Tools Required

J 39916-A Audio System Diagnostic Kit

If you do not regularly clean the tape player, the tape player is subject to the following conditions:

Cassette tapes may not operate properly if they are not stored in their cases away from the following conditions:

Clean the cassette tape player every 15 hours of operation for optimum performance.

Clean the cassette tape player at a maximum of every 50 hours of playing time. This will prevent damage to the cassette tape player mechanism. The radio may display CLN, CLEAN or CLEAN TAPE (depending on the family of radio being used), if equipped with the Clean Tape Indicator Feature. This indicates that you have used the tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, clean the cassette tape player. The player will still play tapes, however the player should be cleaned as soon as possible in order to prevent damage to the tapes and/or the player.

Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, play a different cassette. A new cassette will indicate whether the tape or the tape player is at fault.

If the sound quality does not improve when the second tape is played, clean the cassette player. Perform this step regardless of when you last cleaned the cassette player.

If a noticeable improvement is not achieved after cleaning the player, remove the radio assembly for repair.

The following 2 components are cleaned on a tape player:

Important: Do not contact the tape head with magnetized tools. If the head becomes magnetized, every cassette played in the player will be degraded.

In order to properly clean a tape player, the preferred method would be to use the cleaning cassette in J 39916-A in order to clean the head and the capstan. The cleaning cassette is a scrubbing action, non abrasive cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. When using a scrubbing action, non abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject. The unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature and the cleaning cassette may appear as a broken tape.

To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, perform the following steps:

1. Turn the ignition switch to one of the following positions (depending on the vehicle line):

•

ON

•

RUN

•

ACC

•

ACCESSORY

2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE button for five seconds. The tape symbol on the display will flash for two seconds.
4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer's recommended cleaning time. When the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the Cut Tape Detection Feature is active again.

The alternative method would be to use a non scrubbing action, wet type cleaning cassette. This cassette uses a fabric belt to clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non scrubbing action cassette may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaning cassette. The use of this cassette is not recommended.

After you clean the player, press and hold the EJECT button for 5 seconds to reset the CLEAN indicator. The radio will display --- to show that the indicator has been reset.