Let's not get started on the Aiwa mini system thing.... Anyway, the left tape deck jams after playing for a short time. The right one works fine. I was able to release the tape by removing the cover, manually tripping the cassette deck release, and then manually moving the cassette drive motor. (That last part is important because just tripping the release doesn't open the door.) The jamming process looks like this: the tape plays for a short time without producing sound. The drive mechanism then voices a clicking, straining death call. Black T-shaped levers go up and down, and it finally stops, waiting for a more intelligent being to rescue it. Sad, really.

Any clue what the problem is? How hard would it be to pirate a junked tape deck and put it in?

Ross Andrews, January 2005

I determined that it was a worn or stretched main drive belt. I found a local store that carries a wide selection of belts and got one about ¼ inch shorter and now it works great. When this problem happens the fix to get the tape out is. 1. Unplug machine. 2. Take off cover 3. Find the large drive wheel for that drive. 4. Besure you don't have any metal on you hands, rings etc. 5. Power up the unit and while it is clicking turn wheel clockwise as viewed from the back. (may have to repete) 6. when clicking stops you should be able to get out tape. ALWAYS BE VERY CAREFULL WHEN WORKING WITH ELECTRICITY For some reason the left tape is prone to this problem but the right is not.
Paul

Paul Bittner, October 2005

I fixed my Aiwa CX-NA888 tape jam, which had done exactly what you described your did -- making the no-sound, followed by clicking, followed by death. I jimmied open the door, removed the tape,which looked mangled but still in one piece. Then, comparing the tape wheel mechanism (sorry I don't have the correct terms) to the companion cassette that sits along side the broken one, i noticed that they looked exactly the same except the broken one was lower (because it was in play position). So I pressed down on it until it clicked into open position. Then I was able to close the door and have it click open again. I tested it with a tape and it worked. It worked for me but I'm not technically oriented, so I'm sorry if this doesn't help you.

Susie, January 2005