Hi All,
I have DCR PC100 series of Mini DV Sony camcorder. It used to work fine, but from sometime I have noticed that it is busy with some activity, like even if it is switched off. After a minute or so ... it starts buzzing inside as if the cassette was moving, then I realized the compartment in which cassette is kept is always trying to come out. Like I put the cassette and push on correct place and the compartment goes in. Then I close the lid. After I close the lid the compartement does some movement inside and is ready to push cassette out, but it cannot as lid is closed. The moment I open the lid suddenly the cassette is thrown out. I tried it without empty compartment. Now the situation has become that I have to take out battery as soon as I put in the cassette. It does not do it everytime but something like 4 out of 5 times. Only 1 time is takes the cassette in and remains silent. Any suggesstions would be appreciated.

Thanx & regards
RoHitSaGaR

Sounds like you will have to repair the unit in the near future. :-( This is a real shot in the dark, but have you done a reset on the cam? You might try that first.

The repair would be certainly economically feasable as the newest version of your PC100 is the PC330 and it lists for around $1400. If you are actually leaning towards replacing the PC100 in the near future and you want to be able to use your extra batteries and memory sticks, now would be a good time to consider the PC330 as it is the only SONY 1 CCD consumer cam that would still take your current batteries and doesn't use the new memory stick DUO format. Since SONY is going to the new batteries and smaller memory stick DUOs in the HC line and the PC109, I fear that the PC330 might be the last PC series cam that accepts all the older (and better batteries and full-sized memory sticks I use with all my TRV cams and my PC101. This is all just my opinion and guess as to what any successor to the PC330 might be, but it's why I went ahead and bought a PC330. It uses all my current batteries, stand-alone SONY battery chargers, memory sticks, and various other PC101 and TRV80 accessories.

Chrystie

Yes I tried the reset thing many times but nothing good happened .... Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated .....

Check your manual; the trouble shoot has several references to cassette ejection and jamming problems, from such problems as moisture or incorrect/damaged battery and also the appropriate fixes. They may be pertinet to your case.

Good luck,
TS

I wish I had any suggesstions. Mine does the very exact same thing. The only way I found to get around it is when playing back I have to leave the lid open otherwise it goes into this self-possesed mode of trying to eject the tape. If I close the lid it won't even recognized DV-out to firewire.

I thought I was the only one.

Best,

pepe

Hi. I want to confirm that I am facing exactly the same problem for about six months and it seems to me that it is getting worse. Camera e.g. starts this 'internal rumoring and switching' now during playback or recording modus.
Whenever you found a solution, please post it in this forum, I will start inquiries as well.

I have the same issue. Also the camera will stop recording at times.
Any ideas as to what the issue is ?

It seems many have the problem but noone has the solution.
Just update here if someone has the solution, I am fed up with this problem.

regards

Yeah, I have this incesent problem as well. Would you have known it, I caught this behavior exactly as my extended warranty expired. Talk about a kick in the a$$. I believe it is a bad sensor on the hinge mechanism inside. The problem only happens when the "door" is even partialy closed. Those that are familar know the "click" when you have the "door" fully open, this is cause by a very small "stop" in one of the arm of the door. At this point the camcorder accepts the tape no problem. But when we even begin to close the door alittle the sensor is now active as to recogize if the user want to retrieve the tape again.

Essentially what happens is premature ejection! No laughing matter indeed.

I contacted Sony support and the found the same lousy article about make sure no foreign object is blocking the tape, try a new tape, etc.

I just wonder how well this issue is known, can this be fixed, how much?

Well I am going to inquire further, not sure if it is worth while to open the camcorder up and take a peek?

UPDATE!

Found something interesting here

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PC100/message/5015

It seems as there is a ribbin that ultimately begins to break and fail causing the insecent irritating problem!

Well if all that those recogise the begining statement, that is exactly what our units are doing with the compartment door closed, trying to eject. And for those that recognise the last statement, I too have experienced this where the unit conversly will not recognize that the compartment door is opened fully and will not eject the tape. Go figure.

You can scroll to the bottom to continue the thread there. But here is the end of the story, the guy did fix it himeself for $100 bucks, cheaper than Sony charging $300 flat rate.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PC100/message/5027

I am not a member of Yahoo, but is any of you guys do, please email this guy and tell him we are desperate for more information!

JACKPOT

Well almost, found service manual, and many others, big pdf file. Anyone interested post I will post back here with the link.

Files are all one click download for FREE! No info requested.

Sony service manuals and Panasonic, some others, sorry for it being limited but hey be glad.

Well I posted the service manuals in this forum so go looky if you want.

Also if you follow the other links as suggested by the other fella on yahoo, it is the fix, not a cheap one, but just some time on your part and $100 bucks for the part from sony. You can do it yourself. Sony wants $300. So save yourself $200 ;-)

It is not terribly difficult to do it your self, if you have the small tools, and have experience with small electronics, ribbins, connectors etc.

The biggest obstical is a small thin metal plate to help guid the ribbin on the door, this is just hanging on very loosly however it is just sandwiched in between the plastci shell and a metal rail, just a little gentle prying and it litteraly falls out.

Another obsticle is a battery, it is soldered on, you can use your original or order a new one (expensive) $20 bucks from sony. I also think you can omit the battery all together but everytime you remove the battery pack all your settings will be lost and you would have to simply reset them.

The programing date/time only last for another 10 years, but that will sufice me just fine to get another 5+ years for a $100 dollar repair :-)

oh yeah and when you take everything apart you will finnaly see the little door open/close sensor that is bugging out, unfortunately this is in combination with everything else, you can not just replace this one part, you have to replace practically all the guts on that side of the camcorder, it is all in one, the VTR, the wheel, the door sensor everything.

AND WATCH THE SCREWS, I used paper and drew/sketched the assemply and taped the screwes to the paper so as not to loose or misorder them.

Thanks a million!!!

I thought they were finally coming to take me away, when my old PC100 was sitting in front of me and suddenly started chiming and whirring and going on for a minute or so, even though it was off, there was no tape inside and only the battery connected.

Now I know I will have to replace it in the near future.

It took a while to find this forum, but now I'm glad I did. Cheers for now.

//AndyB