Whats wrong with my VCR??
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
United States
October 31, 2008 1:45am CST
ive had it for a year and used it every day and i thought that the 1 tape i had been using to tape a daily program over and over was being worn out because the sound would make a funky noise every once in awhile so i changed tapes and every since i have not been able to watch any videos because the screen keeps scrolling or static etc.. could my vcr heads be dirty already??! why did it go from perfectly fine to not usable by switching the tape??
what can i do to help it?? i dont know how to work my other vcr and i cant miss out on my show 
its a tv/vcr/dvd combo so i cant take it apart and i dont have a heads cleaner..
its a tv/vcr/dvd combo so i cant take it apart and i dont have a heads cleaner.. 2 people like this
3 responses
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
31 Oct 08
investing in a head cleaner is a must eventually. have you tried adjusting the Tracking while the tape is playing? somewhere either on the remote or the vcr itself that should be something that says "Tracking" with a +,- sign..play with it a bit and see if you can fix the image.
umm..i just re-read your post and you say its a tv/vcr/dvd combo...shoot, i dont know if those have a manual tracking adjustment..but look for it just in case.
and actually the vcr heads can get dirty pretty easy. if a part of the tape you are using has a bit of oil from your fingers or just plain weird dirty that magically got there..that can transfer to the heads and affect every tape you put in there.
also check the user manual if you still have it, very likely there is something under Troubleshooting that might help.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
31 Oct 08
i tried the tracking and it wont clear it up.. at best it stops skipping for a few seconds sigh.. do you think that it could just be dirty heads and a clean will fix it?? i really dont have the money for a professional to do it or to waste on a kit if its a long shot 
hmm ill have to see if i can find the manual.. they tend to disappear in this house after awhile
hmm ill have to see if i can find the manual.. they tend to disappear in this house after awhile@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
31 Oct 08
dang i was hoping it would be the tracking lol! i THINK that vcr head cleaners are under $10. course its been awhile since ive bought one. it sure does sound like you might have some gunk on the heads though. mind you, im no expert of course.
yeah..manuals never seem to make a permanent home in my place either! they get put in the "manual drawer" and then when i need them, i discover they have migrated..quite possibly fled the country lol!
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
7 Nov 08
funny i have a manual drawer too!! yeah i was hoping it was the tracking too and i was hoping that it would record ok but play crappy only on that one but it screwed up the recording too so it played crappy on the other vcr i have which i have no idea how to program to record anything which is why the broken one was used sigh.. i cant remember how much head cleaners are either.. my family used to buy them in the 80s i think and i cant remember how much they were then but i never thought i would need one.. and right now 5 bucks is 5 bucks too much.. money sucks bad here!!
and i was hoping that it would record ok but play crappy only on that one but it screwed up the recording too so it played crappy on the other vcr i have which i have no idea how to program to record anything which is why the broken one was used sigh.. i cant remember how much head cleaners are either.. my family used to buy them in the 80s i think and i cant remember how much they were then but i never thought i would need one.. and right now 5 bucks is 5 bucks too much.. money sucks bad here!!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
7 Nov 08
Well, it could well be a dirty tape head that is causing the problem.
Try getting one of those off the shelf tape head cleaner and see if will resolve the problem or not.
Otherwise, a visit from the repair man may be due.
If the VCR is still under warranty, bring it down to them to get the problem fixed.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
7 Nov 08
Well, check your waranty to see if you can backdate it such that you still can call for service.
If not make a lot of noise at the customer service if the due date for the warranty is just a few days, or a few weeks from the date stated in the card.
I mean, how can you make the device that breaks exactly after the warranty has expired. Try to bulldose your way to getting some service. Even if you have to pay, at least it would be cheaper than if you call a repair man on your own. :p
I know it is a naughty way to work things out. But it is a truth. Most things would break just after the warranty expire. I would never accept it this way. So call the company up. Make some enquiries. Bang some tables if you have to. 
*looks left... looks right... * Just don't tell them that I taught you this. 
*looks left... looks right... * Just don't tell them that I taught you this. 1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
7 Nov 08
i think it was a year warranty and lucky me broke right after the year.. i will have to see if i can find the papers/manuals and see if maybe im wrong.. i hope so
1 person likes this
@mercuryman3a (2477)
• India
7 Nov 08
You should get ehhead cleaned. infacr after running the tape a few rtimes you must run the head cleaner tape. One way to clean thehead is by removing the cover and when the tape runs, side e new dollar bill between the head and the tape at the edge fir a few moments. The crisp dollar bill absorbs all teh moisture and the grime sticking to the head and the head gets clean. Try it out.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
7 Nov 08
sounds great but its a dvd/vcr/tv so its huge and i wouldnt be able to reach it.. but i will keep that in my mind for my other vcr if it acts up
