Symphonic tv vcr combo won’t stay on - Videokarma.org TV - Video

DonCarlos · #1 07-04-2026, 11:48 AM

https://youtube.com/shorts/a0-JeM5BA...PYcTKo2LX99fgL

I’ve been trying to figure out why my tv turns off after turning it on. Im not seeing any bad resistors or capacitors. (I know very little) I’ve been using my meter to check to and they all seem to be good. But I did realize the belt is doing this. I can turn the big gear by hand fine. Could this be the reason my tv keeps turning off? It worked fine until I tried cleaning the rca jacks cause they weren’t working. They still don’t work but I’ve resolder them cause I thought I might have cracked the solder but still nothing

liammc00 · #2 07-04-2026, 03:01 PM

The VCR is going in emergency shutdown and that can becaused by many things. In your case I expect the mechanism is out of time as one tooth out can cause problem. A belt slipping cold cause problems. Check to see if the loading motor runs and the belt moves. Also a tip before you put it back together clean the mode switch as preventive maintenance as they get dirty and will give trouble sooner or later. Just clean the switch with contact cleaner and if you have some dielectric grease put a little bit in switch but that is optional the grease it's just what I do.

DonCarlos · #3 07-04-2026, 04:59 PM

Thanks for the info! I’ve already cleaned the mode switch, I have new belts coming In the mail. I’ll have to take the vcr top off and make sure the gears are in time. There should be points as to where they line up right? The loading motor runs but the belt doesn’t move. So maybe your right about it being out of time, I don’t think it’s jammed cause I can turn the big gear through a whole cycle pretty smoothly

Blast · #4 07-05-2026, 08:02 AM

I see a motor trying to move a belt and I hear a sizzling sound. The sound could be coming from the TV portion and could be normal so I'll let the noise slide for now.

Back to the motor. It appears to me that system control believes that it's time for a motor to load a tape, so what happens if you push a tape at it as it tries to do so? Will the tape go in? Tell us what happens from that point.

Also, what's the model number of the subject? I'll look and see if I have any history on it, or its ilk.

Brian

redk9258 · #5 07-05-2026, 10:24 AM

Does the TV work without the VCR section? Could be multiple issues. I would make sure the TV works first before messing with the VCR section. Maybe the power supply has some high ESR caps?

DonCarlos · #6 07-05-2026, 11:45 AM

It will occasionally take a tape try and play then shut off. It seems like I have to give the big loading gear a little bit of a turn then it will take the tape. It does not eject the tapes I have to turn the loading gear by hand to get the tape out. If I try and put a tape in with tv off it will not take the tape. Model is WF319E.
I don’t think I can test the tv without the vcr working. I believe something in the vcr part is causing it to go into Saftey turn off. I’ve tested most of the resistors. I’m waiting for a desolder tool to pull the capacitors off the board to test them. I was told I can’t test them while there on the board

Blast · #7 07-06-2026, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonCarlos

It will occasionally take a tape, try and play then shut off. It seems like I have to give the big loading gear a little bit of a turn then it will take the tape. It does not eject the tapes I have to turn the loading gear by hand to get the tape out. If I try and put a tape in with tv off it will not take the tape. Model is WF319E.
I don’t think I can test the tv without the vcr working. I believe something in the vcr part is causing it to go into Safety turn off. I’ve tested most of the resistors. I’m waiting for a desolder tool to pull the capacitors off the board to test them. I was told I can’t test them while there on the board

I have nothing on model "WF319E". But I'll bet I've seen its ilk many times in other brands (Funai, Zenith, Magnavox). Anyway....

My ears immediately perked up when I saw your video of the deck trying to load a tape that wasn't there. So, that's why I asked you what would happen if there WAS a tape there.

Maybe from what you've told me it could be an tape-end sensor problem.

Funai did have a problem at some point (and I don't know if it involves this model, or not) where the tape end lamp LED (the transmitter) would need to be replaced. If I recall there was a modified part available to solve some problem in some model(s) involving that LED and what I think I'm seeing in your video could have been the symptom.

I don't know how to tell you how to check the lamp. It's IR (infrared) so you won't be able to see it. With very careful aim the camera in your phone may be able to detect a red spot coming from each side of the IR end lamp (one that comes, and goes away as you power, and unpower the unit). I might also expect, I don't know, 1.8 - 2.5 VDC as measured on the two pins of the LED on the circuit board.

Each of the two tape end sensors (the receivers) should be reacting to the light from the LED. I would think you should be able to see voltage change on the two pins of each tape end sensor as you effectively block, and unblock the IR light of the sensor.

I don't really know what else to tell you without being there to see it. It's been 30 years since I worked on this stuff. I hope I'm not leading you off in the wrong direction. Good luck.

Brian