Do-it-yourself DVD Player Repair: What To Do If The Player Won't Turn On Or Won't Read Discs + Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

DIY DVD player repair

If your DVD player is broken, you don't have to throw it away or take it to a workshop and pay money for repairs. You can disassemble and even repair the device yourself.

Content

• 1 The structure and principle of operation of the DVD player

  • 1.1 Processor
  • 1.2 Laser reading head
  • 1.3 Spindle drive electric motor
  • 1.4 Driver
• 2 Is it possible to repair yourself

• 3 If the player does not turn on

  3.1 How to ring a wire

• 4 If discs cannot be read

  • 4.1 Head failure

    • 4.1.1 Clear on video
    • 4.1.2 Replacing the laser head

  • 4.2 Failure of the connecting loop

    4.2.1 Loop recovery on video

  • 4.3 Engine malfunction

    4.3.1 Replacing DVD Drive with Video

• 5 If the tray does not open

  5.1 Cleaning, lubrication, belt replacement

• 6 If the player does not see the USB flash drive
• 7 Is it possible to flash a DVD player
• 8 Complex breakdowns

The device and principle of operation of the DVD-player

The player consists of a case with a tray for loading a disc. On the front panel of the case there are: a status display, buttons for controlling the player, on some models there may be connectors for connecting a microphone, headphones, flash drives. Everything inside the case is much more interesting.

Briefly about the main components of the device.

CPU

This is the main element of the player. It consumes electricity from a switching power supply.

Laser reading head

It is used to read information from the carrier. A wide flexible ribbon cable connects the reading head to the main board. All disc media have an installation track required for proper operation. It is located in the center. When a disc is loaded, the laser moves to the center to read this track. If the reading is successful, the presence of the disc is established, and only after that the rotation motor is turned on and the disc begins to play.

Spindle drive electric motor

The motor communicates with the processor through the driver. The rotation speed of the disk depends on the signals from the processor.

Driver

This is a microcircuit that receives commands from the processor and controls the operation of the spindle drive motor, laser lens focusing coil, laser reader movement motor, tray loading and unloading motor.

DVD player circuit

Is it possible to repair yourself

“How many devices and wires! I'd better take it to the workshop! you say in horror, clutching your head. But! Don't rush to waste your money. There are some breakdowns that can be easily identified and repaired with a conventional screwdriver.

If the player does not turn on

There could be many reasons for this. Let's consider the most basic and common ones. Remove the cover of the player and diagnose the power cord for internal damage. To test the operation of the multimeter, turn it on in resistance measurement mode. We connect the probes to each other. If the device is working properly, then the display will show zeros. We attach the open probes to the cord. One probe to the cable contact at the junction with the board, the other alternately to one of the plug contacts. If the ohmmeter gives out up to 3 ohms, the core is undamaged. If more, then there is a break in the core and the cord must be replaced. If the multimeter does not respond in any way, then the contact on the plug and on the opposite end does not belong to the same wire of the electrical wire. It is not recommended to use the multimeter in dial mode, as it works in the range from 0 to several hundred ohms. The next step is to inspect for dust and swollen condensers. We remove dust, change capacitors. If no visual faults are found and the replacement of the wire does not change the situation, take the player to a workshop.

The video below shows how the multimeter works.

How to ring a wire

If discs cannot be read

Let's consider the main causes of breakdown and how to deal with them.

Head malfunction

Reasons: the laser head is dirty or the laser is out of order.

The contaminated head is blown out with compressed air using a conventional rubber bulb. The objective lens is wiped with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol. Do not use solvents. You need to wipe it very gently with light movements. If cleaning is not sufficient, the head must be replaced.

Cleaning on video

Replacing the laser head

Malfunction of the connecting loop

The train often breaks at the folds. We disassemble the player in the same way as when servicing the laser head. Carefully pull out the cable from the plugs. We examine. If there are visible tears along the edges, and you do not want to completely change the train, we make preliminary repairs. We cut off the place of damage with scissors. Remove the insulation layer with a knife or blade so as not to break the metal strips. If it doesn't work out neatly, you can try to remove the insulation with a medical needle or zero sandpaper. The width of the removed layer should be the same as that of the cut piece of the train. Remove the blue plastic end plate from the trim and similarly glue it to the updated edge of the cable using super glue.

Loop recovery on video

Now, when visually the train seems to be intact, we call its contacts. We attach one probe to the contact from one end, and the other one by one to all contacts from the other end. We do the same on the other side of the train. Each contact should call with one contact on the other side. If a contact rings with several, then there is a short circuit in the loop. If the contact does not call with any other, then the loop is open. And in fact, and in another case, the cable is not subject to use. It needs to be replaced.

Engine malfunction

If the motor rotates unevenly or does not rotate, then it must be replaced together with the attachment.

Replacing a DVD engine with video

If the tray does not open

When the cover of the player is removed, plug it in and press the eject button. Since the tray itself is not able to slide out, you need to push it slightly. But do it carefully so as not to get an electric shock. The cover will slide out and disconnect the player from the network. We take a stick with wound cotton and moisten it with alcohol. We wipe the tray rails. Push the button. If the problem is not fixed, unscrew the necessary screws, remove the strips, plastic covers and get to the belt.

belt dvd drive

Change the belt and collect everything back. The video below shows a detailed replacement of the computer drive belt. We work in the same way in the DVD player.

Cleaning, lubrication, belt replacement

If the player does not see the USB flash drive

Most flash drives are natively NTFS format. You need to insert the USB flash drive into your computer, copy the necessary information to your hard drive, right-click on the USB flash drive and select "Format". Next, select the FAT 32 format, agree that all data will be lost and click ok. If the DVD still does not see the USB flash drive, then the problem is in the electronics: the microcircuits may be damaged or the power supply in the wires or cables is interrupted. It is worth contacting professionals.

Is it possible to flash a DVD player

Updating your device won't get you all the trouble. The player can be Russified with the firmware. It will produce larger films, and errors in reading supported formats will be eliminated. But the player will not be able to read formats that were not previously supported. Therefore, if the device works without lags, do not update it.

In order to find out if it is possible to flash your DVD player, you need to carefully read the device model on the back cover. Go to the manufacturer's official website and see the firmware for this model. If they exist, then download the latest version to your computer, burn it to CD. We start the disc in the player. When the update is finished, the start-up screen appears on the TV or player screen and the disc tray automatically pops out.

Complex breakdowns

In addition to problems that can be fixed by any user who knows how to work with a screwdriver and pliers, there are no less common, but more complex problems:

• display backlight does not work;
• distorted sound;
• there is no picture and sound;
• no picture or sound;
• the "karaoke" mode does not work;
• there is no color image;
• complex mechanical damage, including water ingress;
• breakdown of the power controller;
• failure of microcircuits.

All of them require the ability to read electrical circuits, the presence of special devices, soldering stations. If you are not a radio technician, then it is better to turn to professionals.

There are many DVD player manufacturers. The principle of operation and the main elements of the devices are the same. Therefore, the repair of turntables from different manufacturers is similar. If you have a desire to try to repair the player yourself, go for it. Perhaps you will succeed, and you can help your friends another time. Or maybe you will like it so much that you will be engaged in radio engineering and open your own business.