Repairing Pioneer PD X550 CD Player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Jenka123 · 9th Nov 2017, 12:53 pm

This is part of our ancient Pioneer HiFi system (probably at least 25 years old!). The CD disk spins but does not read. We have tried blowing out the dust and then cleaning the laser with a rubber on the end of a pencil but it still does not work! Is there anything else that we can try or should we be looking at a replacement. If the latter, should we buy second-hand Pioneer or go for something new?

AndiiT · 9th Nov 2017, 4:38 pm

Hi, from memory a common fault with Pioneer CD players manufactured in the mid 1990's was failure of the spindle motor, although the motor will spin it does not do so fast enough for the disc to be read. This may be the problem with your unit, unfortunately I'm not sure if motors can still be obtained.

Regards

Andrew

duncanlowe · 9th Nov 2017, 6:18 pm

There was another issue with Pioneer units around that time. In fact I repaired mine from some info on a newsgroup called repairfaq.org. Mine had a specific problem. The disc would spin up then stop then spin up again seemingly now too fast. After watching it a few times I noticed the second spin was in reverse. The fault was caused by cracks in the tracks of the white flexi cable between the head assembly and the main board. It must have been reasonably common for the exact problem to have a solution on in what was those days a fairly limited internet.

9th Nov 2017, 12:53 pm	#1
Jenka123 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 1	Repairing Pioneer PD X550 CD Player This is part of our ancient Pioneer HiFi system (probably at least 25 years old!). The CD disk spins but does not read. We have tried blowing out the dust and then cleaning the laser with a rubber on the end of a pencil but it still does not work! Is there anything else that we can try or should we be looking at a replacement. If the latter, should we buy second-hand Pioneer or go for something new?

9th Nov 2017, 4:38 pm	#2
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Repairing Pioneer PD X550 CD Player Hi, from memory a common fault with Pioneer CD players manufactured in the mid 1990's was failure of the spindle motor, although the motor will spin it does not do so fast enough for the disc to be read. This may be the problem with your unit, unfortunately I'm not sure if motors can still be obtained. Regards Andrew

9th Nov 2017, 6:18 pm	#3
duncanlowe Nonode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK. Posts: 2,532	Re: Repairing Pioneer PD X550 CD Player There was another issue with Pioneer units around that time. In fact I repaired mine from some info on a newsgroup called repairfaq.org. Mine had a specific problem. The disc would spin up then stop then spin up again seemingly now too fast. After watching it a few times I noticed the second spin was in reverse. The fault was caused by cracks in the tracks of the white flexi cable between the head assembly and the main board. It must have been reasonably common for the exact problem to have a solution on in what was those days a fairly limited internet.