door didn’t close all the way. so after some more disassembly, I saw that the gear system for the eject function is stuck. I Tried to take it apart to free it up, but this vhs player is built weird and I can’t figure out how to proceed without breaking anything. My model is a JVC Pro-cision 19 Plug & Play.

⟐ Commented January 26, 2022 at 7:58 MST

VCR: My tape won’t load?

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 09:16:55 -0700

My Magnavox ZV420MW8 won’t accept a tape. I’ll start to insert it but it stops and won’t move past halfway. I think it’s something to do with the loading arm on the right hand side- it appears to be stuck. There’s a small metal piece that’s in the way, and when I lift it, I can slide the tape a little bit further before it catches again. Could there be a piece that broke and is missing?

VCR: VHS Tape will not play and machine cuts off with "No Signal Found"

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 20:29:10 -0700

Emerson EWD2204 VCR/DVD Combo. The VCR part does not play VHS tapes. I put in a tape and after a couple seconds the machine cuts off and I get the message "No Signal Found". Any ideas about what the problem may be?

VCR: Why does my VCR not ouput either the menu or any video on screen?

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 12:43:38 -0700

I had video output until I took it apart to replace a dry - rotted drive belt. Had used some Goo -Gone to clean up all the greasy residue. Put unit back together , now rolls the tape and so forth, but now won’t display anything on screen. Also no sound. No output to TV at all. Can’t get the AV on my TV to detect the machine at all now, though my other VCR will show up on my set hooked up the same way as this one, which had worked before I took it apart. Took it apart because it wasn’t playing, just shutting off after a few seconds, not ejecting properly, and leaving the tape unwound inside the machine that I had to work out of the opening. Mechanically it now works fine after replacing the belt, but no video output,no menu or blue screen. Thanks.

⟐ Commented November 05, 2020 at 12:43 MST

VCR: Just happened, image has become static garbage

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 03:39:44 -0700

DSE 6 Head Nicam/A2 Hi-Fi Stero G1681

I have recently returned to the joys of watching VHS. I have been using this machine for 5 moths without any problems. I had taken it apart and cleaned out dust and heads etc about two months ago.

Have been using it more and more frequently, then last time I tried to play a video all I got was a brief moment of static and then black screen.

I tried a couple of other tapes that I have watched to make sure and I get the same thing.

I do get little burts of audio sometimes while the taoe plays but thats also missing 99% of the time.

I tried other cables and all sockets are firm.

I cleaned heads.

I have opened machine, visual check of parts, no dodgy looking capacitors, and a tape loading and playing.

Always same thing.

I'm lost..any ideas would be appreciated.