A friend asked me to fix a Sanyo model VWM-360 VCR from the BPC-era because it has no audio. I have it connected to a TV via the line out jacks on the VCR and there is very faint audio, both with playing a tape and with a signal fed into the RF input. So, does anyone have any service information on this model or any service notes to a possible common problem? If I can't fix this easily, I'll suggest that he visit the local thrift store and pick up one of the many available BPC models that are usually under $10.

Is this a mono linear track audio model? If so, check the head and clean with denatured alcohol and a q-tip.
Then follow its audio leads to the board and verify all connections and cable are still good.

If you're not getting audio from tape playback or the tuner, it isn't dirty heads. A failed audio IC that does the PB-EE switching perhaps, or a component related to that circuit.

Probably the audio section needs to be recapped.

Check those electrolytic caps which are usually small values.I have a feeling that one or a couple went bad.