Problem with my Sony ES DVD player (1 Viewer)

[JJR512]

I have a Sony DVP-S9000ES that I bought secondhand from another HTF member (I can't remember his name). The player worked fine for months, but now it doesn't play anything at all. It gives a Disc Error message, after taking a minute or two to try to read the disc. This actually happened several months ago, and I haven't done anything about it yet, but I'd like to get the player working again. If I recall correctly, this problem didn't just suddenly start, but built up over a few days. It started with taking a longer than usual amount of time to start playing a disc, and not being able to read some, to not being able to read more, to finally not being able to read anything at all. I did get into the service menu but couldn't discern anything meaningful to me. I did try to realign the player, where it asks you to insert a particular type of disc (like a dual-layer disc) so it knows what it's looking for when it tries to realign itself, but even that failed.

What should I do at this point? I don't know for sure, but I fear that getting it repaired by Sony might cost as much as buying a new Sony DVD player w/ progressive scan and component outputs. There are some pretty inexpensive ones out now, although not on the same level as an ES, of course. Should I try a lens cleaning disc? Could I try to open the unit and clean it manually, or see if somehow there's some kind of obstruction in there (I have a 3-yr. old boy, so it's plausible)? Should I take it somewhere for service, and if so, should it be a Sony authorized repair center? Where would I take it (I live near Baltimore, MD--Glen Burnie, to be exact)? Is there something someone here can try to take me through with the service menu?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Jack Briggs]

Yes, I'd take that 9000ES to a Sony-authorized repair center and have them fix it. And afterwards, do everything possible to make sure your three-year-old cannot get to the machine.

 

[Cary]

You can take it to a Sony repair facility and get them to diagnose the problem for you. It's usually a set fee of $30 or so. If the problem is the laser assembly itself, it's going to be a couple of hundred dollars, so I think you would be finding a new player for yourself. If it's a cleaning or something cheap, then let them do it. I doubt you're going to find the problem by opening up the box yourself.