COMMON ISSUES AND FIXES
Tape Won't Eject
Problem: VHS tape is jammed inside the VCR and will not eject.
Potential Solution: Dislodge the tape.
1. Gently push on tape. Push the slot door open on the VCR and carefully press onto the exposed side of the cassette.
2. Press Eject. Press the Stop/Eject button on the front of the VCR. The VCR will successfully eject the VHS tape if dislodged.
3. Repeat Steps 1 & 2. If the VHS tape is still stuck and does not eject, attempt to unjam it again by pushing on the tape and pressing eject.
Caution: If the cassette does not eject after multiple attempts, contact a professional. Do not try to remove the VHS tape yourself, as it may damage the VCR or cassette.
Potential Solution: Dislodge the tape.
1. Gently push on tape. Push the slot door open on the VCR and carefully press onto the exposed side of the cassette.
2. Press Eject. Press the Stop/Eject button on the front of the VCR. The VCR will successfully eject the VHS tape if dislodged.
3. Repeat Steps 1 & 2. If the VHS tape is still stuck and does not eject, attempt to unjam it again by pushing on the tape and pressing eject.
Caution: If the cassette does not eject after multiple attempts, contact a professional. Do not try to remove the VHS tape yourself, as it may damage the VCR or cassette.
Unwound VHS Tape
Problem: VHS tape is loose or unwound from the spools.
Potential Solution: Manually wind the tape. 1. Flip the cassette upside-down. While holding the tape, turn the cassette so that the top is facing downwards- exposing the bottom of the two white spools. 2. Hold the flap open. Use one hand to hold the flap open on the front of the cassette. 3. Rotate the spool. Using the free hand, rotate the right spool clockwise or the left spool counter clockwise to wind the tape back onto the spool. [5] Caution: It may be difficult to rotate the spools by hand, however, tools may damage the inside of the spools if not used carefully. |
Audio/Video Signal Not Working
Problem: Audio or video signal is not working correctly or at all.
Potential Solution A: Check TV and VCR cable connection.
1. Examine VCR connection. Check to make sure that the video and audio cables are inserted correctly and into the VCR. Push on the connection to ensure the cables are not loose or partially inserted. 2. Examine TV connection. Check the video and audio cable connection into the TV and similarly double-check that they are properly and fully inserted. 3. Examine cables. Check along the length of the audio and video cables for any external damage. If possible, test the cables with another connection that already works. [5] Note: If the connection between the TV and VCR appears correct and the audio or video signal is still not working, attempt the other possible solutions as needed. |
Potential Solution B: Check input source.
1. Examine the input of the TV connection. Identify the necessary input of the TV by following the VCR cables to the TV. Often, the input is labeled near the connection of the audio and video cables. 2. Press input on the TV. Select the correct input source by repeatedly pressing input on the television. Note: If the television is already on the right input source, it is likely an issue with the VCR or VHS cassette. If the audio or video signal does not work after attempting all other solutions, contact a professional to identify the root of the problem. |
Potential Solution C: Clean the VCR and VHS cassette.
1. Remove dust from VCR with compressed air. While holding open the VCR slot, spray bursts of air into the VCR to remove excess dust. 2. Clean VCR with a Head Cleaner. Insert a head cleaner cassette into the VCR and press the Play/Pause button to begin cleaning. Press Stop/Eject button twice after a few minutes to remove the head cleaner. 3. Remove dust from VHS Cassette with compressed air. Similar to the VCR, spray short, but lighter, bursts of air underneath the flap of the VHS cassette. Note: It is recommended to clean the VCR after 20-30 hours of use. Caution: Cleaning the VCR with a head cleaner more often than recommended can wear out the head unit in the VCR. [1] |
[1] S. Goldwasser. (2000). Keeping Your VCR Happy [Online Article]. Available FTP: http://search.proquest.com/docview/204769152?accountid=2
[A] M. Burrell. (2013). Unwound VHS Tape [Image]. Available FTP: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/E03H27/black-vhs-tape-unwound-isolated-on-white-background-E03H27.jpg
[B] Instructables. (2015). VHS Cassette Bottom [Image]. Available FTP: http://cdn.instructables.com/F4Y/87O9/H5ED87VS/F4Y87O9H5ED87VS.LARGE.jpg
[A] M. Burrell. (2013). Unwound VHS Tape [Image]. Available FTP: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/E03H27/black-vhs-tape-unwound-isolated-on-white-background-E03H27.jpg
[B] Instructables. (2015). VHS Cassette Bottom [Image]. Available FTP: http://cdn.instructables.com/F4Y/87O9/H5ED87VS/F4Y87O9H5ED87VS.LARGE.jpg