SC-816 tape player keeps reversing, won't play cassette

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 12 Oct 2018, 10:56

My OEM Volvo Radio stopped playing cassettes last week. It just keeps reversing. Since they are so easy to remove, I was thinking maybe this would be a good time to pull it and see if I could clean it or something. Any ideas what causes the tapes to keep reversing even when no buttons are pushed?

I also have lightbulbs out on the left side of the unit, are these available? I like to get this thing up to pace thanks.

Post by **scot850** » 12 Oct 2018, 17:00

Yes the bulbs are still available, can't recall part number or type. There used to be a how-to on here to replace the bulbs.

Normally when the unit reverses it is because it has an auto-reverse feature which operate on tension like when the tape gets to the end. If it is doing that then it may just need a good clean. If not the junkyards are full of them usually. On sale here they are $15 on the 50% off sale.

If you need another I'm sure someone here will sell you one they have lying around. Worst case, I have a spare with code. Shipping is the issue. If you want it PM me with your Zip Code and I can work out shipping to see if it works for you.

Neil.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 12 Oct 2018, 17:11

Radio Light Bulb Replacement Instructions - SC-815, SC-816, SC-813, SC-715, S70, V70, 850, 960, S90, V90

Post by **matthew1** » 12 Oct 2018, 18:55

Also here: SC 816 bulb replacement.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 13 Oct 2018, 01:16

You have a broken belt in the tape drive.
Since there’s no tape movement, it just
keeps thinking that it’s reached the end
of that side and continually autoreverses.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 13 Oct 2018, 18:36

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 14 Oct 2018, 10:54

So - I went to the junk yard yesterday and pull an SC-816. Got the code from Volvo, plugged it in and all the lightbulbs work! Really nice to see the full illumination and not just the lower right corner light up like my old one. CD player and radio work fine, but on this new one, when I put a tape in, it will not even lower it into the deck.

So now I have two Sc816s, both with broken cassette decks lol. I ordered some belts on eBay to try to fix the other one, but what is usually the cause when the deck will not even accept a tape? The tape fits in, it’s not like there is a stone in there or something, but it just will not read it or lower it.

If I get the tape deck working in my other one, can I swap the deck into the new radio I got that has all the bulbs working?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 14 Oct 2018, 11:13

Probably. I haven’t been into an 816, but nearly
all of Alpine’s products have modular cassette drives.
It’s usually just a few screws and a couple of connectors
and that sucker will swap right out.r

And while it’s easy to reach, get a little
Everclear and some q-tips and clean up
the tape head.

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 26 Oct 2018, 07:16

Well I have to say these radios are quite well built. Not sure why anyone would be in a rush to swap them out with a $150 radios from Walmart with big flashy dials, but to each his own I guess.

I completely disassembled mine last week. I like how all the screws are the same size, well all but four from the rear panel that I ended up not needing to remove anyway.

Once I dug all the way down and got the tape deck removed, there was the broken drive belt on the lower circuit board. I had gotten a mixed bag of cassette belts for a few dollars online. Thanks to RSPI, who posted the video showing the belt routing, I managed to get a belt on, get it back together and I can confirm that the deck is now working again.

One issue though...since two of my three faceplate bulbs were dead, I removed all of them and replaced them in different sockets, operating under the assumption that perhaps some corrosion had gotten between the connectors and that switching them around might get all of them working again. Well, no luck. I now have no faceplate illumination other than the display light. I guess I could swap the faceplate with the other SC-816 I pulled from the junkyard as and keep everything left over for parts.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 26 Oct 2018, 08:25

Sounds like you’re on the right track!
I’m with you on the stock deck. Alpine
was building sturdy units for Volvo.
But the draw of the BT side is strong...

One other tape tip. Before you close it up,
drop a high quality prerecorded tape in and
you can align the head for best performance.

Find the adjustment screw on one side of the
head, and listen to the high frequencies while
the deck is playing. Adjust for the highest
treble response and you’re dialed in.

Now get an SC-901 !